[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 131 (Saturday, September 28, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1398-E1399]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          A. CRAWFORD CLARKSON, JR., A TRUE SOUTHERN GENTLEMAN

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JOE WILSON

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                      Saturday, September 28, 2013

  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, yesterday South Carolina 
lost one of its most beloved citizens, A. Crawford Clarkson, Jr., who 
exemplifies a true Southern Gentleman. The following obituary is from 
Shives Funeral Home of Columbia, South Carolina.
  As Campaign Manager six times for Congressman Floyd Spence with 
Crawford as Campaign Treasurer I appreciated firsthand his profound 
Scottish frugality.

       Andrew Crawford Clarkson, Jr. of Columbia, SC died on 
     September 27, 2013. He was the son of Andrew Crawford 
     Clarkson, Sr. of Columbia, SC and Jennie Louise Taber of Fort 
     Motte, SC. Born in Columbia December 17, 1919, he was 
     educated in the Columbia city schools graduating in 1937 from 
     Columbia High School. In 1941 he was graduated in absentia 
     from the University of South Carolina having received a 
     commission as Ensign USNR. In 1949 he married Sarah Fairbanks 
     Bull of Georgetown, SC.
       Crawford Clarkson's life was animated by an abiding love 
     for country, his native state, and his family. He was a 
     lively conversationalist, a tireless encourager of his 
     children, lover of travel, and treasured his Scottish 
     heritage. An accomplished businessman, his steady wisdom and 
     consummate professionalism made him a behind the scenes 
     trusted advisor to politicians, governors, university 
     presidents, church leaders, business colleagues, clients, and 
     his own children.
       A passion for sailing, developed as a Sea Scout on Lake 
     Murray, was reflected in Mr. Clarkson's service as a naval 
     officer during World War II and the Korean conflict. He 
     served aboard the high speed destroyer minesweeper USS 
     Stansbury (DMS 8) July 1941 to July 1943, and then aboard the 
     USS Howard (DMS 7) as executive officer and navigator. Tasked 
     with keeping supply lanes open despite threats from German U-
     boats, Mr. Clarkson's convoy duty ranged the North Atlantic, 
     the Caribbean and later the Pacific. He also saw action 
     during the landings at the Naval Battle at Casablanca, French 
     Morocco in November 1942. During the Howard's Leyte Gulf 
     operations in the Philippines, Mr. Clarkson saw his first 
     kamikazes.
       After World War II ended, Mr. Clarkson returned to Columbia 
     and joined his father, holder of CPA SC certificate #1, at 
     A.C. Clarkson and Company, CPAs. He was awarded C.P.A. 
     certification in 1948.
       In 1952 Mr. Clarkson was recalled by the Navy during the 
     Korean Emergency and ordered as Executive Officer of the USS 
     Cony (DDE 508). Upon returning to Columbia, Mr. Clarkson 
     entered USC School of Law--attending class and working as an 
     accountant by day while studying law at night. He was 
     graduated in 1955 and admitted to the S.C. Bar and the 
     Federal Bar including ultimately the United States Supreme 
     Court. In 1979 Mr. Clarkson retired from the Navy as Captain 
     USNR.
       From 1958 to 1966 Mr. Clarkson was a member and executive 
     secretary of the S.C. Legislative Tax Study Commission--
     authoring most of the tax legislation enacted during this 
     period. In 1960 Mr. Clarkson moved A.C. Clarkson and Company 
     to partnership form as Clarkson, Harden, and Gantt, CPAs. 
     This firm grew to nine partners and over seventy employees 
     engaged in all facets of accounting practice. In 1985 
     Clarkson Harden and Gantt was acquired by Arthur Young and 
     Company. Mr. Clarkson retired from the accounting practice in 
     1987 and was appointed as a commissioner of the S.C. Tax 
     Commission (now the S.C. Department of Revenue). He served 
     South Carolina in this position for eight years, the last two 
     years as Chairman. For this service Governor Carroll Campbell 
     awarded Mr. Clarkson the Order of the Palmetto. Upon leaving 
     the Tax Commission Mr. Clarkson was associated with the 
     accounting firm Bauknight Pietras and Stormer, P.A.
       Mr. Clarkson's deep family roots in South Carolina led to a 
     sustained interest in the wellbeing of her citizens as seen 
     in his active involvement in many civic, cultural, religious, 
     and political organizations. He was honored to have been a 
     member of the diaconate at First Presbyterian Church and 
     subsequently a member of the vestry at Trinity Episcopal 
     Cathedral; President of the local council of Boy Scouts of 
     America (Eagle and Silver Beaver); Campaign Chairman of the 
     United Way; founding board member of Patriots Point Naval 
     Museum in Charleston; founding member of the Columbia Sailing 
     Club; treasurer and fundraiser for Congressman Floyd Spence; 
     chairman of Governor Carroll Campbell's committee that 
     successfully negotiated a treaty with the Catawba Nation; 
     treasurer of the SC Society of the Cincinnati; member of the 
     Correctional Development Foundation from which came the 
     pretrial intervention procedure in effect today.
       Mr. Clarkson was especially concerned in promoting the good 
     of the University of South Carolina. He was instrumental in 
     the formation of the USC Educational Foundation, led the way, 
     at the direction of Coach Paul Dietzel, in acquiring a major 
     bequest resulting in the expansion of the football stadium 
     giving to it its new name Williams-Brice Stadium, and, 
     finally, was pivotal, along with Dean James Kane, and Jerry 
     Beasley, in inspiring the vision for formation of the Master 
     of International Business program at USC.
       In addition, Mr. Clarkson was a member of the American Bar 
     Association; the South Carolina Bar; the American Institute 
     of CPAs; South Carolina Association of CPAs (Award for 
     Distinguished Public Service); the Federation of Tax 
     Administrators (board of trustees); the Columbia Rotary Club 
     (president, 1958-1959); the Columbia Chamber of Commerce 
     (director, 1959-1961); South Carolina Chamber of Commerce 
     (board of directors) which awarded him the Sgt. William 
     Jasper Freedom Award; the United States Chamber of Commerce 
     (Taxation Committee, 1963-1965); Columbia City Ballet 
     (trustee); Forest Lake Club; Quadrille Club; Cotillion

