[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 57 (Thursday, April 14, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E459]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  APPRECIATING SOLICITOR DONNIE MYERS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JOE WILSON

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 14, 2016

  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, the recent retirement 
announcement by 11th Judicial Circuit Solicitor Donnie Myers began an 
outpouring of appreciation for his dedicated service. South Carolina 
maintains the terminology of its English heritage by citing the 
position of district attorney as solicitor.
  In addition to effectively protecting families from predators, he was 
especially prudent in recruiting young attorneys who excelled at 
serving the public.
  He was recognized in an abbreviated editorial on March 24, 2016, in 
the Lexington County Chronicle and the The Dispatch-News entitled ``The 
end of a 40-year career in court'' by Editor Jerry Bellune:

       Donald V. Myers, the nemesis of death penalty defendants, 
     is ending a 40-year career in 11th Circuit courts.
       As capital murder cases go, it has been one of the most 
     dramatic careers in state history.
       Facing a state law-mandated retirement age of 72 next year, 
     Myers decided there's no point in seeking re-election with 
     only 11 months left to serve.
       That would force taxpayers to bear the cost of an election 
     to fill the rest of his term, he said.
       Myers' wife Vance urged him to go to law school and join 
     her father's law practice in Gaffney.
       After prosecuting cases for Attorney General Dan McLeod, an 
     opportunity presented itself when 11th Circuit Solicitor Phil 
     Wingard unexpectedly died.
       Myers ran to serve the rest of Wingard's term and has not 
     faced a challenger since.
       Myers's life and career have been far from smooth. He and 
     his wife had one child, Chris, although they had been told 
     she could not bear children.
       Chris had a rare health condition but that did not slow 
     him.
       He and his father were inseparable. Chris went along with 
     his father to courtrooms around the four-county circuit.
       On Valentine's Day in 2003, Chris's condition proved fatal.
       It was a tragedy for their family. Friends overflowed the 
     old Lexington County Courthouse for a memorial service.
       Tragedy struck again three years later. His wife Vance, who 
     had a law degree and was her husband's consultant on capital 
     cases, died unexpectedly.
       Myers was shattered by the loss of his son and wife in such 
     a short period of time . . .
       Myers said he looks forward to retirement, fishing and a 
     few writing projects he has in mind.
       We appreciate all he did to help victims of violent crimes.

  Prominent attorneys have also joined praising his service with a 
letter to the editor on March 31, 2016, by Pat McWhirter entitled 
``Prosecutor Donnie Myers remains one of the best,'' which reads:

       I was the public defender in Lexington County for 14 years. 
     I began shortly after Donnie Myers became solicitor, and he 
     and I sort of grew up together in those roles.
       He is an excellent solicitor, honest, forthcoming and 
     reasonable, but tough.
       He also is one of the best trial lawyers I have ever seen 
     in a courtroom. He is, and I feel certain will remain, a 
     legend among solicitors in this state.
       He has done an outstanding job for the 11th Judicial 
     Circuit, and we will miss him.
       When we see him, we should thank him for his work. He will 
     be hard to replace.

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