TO REQUEST THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS NAME THE INMATE CEMETERY LOCATED ON ITS BROAD RIVER ROAD PROPERTY IN RICHLAND COUNTY "PAUL ISAIAH WELDON CEMETERY".

Whereas, Mr. Paul Isaiah Weldon was born in the Town of Winnsboro in 1933; and

Whereas, he received both his Bachelor of Science degree in Social Studies in 1959 and his Master of Science degree in Clinical Psychology in 1966 from Fort Hays State University in Fort Hays, Kansas; and

Whereas, from 1959 to 1962 he served as an instructor at Lake View High School in Lexington. From 1962 to 1969, Mr. Weldon was employed as a Clinical Psychologist at Crafts-Farrow State Hospital in Richland County. He was the Assistant Director of the Reception and Evaluation Center for the Department of Juvenile Justice from 1970 to 1974; and

Whereas, in 1974 Department of Corrections Commissioner William D. Leek appointed Mr. Weldon as the department's Deputy Commissioner for Program Services. As Deputy Commissioner, Paul Isaiah Weldon's goal was to "make the prison system a more humane environment for both inmates and staff". He served in this capacity until his retirement in 1990; and

Whereas, one of his many accomplishments during his tenure at the Department of Corrections was to establish an inmate cemetery on the department's property located on Board River Road in Richland County; and

Whereas, throughout his career as a public servant, Mr. Weldon received numerous awards and recognitions which included the Order of the Palmetto which was presented to him by Governor Carroll Campbell in 1990; and

Whereas, it would be fitting and proper to name the inmate cemetery that was established during his career with the Department of Corrections in his honor. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:

That the members of the General Assembly request that the Department of Corrections name the inmate cemetery located on its Broad River Road property in Richland County "Paul Isaiah Weldon Cemetery".

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the Department of Corrections.