[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 200 (Wednesday, November 17, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1247]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





      APPRECIATING CHAIRMAN HUGH LEATHERMAN WHO PASSED AWAY FRIDAY

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                            HON. JOE WILSON

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 17, 2021

  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Madam Speaker, Roxanne, a native of 
Florence, and I extend our thoughts and prayers for Jean and the family 
of South Carolina State Senate Finance Chairman Hugh Leatherman of 
Florence.
  I was grateful to serve with Chairman Leatherman for 17 years in the 
State Senate and I saw firsthand his determined service for the 
citizens of the Pee Dee. He was relentless recruiting industries to 
locate for jobs and it is appropriate the new billion dollar terminal 
for the Port of Charleston is named in his honor.
  We worked together as conservative Democrats and Republicans in the 
State Senate to develop The Renegades, challenging the status quo. With 
his party switch to Republican, he was unleashed to promote limited 
government with expanded freedom, leading to the Republican majority 
today.
  The following is the obituary provided by the Waters-Powell Funeral 
Home:

       Senator Hugh K. Leatherman, Sr., died peacefully at his 
     home on Friday, November 12, 2021, after a recent non-COVID 
     related illness. He was surrounded by his beloved wife, 
     children, and his grandchildren.
       Senator Leatherman was born in Lincoln County, North 
     Carolina on April 14, 1931, the son of the late John and Ada 
     Gantt Leatherman. In addition to his parents, he was 
     predeceased by his brother, Ralph Leatherman. He is survived 
     by his loving wife of 43 years, Jean Helms Leatherman, his 
     children: Sheila Hardee (John), Hugh Kenneth Leatherman, Jr., 
     MD (Sue), Karen Leatherman (Robin Parker), Lynn Leatherman, 
     Amy L. Smith (Merritt), Sarah L. Allen, MD (Keels). 
     Grandchildren: Hugh K. Leatherman, III (Cate), Alice Anne 
     Coakley (John), John N. Hardee, II, Ada Cathryn Allen, 
     McCauley Allen, Louise Allen, Mary Keels Allen and Lula 
     Smith. Great-grandchildren: Hugh K. Leatherman, IV, Tucker 
     Leatherman, and John A. Coakley, V. Hugh is also survived by 
     his sisters Jewell Eggleston (Max) and Jeanette Schalow 
     (Dick) along with niece, Tracy Eggleston.
       A well-known public servant and successful businessman, 
     Senator Leatherman received a Bachelor of Science degree in 
     civil engineering from North Carolina State University. In 
     1955, he formed Florence Concrete Products in Florence, South 
     Carolina, which grew into a successful business with over 147 
     employees and is still in operation to this day.
       In 1967, he was elected to Town Council in Quinby, South 
     Carolina and in 1980, he was elected to the South Carolina 
     Senate where he continued to serve until his death. During 
     his tenure in the Senate, he held many leadership positions 
     including President Pro Tempore from 2014-2019 and Chairman 
     of the Senate Finance Committee from 2001 until his death.
       His legacy is felt at home and across the entire state. He 
     played a leading role in recruiting Honda and Boeing, among 
     many others, to open plants in South Carolina as well as 
     obtained funding to improve the South Carolina Port. A 
     terminal at the Port was named in his honor for his ongoing 
     efforts in support of this important driver to our state's 
     economic development. He was also a leading advocate to 
     improve South Carolina's road infrastructure.
       A tireless leader and champion for Florence County, he 
     dedicated his life to improving his cherished Pee Dee region 
     with an emphasis on education, infrastructure, and job 
     creation. Senator Leatherman played a vital role in gaining 
     support and funds for enhancements to Francis Marion 
     University, the Florence Veteran's Village, The Continuum 
     Center for Education and Training, and Florence-Darlington 
     Technical College, among many others. He was also key in 
     creating the Pee Dee Medical Health Education Consortium that 
     will enhance medical and health science education at Francis 
     Marion.
       Senator Leatherman knew first-hand the importance of a 
     quality education and attributed much of his success to 
     family and teachers who believed in him and ensured he became 
     the first member of his family to graduate from college. He 
     passed on this love of education to his children ensuring a 
     college education became the norm and not the exception. He 
     was often quoted as saying, ``They can take everything away 
     from you, but they can't take away your education.''
       Senator Leatherman was an active member of Central United 
     Methodist Church and the Florence Rotary Club.

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