[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 84 (Monday, May 19, 2025)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E445]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                        APPRECIATING JAKE MOORE

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JOE WILSON

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, May 19, 2025

  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, South Carolina, this week, 
will recognize the newest recipient of the Order of the Palmetto, 
extraordinarily proven Community Visionary Jake Moore, awarded by 
Governor Henry McMaster.
  S. Jahue ``Jake'' Moore was born September 8, 1951. His family is 
from near Lake City, South Carolina, though he grew up in Charlotte, 
North Carolina. Jake was raised in humble circumstances but received a 
gift through which he was able to attend Presbyterian College in 
Clinton, South Carolina, where he graduated in 1973.
  Jake was then admitted to the University of South Carolina School of 
Law where he graduated with a Juris Doctorate in 1976.
  While studying at the USC School of Law, Jake worked as a law clerk 
for the firm Kirkland, Taylor, and Wilson in West Columbia--hired by 
Joe Wilson who co-signed a bank note for him to upgrade his wardrobe 
for professionalism. In the next generation, Jake hired my son Alan, as 
a law firm runner leading to Alan being elected the youngest state 
Attorney General in America in 2010.
  When he graduated, he was employed permanently at the firm and later 
became a partner. The firm now bears his name as Moore Bradley Myers 
Law Firm, P.A.
  Even though an ardent Democrat in a Republican community, he 
represented Republicans tirelessly in election disputes. As Republicans 
visited his office, I advised them not to comment on his office picture 
of Al Gore which would result in an hour soliloquy which they would be 
billed for Jake's defense of Al.
  Jake's practice is a general litigation practice. He has tried 
hundreds of cases during his almost fifty-year career. These include 
criminal cases in which he has defended people accused of crimes 
ranging from driving under the influence of alcohol to murder. He has 
also prosecuted cases on behalf of the Town of Irmo which he has 
represented for many years. Jake also practices both plaintiff and 
defense civil law.
  Jake has been hired by many large organizations to defend cases. He 
also brings cases on behalf of injured people, establishing 
professional law enforcement and stopping predatory Columbia 
annexation. He has represented the Town of Irmo for many years while 
representing Lexington County School District Two.
  Jake has been a guest lecturer at the University of South Carolina 
School of Law classes on trial advocacy and has also taught Continuing 
Legal Education classes on trial advocacy and spoken to numerous groups 
regarding the legal profession.
  Jake is a founding member of Ashland United Methodist Church in the 
St. Andrews community of Lexington County. He and his wife Becky were 
original members of the Church from a mission in 1978. He has taught 
high school Sunday School classes and adult Sunday School classes at 
Ashland Methodist Church since that time.
  Jake served four years on the Board of Visitors for the University of 
South Carolina and served as chairman on the Board of Visitors. During 
his time on the Board of Visitors, he advocated for beautification of 
the campus by the planting of trees.
  Jake founded the Irmo Arbor Day Committee which has been responsible 
for millions of dollars of landscaping work in the Irmo/St. Andrews 
area including landscaping for churches and five schools. He was also 
instrumental in creating a Veteran's Park in the Irmo area and a public 
park in that area at very low costs to the Town through securing 
donations. Jake was also a founding chairman of the West Columbia 
Beautification Commission and has spearheaded many beautification and 
landscaping projects in West Columbia, especially Sunset Boulevard, 
through securing donations for the improvement of the area.
  Jake has served as a member of the South Carolina Legislative Audit 
Council and was named Ambassador of the Year by the Irmo Chamber of 
Commerce and Citizen of the Year by the West Columbia Chamber of 
Commerce.
  He has received the Golden Acorn Award from the South Carolina 
Forestry Association and the Leadership Award from the Mid-Carolina 
Cooperative Lexington Soil Conservation District. He and his wife Becky 
have established a scholarship fund at Presbyterian College.
  Jake and his daughter Katherine wrote the children's book ``Bruce the 
Moose.'' He has given copies of this book to many children and classes 
in the area as well as visiting elementary classrooms to read the book. 
He has been significantly involved in the Family Promise Ministry which 
is an ecumenical project dedicated to lifting working homeless families 
out of poverty.
  Professionally, Jake has tried hundreds of jury trials both criminal 
and civil. He has been recognized for his trial excellence by the 
American Board of Trial Advocates, an invitation only society dedicated 
to the practice of jury trials. He is a member of the South Carolina 
Association of Justice, the South Carolina Bar and the Lexington County 
Bar. Jake has also been recognized by Super Lawyers as an outstanding 
lawyer and holds an AV rating from Martindale-Hubble, a lawyer rating 
service.
  Jake and his wife Becky have three children--Jake Moore, Jr., John 
Moore, and Katherine Moore-Merrel, with six grandchildren--Callahan 
Moore, Jake Moore, Josh Moore, Ben Moore, Mary Dawkins Merrell, and Sam 
Merrell.

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