[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 116 (Thursday, August 1, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9420-S9421]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             TRIBUTE TO THE LATE HARRY M. ``MAC'' JOHNSTON

  Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, the emergence of South Carolina as a 
center for business and industry is due to many factors including a 
temperate climate, a trained and enthusiastic

[[Page S9421]]

workforce, cooperative government officials, and not the least 
significant, community leaders committed to bringing new jobs into 
their towns, cities, and counties. One of the fastest growing areas of 
the Palmetto State is the region known as the Upstate, and a gentleman 
by the name of Harry M. ``Mac'' Johnston, played a key role in business 
development in Union County, until his recent and untimely death.
  Mr. Johnston served as the director of the Union County Development 
Board for slightly more than 2 years, a short tenure to be certain. 
Despite the brevity of his administration, cut tragically short by a 
stroke, Mr. Johnston managed to achieve several important 
accomplishments that will be of great benefit to his fellow citizens. 
Thanks to the efforts of the late Mr. Johnston, the historic Buffalo 
Mill was purchased and re-opened, Union County was named as the home of 
South Carolina's new Juvenile Justice facility, and Upstate residents 
will celebrate community spirit this fall at the first ever ``Uniquely 
Union Festival.'' Without question, these are three excellent examples 
of Mr. Johnston's abilities as a civic booster and promoter of Union 
County, and had his life not been ended so abruptly, I am confident 
that he would have continued to have played an important role in the 
development of Union County.
  Mr. President, the impact Mr. Johnston had in Union County was 
tremendous. He was a very capable and well liked man, and in memory of 
the many contributions he made to his community, the County Council 
recently voted to name the new county industrial park after this man. 
This is a fitting tribute to a person who dedicated so much of his 
efforts to making our State a better place to live. I commend the Union 
County Council on the honor they have paid Mr. Johnston and I extend my 
deepest condolences to his family on the loss they have suffered.

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