PRESS RELEASE

RECOGNITION OF BEN FRANKLIN McCALL

AFTER THE LAST ORAL ARGUMENT ON TUESDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY 3rd, THE COURT WILL RECOGNIZE BEN FRANKLIN McCALL FOR HIS MANY YEARS OF SERVICE TO THIS COURT AS A VOLUNTEER BAILIFF.

MR. McCALL, AGE 84, WAS BORN OCTOBER 1, 1919, IN THE MINTURN COMMUNITY IN DILLON COUNTY. HE MARRIED RECIA TILLMAN, OF KERSHAW COUNTY, ON JULY 12, 1943. AFTER COMPLETING HIS MILITARY SERVICE, MR. McCALL STARTED ATTENDING SESSIONS OF JUDGE LEGARE BATES' COURT, A RICHLAND COUNTY COURT JUDGE, IN 1945. HE LATER STARTED ATTENDING SESSIONS OF THE LEGISLATURE AND THE SOUTH CAROLINA SUPREME COURT, WHICH WAS LOCATED IN THE STATE HOUSE UNTIL 1971.

MR. McCALL HAS BEEN VERY FAITHFUL IN HIS PRESENCE AT SESSIONS OF THE SUPREME COURT, ONLY BEING ABSENT IF HE OR HIS WIFE WERE ILL. HE HAS ATTENDED COURT UNDER TWELVE CHIEF JUSTICES AND FOUR CLERKS OF COURT. MR. McCALL HAS BEEN A DEDICATED PUBLIC SERVANT TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT AND THE COURT IS MOST APPRECIATIVE OF HIS SERVICE.

HE WILL BE RECOGNIZED AFTER THE LAST ORAL ARGUMENT, WHICH IS SCHEDULED FOR 10:30 A.M., ON TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2004.