South Carolina H 5704: Howard Barnard sympathy

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 5704 Text of Previous Version (May. 14, 2026) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 5704

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 Colonel Howard D. 
Barnard III OF Horry COUNTY AND TO EXTEND DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO HIS LOVING FAMILY 
AND HIS MANY FRIENDS.

Whereas, at the age of 
eighty-one, Howard D. Barnard III died on Friday, May 8, 2026. Born in Albany, 
Georgia, on January 21, 1945, he was the son of Howard Barnard and Theodosia 
Donaldson Barnard and was reared in a loving home with his sister, Doty Barnard 
Dunn. He earned the prestigious rank of Eagle Scout and graduated from Albany 
High School, having lettered in basketball and track; and

Whereas, in 1967, he 
earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Georgia and was commissioned 
in the United States Air Force. Until he retired in 1995, he served his country 
with distinction as a fighter pilot and paratrooper, accruing over five 
thousand flying hours in single-seat fighters, including the A-10, in which he 
was recognized as a Top Gun. He earned master's degrees from the University of 
Oklahoma and from the United States Army War College and pursued postgraduate 
studies; and

Whereas, a veteran of 
the Vietnam War, Colonel Barnard served as a commander during Operation Desert 
Storm and was decorated for heroism in combat, receiving two Distinguished 
Flying Crosses and thirteen Air Medals. He commanded every level within an Air Force 
Fighter Wing during his career and served on the fighter planning staff at The 
Pentagon. In 1982, he was assigned to Myrtle Beach Air Force Base, where he 
served for four years and commanded the 356th Fighter Squadron; and

Whereas, he retired to 
Horry County and became deeply involved in volunteer service. A man of deep 
faith who loved his family, friends, and flying, he was a devoted member of the 
First Presbyterian Church of Myrtle Beach for over thirty years. He served as 
an elder, deacon, and teacher, and from 1995 to 2007, he worked as director of lay 
and stewardship ministries. He guided church volunteer groups in building over 
thirty homes in Mexico through Constructores Para Cristo, accompanied medical 
and dental mission teams worldwide, and organized local relief efforts 
following hurricanes; and

Whereas, he served nine 
years on the Habitat for Humanity board, two years as president, and 
volunteered as an adult reading instructor with the Horry County Literacy 
Council. He served on the Carolina Trust Supervisory Board, Coast RTA Board of 
Directors, and Surfside Area Rotary Board of Directors, one year as its 
president. He participated in a dental assistance program in Haiti; and

Whereas, for more than twenty 
years, Colonel Barnard helped prepare and serve hot meals at the Street Reach 
homeless mission and was an active member of the Flight of the Daedalians, an 
organization for military pilots. With his friend, Colonel Edsel "Coupe" 
DeVille, he developed Wright Flight, an aviation incentive program for local 
public schools, positively impacting hundreds of sixth graders. In 2009, they 
started Surfside Rotary 5-K Turkey Trot to raise funds for Wright Flight. In 
2025, they had over twelve hundred runners. He served on the Horry County Board 
of Education for six years; and

Whereas, he served on 
Horry County Council from 2003 to 2010. He built consensus for the penny sales 
tax for road improvements and advanced local building projects. He helped to 
improve evacuation routes for the South Strand area as chairman of the Southern 
Evacuation Lifeline Task Force and helped to secure funding for the General 
Aviation Terminal and the expansion of Myrtle Beach Airport; and

Whereas, with his first 
wife of fifty-five years, the late Connie Cordell Barnard, he reared two 
children, Beth Barnard Blum and Howard D. Barnard IV, who blessed him with five 
grandchildren: Dr. Andrew Ellis Blum, Catherine Blum MacLaren, Sarah Barnard 
Watson, James Cole Barnard, and Ella Rose Barnard. He leaves behind to cherish 
his memory his beloved wife, Dr. Marga Faith Massey; and

Whereas, the South 
Carolina House of Representatives is grateful for the life and legacy of Howard 
Barnard and for the example of service and duty he set for all who knew him. Now, 
therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That the members of the 
South Carolina House of Representatives, 
by this resolution, express profound sorrow upon the passing of Colonel Howard 
D. Barnard III of Horry County and extend deepest sympathy to his loving family 
and his many friends.

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

----XX-