[[Page E1399]]

     Club; Carolina Yacht Club; Winyah Indigo Society; Society of 
     Colonial Wars of South Carolina; Forum Club (president), and 
     member of St. Andrew's Society of South Carolina.
       Besides his parents, Mr. Clarkson was predeceased by his 
     sister Jennie Clarkson Dreher of Columbia and grandson Peter 
     Crawford Roney. Mr. Clarkson is survived by Sarah Fairbanks 
     Bull Clarkson, his wife of sixty-four years and by his six 
     children: Jennie Taber Clarkson Olbrych (husband John and 
     their children John Crawford, Ruslan, Christiana, Oksana, 
     Maxim, and Susan) of Charleston, Sarah Bull Clarkson (husband 
     John Herre and their children Margaret and Caroline) of 
     Norfolk, Va., Susan Cornish Clarkson Keller (husband Kent) of 
     Charleston, Margaret Crawford Clarkson (husband Peter Roney 
     and their daughter Margaret Crawford) of Arlington, Va., 
     Andrew Crawford Clarkson III (wife Caroline) of Columbia, and 
     Thomas Boston Clarkson of Atlanta, Georgia. He is also 
     survived by nieces Ann Crawford Dreher and Jane Dreher 
     Emerson both of Columbia. The family deeply appreciates the 
     caregivers from Solutions at Home of Still Hopes and most 
     especially Ms. Donna Turner, and all who cared for Crawford 
     with love and professionalism.
       Friends are invited to call at the Clarkson family home, 
     4339 Chicora Street, Monday evening between 5:00 and 7:00 
     p.m.
       Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, 
     October 1, Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Columbia, 1100 
     Sumter Street, with burial in the churchyard. The family will 
     receive friends in Satterlee Hall following the burial. In 
     lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Trinity 
     Foundation, 1100 Sumter Street, Columbia SC 29201, or Indian 
     Waters Council BSA, P.O. Box 144, Columbia SC 29202. Honorary 
     pallbearers will be members of the St. Andrews Society of the 
     City of Columbia.

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