Dr. Reginald Thackston Retirement Resolution

2025-2026 Bill 4882: Dr. Reginald Thackston Retirement Resolution - South Carolina Legislature Online

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026
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H. 4882
STATUS INFORMATION
House Resolution
Sponsors: Reps. Pedalino, Alexander, Anderson, Atkinson, Bailey, Ballentine, Bamberg, Bannister, Bauer, Beach, Bernstein, Bowers, Bradley, Brewer, Brittain, Burns, Bustos, Calhoon, Caskey, Chapman, Chumley, Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, Collins, Cox, Crawford, Cromer, Davis, Dillard, Duncan, Edgerton, Erickson, Ford, Forrest, Frank, Gagnon, Garvin, Gatch, Gibson, Gilliam, Gilliard, Gilreath, Govan, Grant, Guest, Guffey, Haddon, Hager, Hardee, Harris, Hart, Hartnett, Hartz, Hayes, Henderson-Myers, Herbkersman, Hewitt, Hiott, Hixon, Holman, Hosey, Howard, Huff, J.E. Johnson, J.L. Johnson, Jones, Jordan, Kilmartin, King, Kirby, Landing, Lastinger, Lawson, Ligon, Long, Lowe, Luck, Magnuson, Martin, McCabe, McCravy, McDaniel, McGinnis, C. Mitchell, D. Mitchell, Montgomery, J. Moore, T. Moore, Morgan, Moss, Neese, B. Newton, W. Newton, Oremus, Pace, Pope, Rankin, Reese, Rivers, Robbins, Rose, Rutherford, Sanders, Schuessler, Scott, Sessions, G.M. Smith, M.M. Smith, Spann-Wilder, Stavrinakis, Taylor, Teeple, Terribile, Vaughan, Waters, Weeks, Wetmore, White, Whitmire, Wickensimer, Williams, Willis, Wooten and Yow
Document Path: LC-0316CM-JKH26.docx
Introduced in the House on January 14, 2026
Adopted by the House on January 14, 2026
Summary: Dr. Reginald Thackston Retirement Resolution
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

Date

Body

Action Description with journal page number

1/14/2026

House

Introduced and adopted (
House Journal-page 69
)

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VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
01/14/2026

A
house
RESOLUTION

TO HONOR THE REVEREND DR. THOMAS
REGINALD "REGI" THACKSTON FOR HIS DECADES OF DEDICATED GOSPEL MINISTRY AND
Lifetime of public service across south carolina, TO CONGRATULATE HIM ON THE
OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT, AND TO WISH HIM THE LORD'S RICHEST BLESSINGS IN THE
DAYS AHEAD.

W
hereas,

it is entirely appropriate to honor those individuals who give
selflessly of themselves to shepherd the souls of men. The Reverend Dr. Thomas
Reginald Thackston, minister at Santee Summer Ministries, known lovingly as
"Boat Church," stands high as an outstanding servant of the gospel and leader
of the people, whose ministry, advocacy, and volunteerism have impacted
countless lives throughout South Carolina; and

W
hereas,

Dr. Thackston graduated from Wofford College in 1956 and earned his
divinity degree at Candler School of Theology from Emory University in 1961. He
was awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity from his alma mater, Wofford
College, in 1995; and

W
hereas,

over the course of more than four decades, Dr. Thackston faithfully
served seven churches across South Carolina from 1956 to 1997. Early in his
ministry, he initiated and led the city council in Conway, organizing its first
biracial committee which enabled the city and county to have a peaceful merger
of Horry County's schools; and

W
hereas, in Horry County, Dr. Thackston initiated a reentry program
for short-term prisoners in the county jail, aiding the individuals in their
reintroduction to society by providing access to clothing, transportation,
food, and job interviews upon their release; and

W
hereas, his service to the community has reached far beyond church
doors, as Dr. Thackston has served as the chairman of the Belin Board of
Trustees in Murrells Inlet, secretary on the Board of Trustees at Wofford
College, chairman of the Board of Trustees of Epworth Children's Home in
Columbia, and chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Sewee Coastal Retreat
Center; and

W
hereas, Dr. Thackston has displayed his dedication to supporting the
education of future generations, as he was a vital part of the reignition of
the Sumter Touchdown Club, which has since grown into the largest scholarship
organization for high school football players in a four-county area. He also
funded an endowed scholarship at Wofford College; and

W
hereas, after his retirement from the itinerant ministry, he served as
the United Methodist Church Conference Coordinator against Video Poker and the
Lottery, traveling the State speaking and championing ethics and public
accountability. He also served as interim minister for churches in Conway,
Manning, and Sumter. Since 1999, Dr. Thackston has faithfully led the loved
"Boat Church," serving twenty-five consecutive summers until the present time;
and

W
hereas, his legacy of service has been formally recognized in recent
years. In November 2024, Dr. Thackston was honored as the Alston Wilkes Society
Volunteer of the Year. In February 2025, he received the Governor's Lifetime of
Service Award, with the press release reading: "A lifelong advocate for
education, reentry programs, and racial reconciliation, Dr. Thackston has
dedicated his life to building bridges, mentoring youth, and supporting
communities in need across South Carolina," noting his lifelong commitment to
serving this great State; and

W
hereas, cognizant of his many remarkable contributions graciously
given to the people of South Carolina, the House takes great pleasure in
expressing grateful thanks to Dr. Thackston, whose life has embodied the
principles of justice, mercy, and service, and in wishing him God's best as he
continues to run the race the Lord has set before him. Now, therefore,

B
e it resolved by the
House of
Representatives
:

T
hat the members of the South Carolina
House
of Representatives
, by this resolution, honor the Reverend Dr. Thomas
Reginald "Regi" Thackston for his decades of dedicated gospel ministry and
lifetime of public service across South Carolina, congratulate him on the
occasion of his retirement, and wish him the Lord's richest blessings in the
days ahead.

B
e it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to
the Reverend Dr. Thomas Reginald "Regi" Thackston.

----XX----

This web page was last updated on January 14, 2026 at 4:04 PM