South Carolina H 3763: A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO CONGRATULATE JOHN BENDER MATTHEWS FOR HIS REMARKABLE ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA AND TO SALUTE HIM UPON ACHIEVING THE CELEBRATED RANK OF EAGLE SCOUT, THE HIGHEST AWARD IN SCOUTING.

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 3763 Text of Previous Version (Jan. 16, 2025) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 3763

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

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

A house RESOLUTION

to Recognize and honor Fairfield High School in 
Winnsboro and to celebrate the school's extraordinary milestone of its centennial 
anniversary with the alumni, students, teachers, and administrators.

Whereas, in 1924, 
Fairfield County Training School first opened its doors as an all-black high 
school in Winnsboro with grades one through nine. A sound core curriculum 
included English and mathematics, as well as Latin. In 1936, tenth grade was 
added and eleventh grade a year later, making the school a certified high 
school. At that time, the State of South Carolina required eleven years of 
schooling and a total of sixteen units for a student to be qualified for a high 
school diploma; and

Whereas, shop courses 
were added to the curriculum in 1930, as well as home economics and French. Parents 
and teachers held fundraisers to support the school, including the presentation 
of a program by the Fisk University choir and the sale of hot dogs. Forty-four 
students graduated in 1942, fifteen of whom continued their education by attending 
college. The Class of 1949 was the first to graduate from the twelfth grade, 
and the first yearbook, The Torch, was published in the 1948-1949 school 
year; and

Whereas, in the 1950s, 
typing, shorthand, bookkeeping, accounting, and chemistry also were added to 
the curriculum. The band was organized around 1950 with horns and drums the 
first instruments. A glee club was organized, and public speaking boasted oratorical 
contests held each year. New Homemakers, 4-H Clubs, girls basketball, boys basketball, 
football, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, cheerleaders, and majorettes were organized 
as clubs, sports playing a large role at the school even before the gym was 
built; and

Whereas, Fairfield 
High's mascot was the Tiger, and the school colors were blue and gold. When the 
gymnasium/auditorium was built, it was utilized for basketball, physical 
education classes, assemblies, proms, and other programs to add to the high 
school experience. By 1949, Fairfield housed only grades seven through twelve 
and was no longer a union school. Students came from Gordon, Geiger, Woodard, 
and Mitford elementary schools after completing sixth grade. A school song was 
written in the late 1950s and in 1963, the school's name officially changed to 
Fairfield High School; and

Whereas, in 1970 the 
all-black Fairfield High School merged with Winnsboro High School to form one 
large integrated high school in the Winnsboro area. The Class of 1975 was 
officially the last class to walk the halls of "Old Fairfield" which continued 
to be used for various classes with grade-level students bussed there from 
Winnsboro High. Mr. E. K. McLendon, principal of Fairfield High, was named 
principal for the merged Winnsboro High School, a position he served in for 
several more years; and

Whereas, of the four 
buildings that made up Fairfield High School, only two remain standing today. 
In 2010, the Fairfield High School Alumni Association, Inc., purchased the high 
school building for five dollars from Fairfield County School District, and the 
floors can be heard to squeak when they are walked on. The Alumni Association 
now owns the deed and title to the building, which stipulates that the alumni 
have three years to improve, restore, and maintain the property as originally 
intended; and 

Whereas, renovations 
have been completed in the upstairs classrooms, a new roof added, some ceiling 
tiles and windows replaced, a security system installed, restrooms remodeled, 
one room downstairs transformed into a conference room, and heating and air 
conditioning units installed in the conference room, cafeteria, and kitchen. The 
cafeteria is being remodeled, but much more renovation work is still needed. The 
Alumni Association has agreed it would be in the best interest of all for the association 
to return the building to the district if no more improvements are made; and

Whereas, the South 
Carolina House of Representatives wishes friends of Fairfield High well as they 
seek to restore, preserve, and maintain this historical treasure of the 
Palmetto State. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House 
of Representatives:

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, recognize 
and honor Fairfield High School in Winnsboro and celebrate the school's extraordinary 
milestone of its centennial anniversary with the alumni, students, teachers, 
and administrators.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution 
be presented to Fairfield High School Alumni Association.

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