[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 82 (Thursday, May 14, 2026)]
[House]
[Pages H3462-H3463]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      HONORING CHIEF RUSSELL ROARK

  (Mr. Norman of South Carolina was recognized to address the House for 
5 minutes.)
  Mr. NORMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor a true 
public servant, Chief Russell Roark, whose life has been defined by 
dedication, by integrity, and by exceptional service to the people of 
Union County and the entire State of South Carolina.
  Chief Roark first began his career in public safety in 1962, over 64 
years ago, when he joined the City of Union Fire Department. Just one 
year later, he joined the Union City Police Department. Through hard 
work, professionalism, and steady leadership, Chief Roark quickly 
advanced through the ranks, becoming assistant chief of police in 1975, 
then chief of police in 1982.
  In 1983, he played a pivotal role in the merger of the Union City 
Police Department and the City of Union Fire Department into a single 
unified agency, known as the Union Public Safety Department. He became 
its first director, and under his leadership, the department earned 
South Carolina law enforcement accreditation, becoming the first law 
enforcement agency in Union County to achieve such a distinction and 
honor.
  Chief Roark also made lasting improvements to the community fire 
service division, emphasizing advanced training and the importance of 
strong fire prevention efforts. Thanks to his leadership, the 
department earned a class 2 ISO rating, which is the Insurance Services 
Office, an achievement that enhanced public safety while reducing 
insurance costs for the residents and businesses all across Union 
County.
  After 40 years of service, Chief Roark retired from the Union County 
Public Safety Department in 2003, but his commitment to serving others 
did not end there. He returned just 2 days later to work with the Union 
County Sheriff's Department, where he served as a patrol deputy and the 
civil process deputy.

                              {time}  1045

  In 2021, South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster awarded Roark with 
the Order of the Palmetto, which is the State's highest civilian honor.
  Chief Roark officially retired from law enforcement in November of 
last

[[Page H3463]]

year after 63 years of public service. This is an outstanding 
achievement. His career represents a lifetime devoted to protecting 
others and strengthening the community he so proudly called home.
  His legacy is not confined to the number of years he has served, 
which is no doubt historic, but it is immortalized in the many lives 
that he touched, the standard that he continually set, and example that 
he leaves behind. Chief Roark's dedication, his faith, and his 
integrity have made a lasting impression on everyone in Union County 
and will continue to inspire future generations of public servants to 
follow in his footsteps.
  I am proud to recognize Chief Russell Roark and thank him for his 
lifetime of extraordinary service and commitment to the people of Union 
County and to the entire State of South Carolina.

                          ____________________