[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 95 (Tuesday, July 8, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7022-S7023]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         REV. ROSCOE C. WILSON

 Mr. HOLLINGS. Mr. President, I rise today in recognition of 
one of South Carolina's finest citizens, Rev. Roscoe C. Wilson, pastor 
of Saint John Baptist Church in Columbia. For the past 50 years, 
Reverend Wilson has presided over the same church and during this time, 
the congregation has increased from 150 to over 800 members.
  Roscoe Wilson began his career of public service very early. In 1942, 
after graduation from high school, he joined the U.S. Army where he 
served for the next 4\1/2\ years. Upon his discharge in 1946, young 
Roscoe moved to Columbia, SC, and entered Benedict College where he 
earned his bachelor of arts and bachelor of divinity degrees. It was 
there that he met his future wife, the late Ethel Celeste Williams.
  In 1948, at an unusually tender age, Roscoe Wilson was appointed 
pastor of Saint John Baptist Church. Together Roscoe and Ethel Wilson 
built a strong parish and became part of the tightly knit Benedict 
College community. Ethel Wilson worked at the college and was fondly 
named ``Ma'' by the students. The Wilsons often provided housing for 
out-of-town students who were unable to afford a room on campus. 
Reverend Wilson still refers to them as his foster children. The 
Wilsons raised two of their own, Roscoe,

[[Page S7023]]

Jr., and Preston. Roscoe, Jr., director of the Midlands Marine 
Institute, a foundation for troubled youth, is married to the former 
Eva Rakes, and has two children, Renaldo and Asia. Preston is a well-
known carpenter in the Columbia area, most noted for his woodwork.
  Social activism has appropriately been the hallmark of Reverend 
Wilson's pastoral career. During the early civil rights movement, he 
worked to peacefully integrate public health facilities such as the 
Crafts-Farrow Mental Hospital and the Bryan S. Dorn Veterans Hospital. 
Saint John Baptist Church, which has a large outreach ministry, runs a 
progressive preschool serving approximately 100 children between the 
ages of 3 and 5 years old. This preschool program has been an enormous 
success. Its pupils begin first grade with strong skills and high 
confidence.
  In the little free time he has, Reverend Wilson enjoys the outdoors. 
He loves to hunt and fish and occasionally returns to Texas to visit 
family. It is at home in Columbia, though, where he indulges his true 
passion, gardening. He says that tending his roses helps him to focus 
on the important things. It is this care and focus which has made him 
such a successful pastor. He tends his congregation like his rose bed. 
Saint John Baptist Church will dearly miss Reverend Wilson though his 
work with the church and the community will undoubtedly continue. All 
of us in South Carolina are very grateful for this Texas transplant. We 
wish him the very best in his future endeavors.

                          ____________________