South Carolina H 5418: Rep. Blackwell, Retirement

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 5418 Text of Previous Version (Mar. 25, 2026) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 5418

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

A house RESOLUTION

TO EXPRESS THE PROFOUND SORROW OF THE MEMBERS OF THE 
SOUTH CAROLINA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES UPON THE PASSING OF DR. JAMES EDWARD 
"JIM" HARVEY OF ORANGEBURG AND TO EXTEND THE DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO HIS FAMILY AND 
MANY FRIENDS.

Whereas, the members of 
the South Carolina House of Representatives were deeply saddened to learn of 
the passing of Dr. James Edward "Jim" Harvey of Orangeburg on February 15, 
2026, at the venerable age of nearly eighty-one; and

Whereas, born in 
Lewiston, Maine, Jim Harvey came into this world on February 20, 1945, the son 
of Dr. John Edward and Alice Wilson Harvey. In 1948, Jim moved with his parents 
and two sisters, Janet (his twin) and Diane, to Gambier, Ohio, where his father 
was to begin his career as a professor at Kenyon College. Jim grew up in the 
idyllic little village of Gambier, where he sold newspapers, rescued pets, and 
had the run of the campus with his friends. In preparation for his career, the 
young Jim earned his bachelor's degree from Wilmington College, Ohio; his M.Ed. 
and his Ed.S. from Kent State University, Ohio; and his Ph.D. from Cleveland 
State University, Ohio; and

Whereas, over the 
years, he worked in a variety of positions from Peace Corps volunteer to high 
school biology and chemistry teacher to director of a leprosarium project. Other 
posts included serving as manager of psychological services for the Cleveland 
Ohio Metropolitan School District, for which he supervised eighty school 
psychologists, six interns, and five social workers. Dr. Harvey also had a 
private practice and was a part-time instructor at Cuyahoga Community College, 
Cleveland, Ohio; and

Whereas, for his 
dedicated labors in many professional and community service organizations, Jim 
received numerous awards, including the Ohio Council for Exceptional Children 
President's Award for Leadership and Wilmington College Alumni Citation for 
Distinguished Service to Education; and

Whereas, when Dr. 
Harvey moved to Orangeburg with his wife, Ruth, in 2010, his service to others 
continued. He volunteered at Whittaker Elementary School, he and his wife 
delivered Meals on Wheels, and he became a member of the Orangeburg Area Mental 
Health Center Board of Directors, as well as a board member of the Orangeburg 
County Community of Character. Ever the psychologist, Jim affiliated himself 
with the South Carolina Association of School Psychologists (SCASP). As a 
result of his work with SCASP he received an Outstanding Advocate Award from the 
National Association of School Psychologists; and

Whereas, additionally, 
Jim played a crucial role as a member of the Joint Legislative Task Force on 
School Safety, working with State Representative Jerry Govan. In 2015, the Task 
Force made sixty recommendations, many of which are now in effect, including 
full staffing of school resource offices, mental health counselors, and school 
safety teams; and

Whereas, a life member 
of the NAACP, Jim was also an active member of First Presbyterian Church of 
Orangeburg. He served his church as an elder and worked with committee members 
to carry out clothing drives for Rivelon Elementary School students through the 
Charleston Atlantic Presbytery's Hands of Christ Program. He coordinated a 
tutoring program for Rivelon, as well. Yet he still had time to play tennis, a 
game he loved, and his teams won tournaments all over the State. He also played 
regularly for fun and exercise; and

Whereas, Dr. Harvey 
leaves to cherish his memory his devoted wife of thirty-nine years, Ruth Owens 
Butts Harvey; two sons, Justin Edward Harvey (Theresa) of Cleveland, Ohio, and 
David Christopher Butts of Lexington, Kentucky; two grandchildren, James Harvey 
and Alexandria Harvey of Cleveland, Ohio; and a host of other family members, 
colleagues, and friends. He will be greatly missed. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That the members of the 
South Carolina House of Representatives, 
by this resolution, express their profound sorrow upon the passing of Dr. James 
Edward "Jim" Harvey of Orangeburg and extend the deepest sympathy to his family 
and many friends.

Be it further resolved 
that a copy of this resolution be presented to the family.

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This web page was last updated on March 25, 2026 at 11:46 AM