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South Carolina State Spider

Carolina Wolf Spider Hogna carolinensis Adopted: July 21, 2000
South Carolina state spider
South Carolina State Spider: Carolina Wolf Spider
Wolf Spider at the Top of His Burrow

It took a third grade student, Skyler B. Hutto, from Sheridan Elementary School in Orangeburg to ensure that South Carolina had an official state spider. But, even though Skyler had "connections" in the South Carolina State Senate, it almost didn't happen.

On February 2, 2000, Senate Bill No. 1091 (S1091), proposing that the Carolina wolf spider be named the official spider of South Carolina, was introduced by Skyler's father, Senator Brad Hutto.

S1091 passed in the Senate, on February 22, 2000, but stalled in the House Committee on Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs.

On April 20, 2000, House Bill No. 4277 (H4277), declaring the "Richardson Waltz" the official waltz of South Carolina, was passed in the House and forwarded to the Senate for consideration.

At this time S1091 (the "spider" bill) had been sitting in the House Committee on Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs for two months. No action had been taken on it.

When it came up in the Senate, Senator Hutto proposed that H4277 (the "waltz" bill) be amended to include the proposal of S1091 (the "spider" bill). The amendment to include the Carolina wolf spider designation in H4277 was passed in the Senate and sent back to the House for their approval.

On May 30, 2000, the House said no to the amendment.

The Senate insisted on the amendment and formed a conference committee to resolve the issue.

The House balked but, after much wrangling, agreed to the amended version of H4277 on June 22, 2000.

On July 21, 2000, when Governor Mark Sanford signed House Bill No. 4277 into law, the "Richardson Waltz" became South Carolina's official waltz and the Carolina wolf spider became South Carolina's official spider.

(A389, R459, H4277)

AN ACT

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTIONS 1-1-667 AND 1-1-701 SO AS TO DESIGNATE CERTAIN STATE EMBLEMS OR SYMBOLS.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

PART I

Richardson Waltz Act

SECTION 1. Sections 1 through 4 of this act are known and may be cited as the "Richardson Waltz Act".

Findings

SECTION 2. The General Assembly finds that:

(1) The Richardson family, descendants of General Richard Richardson (1704-1780) who came from Virginia as a surveyor to settle in South Carolina, is known for its great love of music and dancing.

(2) Many balls were held as social entertainment for family and friends from far and wide, and the melody of a favorite waltz for dancing was one which was "originated" by a family member who played "by ear".

(3) This melody, known as "The Richardson Waltz", still lives today, having been handed down "by ear" from generation to generation but had never been written until 1985, when it was arranged by Mary S. Richardson Briggs.

(4) Mrs. W. M. Richardson of Orangeburg planted the seed for the preservation of "The Richardson Waltz" many years ago, and Mrs. H. B. Richardson of Summerton helped hand it down and preserve it for posterity.

(5) This waltz is a beautiful and soulful melody, is a memento of the musical tradition of the Richardson family, has for many generations played an unofficial but important role in the musical history of South Carolina, and is deserving of designation as the Official State Waltz.

(6) A bill to designate "The Richardson Waltz" as the official waltz was sponsored by Representatives C. Alexander Harvin III, Elsie Rast Stuart, Jimmy C. Bales, Lynn Seithel, Jackson S. "Seth" Whipper, Becky Meacham-Richardson, Harry L. Ott, Jr., John Milton "Jake" Knotts, Jr., and Walton J. McLeod.

Official state waltz

SECTION 3. Chapter 1, Title 1 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 1-1-667. 'The Richardson Waltz' is designated as the official state waltz."

Distribution by Code Commissioner

SECTION 4. The Code Commissioner shall distribute copies of Part I of this act to any interested persons including the members of the Richardson family and the Daughters of the American Revolution.

PART II

Carolina Wolf Spider Act

SECTION 5. Sections 5 through 8 of this act are known and may be cited as the "Carolina Wolf Spider Act".

Findings

SECTION 6. The General Assembly finds that:

(1) The state emblems and symbols adopted by the General Assembly and listed in the South Carolina Legislative Manual are an excellent educational resource for students of this State.

(2) After reading in the Legislative Manual about the existing state symbols and emblems, Skyler B. Hutto, a third grade student at Sheridan Elementary School in Orangeburg, noted that there was no official state spider and suggested that the Carolina Wolf Spider be given that designation.

(3) A bill to designate the Carolina Wolf Spider as the official state spider was sponsored by Senator Brad Hutto.

(4) Skyler Hutto has worked diligently to pursue this designation for the Carolina Wolf Spider.

(5) His schoolmates and teachers have followed the progress of the legislation with interest.

(6) Through this experience, the students have learned both about spiders and about how a bill becomes a law, which has enhanced the third graders' study of South Carolina history.

Official state spider

SECTION 7. Chapter 1, Title 1 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 1-1-701. The 'Carolina Wolf Spider', Hogna carolinensis, is designated as the official state spider."

Distribution by Code Commissioner

SECTION 8. The Code Commissioner shall distribute copies of Part II of this act to any interested persons including Skyler B. Hutto and the students and teachers of the Sheridan Elementary third grade class.

PART III

SECTION 9. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

Ratified the 22nd day of June, 2000.

Approved the 21st day of July, 2000.


Sources...

State of South Carolina. e>South Carolina Code of Laws. Columbia: State of South Carolina, 2011. Web. 8 Jun 2011.
Shearer, Benjamin F. and Barbara S. State Names, Seals, Flags and Symbols: A Historical Guide Third Edition, Revised and Expanded. Westport, Conn: Greenwood Press, 3 Sub edition, 2001.


Additional Information

The Carolina Wolf Spider: South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism

Carolina Wolf Spider Lycosa carolinensis: From Spiders.US

Wolf Spiders Hogna [previously known as Lycosa ] species: PennState College of Agricultural Sciences.

Hogna carolinensis - (Walckenaer, 1805): A network connecting science with conservation - NatureServe Explorer: An Online Encyclopedia of Life.

Hogna carolinensis: Photographs of Hogna carolinensis from CalPhotos. CalPhotos is a project of The Biodiversity Sciences Technology group (BSCIT), University of California, Berkeley.

Hogna carolinensis: Photographs of Hogna carolinensis from BugGuide.net.

More symbols & emblems: Complete list of official South Carolina state symbols from NETSTATE.COM.

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