South Carolina S 609: Jim Roberts and Good Shepherd Clinic

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 609 Text of Previous Version (Apr. 29, 2025) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 609

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

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

A senate RESOLUTION

TO RECOGNIZE and honor jim roberts for his efforts 
in founding the good shepherd medical clinic and to honor the clinic on the 
thirtieth anniversary of its founding.

Whereas, the members of 
the South Carolina Senate are pleased to recognize Jim Roberts, the founder of 
the Good Shepherd Medical Clinic; and

Whereas, Jim Roberts is 
an alumnus of West Virginia University. A veteran of the United States Air 
Force, he served for two years in Japan during the Korean War; and

Whereas, Mr. Roberts 
began his career in marketing and advertising on Madison Avenue in New York 
City. After two years in New York, he moved with his family to assignments with 
companies in North and South Carolina. In 1977, he and his family moved to 
Clinton, where he joined Collins and Aikman to introduce and market a new 
product; and

Whereas, in the early 
sixties, his four children nearing graduation from college, Mr. Roberts took up 
biking. Over the next few years, he rode across several states, including 
Virginia, North and South Carolina, Louisiana, and parts of the Colorado Rocky Mountains. 
Between biking trips, he took flying lessons and received his pilot's license 
in 1993; and

Whereas, when Mr. 
Roberts learned that there was a critical need for non-emergency health care 
for residents who did not qualify for Medicare or Medicaid and could not afford 
private insurance, he called on city, county, and church leaders to gauge their 
interest in supporting a free clinic. He enlisted Betty Green, an energetic 
school nurse and civic volunteer, to recruit nurses, pharmacists, and screeners 
for the program. From the beginning, Betty served as his right hand in 
operating the clinic; and

Whereas, the clinic was 
created through the community-wide efforts of people such as Claude Crocker of 
Clinton Mills, who recruited members of the sheriff's department to provide 
safety for the clinic's staff and patients during the evening; Nancy VonHollen, 
a talented musician and homemaker who asked church circles to take turns 
bringing snacks to the clinic; W. Paul Culbertson, a local attorney who handled 
the legal requirements for the clinic, including the clinic's non-profit status; 
and many others; and

Whereas, a total of 
eighty-two Laurens County citizens committed to volunteer at Good Shepherd 
Medical Clinic. Doctors provided sample medicines that were collected and 
repackaged into prescription bottles. A man from South America who worked for a 
tool company in the county volunteered to translate for Hispanic patients, and 
Holly Saunders created the Good Shepherd logo; and

Whereas, on September 
8, 1994, Good Shepherd opened its doors for the first time to a long line of 
needy Laurens County citizens. Mr. Roberts and other volunteers welcomed their 
new patients with applause; and

Whereas, Mr. Roberts is 
married to Janet Roberts, and together, they have four children; and

Whereas, the members of 
the South Carolina Senate greatly appreciate the dedication and commitment that 
Jim Roberts and the staff and volunteers of the Good Shepherd Medical Clinic have 
shown in serving the people and the State of South Carolina. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate:

That the members of the South Carolina Senate, by this resolution, recognize and honor 
Jim Roberts for his efforts in founding the Good Shepherd Medical Clinic and 
honor the clinic on the thirtieth anniversary of its founding.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this 
resolution be presented to Jim Roberts.

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This web page was last updated on April 29, 2025 at 12:03 PM