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[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1555-E1556]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
TRIBUTE HONORING COMMISSIONER RAYMOND BUXTON, II
______
HON. JAMES E. CLYBURN
of south carolina
in the house of representatives
Friday, December 6, 2019
Mr. CLYBURN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor an outstanding
leader Raymond Buxton, II, who is retiring after 40 years of service to
the State of South Carolina. Mr. Buxton is a personal friend and his
many contributions have not gone unnoticed.
Mr. Buxton received his Bachelor of Science degree from Savannah
State University in Savannah, Georgia. He went on to serve his country
as a dental technician in the United States Army with the 87th Medical
Detachment in Nuremberg, Germany and at Moncrief Army Hospital in Fort
Jackson, South Carolina. He furthered his education by taking graduate
courses at the University of South Carolina and graduating from the
South Carolina Executive Institute.
In 1979, when I was South Carolina Human Affairs Commissioner, I
hired Ray as a community relations consultant. While in this position,
he consulted with community leaders around the state to build
relationships among a diverse group of citizens to promote unity. He
went on to work as an employment investigator, senior analyst for
employment discrimination, division director of the private sector/
employment, and executive assistant for internal affairs before being
tapped to run the agency in July 2012.
As the agency director, Mr. Buxton has worked diligently to make
positive changes within the agency. He was responsible for fully
restoring the once underfunded budget for the agency and increased
staff from 20 to 46 employees. Also, Mr. Buxton instituted a new
initiative, the ``Quality of Life'' dialogue, within the Community
Relations Department to promote better human relations among diverse
[[Page E1556]]
populations in South Carolina. Professionally, he serves as vice
president of the South Carolina Fair Housing Council, Inc. and as a
South Carolina Human Affairs Representative for the International
Association of Official Human Rights Agencies.
Mr. Buxton is also committed to serving the community. He is a member
of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. He has served as the Fraternity's
Chapter President and has been honored as its Man of the Year. He also
volunteers at the Meals on Wheels Senior Resource Center and is an
active board member on several committees including the Budget and
Finance Committee and Board of Trustees at Saint John Baptist Church,
the Columbia Housing Authority Development Board, and the Israel Brooks
Foundation Board.
Madam Speaker, I ask that you and my colleagues join me in offering
congratulations and well wishes to Raymond Buxton, II, for his 40 years
of service at the South Carolina Human Affairs Commission. His
extraordinary work has made a great impact in the lives of South
Carolinians. I wish him all the best as he transitions into retirement,
but I know he will continue to be an active pa1ticipant in the
community always striving to improve the quality of life for everyone.
____________________
