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2025-2026 Bill 5540: Jim Fitch 50th anniversary as executive director of the Rice Museum - South Carolina Legislature Online
South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026
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H. 5540
STATUS INFORMATION
House Resolution
Sponsors: Reps. Hewitt, Anderson, Alexander, 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, 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, Pedalino, 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-0558CM-GM26.docx
Introduced in the House on April 16, 2026
Adopted by the House on April 16, 2026
Summary: Jim Fitch 50th anniversary as executive director of the Rice Museum
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS
Date
Body
Action Description with journal page number
4/16/2026
House
Introduced and adopted (
House Journal-page 3
)
View the latest
legislative information
at the website
VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
04/16/2026
A
house
RESOLUTION
TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR Jim Fitch, executive director
of the Rice Museum, and to congratulate him upon the occasion of his fiftieth
anniversary of directing the museum.
W
hereas, the members of
the South Carolina House are pleased to learn that Jim Fitch is celebrating his
fiftieth anniversary as the executive director of the Rice Museum in Georgetown
on April 25, 2026; and
W
hereas, a native of
Southern California, Mr. Fitch received two degrees from Wake Forest University
in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He has studied art and history extensively
abroad, first at Furgusson College of Deccan University in Pune, India, and
then as a student of Dr. Terisio Pignatti, director of the prestigious Correr
Museum in Venice, Italy. While residing in Venice, Mr. Fitch lived beside Peggy
Guggenheim, and had the opportunity to study her important collection of
twentieth century art; and
W
hereas, Mr. Fitch has
authored many publications and lectures, and he has produced a number of films
and other commissioned works. He has taught for many years as an adjunct
faculty member of Coker College, and he is also an accomplished watercolor
painter himself; and
W
hereas, Mr. Fitch
began his career as the executive director of the Rice Museum in 1975. His
first major project was an installation concerning the raising and recovery of
the Brown's Ferry Vessel, a shipwrecked colonial vessel, which was begun in
1979 and finalized in 1991; and
W
hereas, during his
tenure, Mr. Fitch has overseen the installation of many renovations and
projects in the museum, including the installation of Lafayette Park adjacent
to the Town Clock; acquisition and restoration of the Kaminski Hardware
Building; the creation of the Herb Garden and the establishment of the Herb
Society; the presentation of "The Mystery of San Miguel," a celebration of
Spanish influence in South Carolina; and many other important developments in
the museum's history; and
W
hereas, in 2001, Mr.
Fitch published "Pass the Pilau, Please," a history of rice planting in South
Carolina, as well as a collection of Lowcountry rice recipes. Mr. Fitch is
celebrating the twenty-fifth anniversary of the publication of his book in
2026; and
W
hereas, over the
years, Mr. Fitch has received a number of honors and awards, including the highly
esteemed Governor's Heritage Tourism Award and the Governor's Award in
Humanities; and
W
hereas, the members of
the South Carolina House greatly value the dedication and commitment that Mr.
Fitch has shown in preserving the rich heritage of the Palmetto State and in
serving the people and the State of South Carolina. 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, recognize and honor Jim Fitch, executive director of the
Rice Museum, and congratulate him upon the occasion of his fiftieth anniversary
of directing the museum.
B
e it further resolved
that a copy of this resolution be presented to Jim Fitch.
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This web page was last updated on April 16, 2026 at 10:52 AM