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HONORING CHIEF RUSSELL ROARK

Speaker
N000190
Subject
N000190
Source
Congressional Record · original
Chamber
house
Published
Thursday, May 14, 2026
Sentiment
positive (score 1.00)

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Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 82 (Thursday, May 14, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 82 (Thursday, May 14, 2026)] [House] [Pages H3462-H3463] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] HONORING CHIEF RUSSELL ROARK (Mr. Norman of South Carolina was recognized to address the House for 5 minutes.) Mr. NORMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor a true public servant, Chief Russell Roark, whose life has been defined by dedication, by integrity, and by exceptional service to the people of Union County and the entire State of South Carolina. Chief Roark first began his career in public safety in 1962, over 64 years ago, when he joined the City of Union Fire Department. Just one year later, he joined the Union …

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Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 82 (Thursday, May 14, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 82 (Thursday, May 14, 2026)] [House] [Pages H3462-H3463] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] HONORING CHIEF RUSSELL ROARK (Mr. Norman of South Carolina was recognized to address the House for 5 minutes.) Mr. NORMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor a true public servant, Chief Russell Roark, whose life has been defined by dedication, by integrity, and by exceptional service to the people of Union County and the entire State of South Carolina. Chief Roark first began his career in public safety in 1962, over 64 years ago, when he joined the City of Union Fire Department. Just one year later, he joined the Union City Police Department. Through hard work, professionalism, and steady leadership, Chief Roark quickly advanced through the ranks, becoming assistant chief of police in 1975, then chief of police in 1982. In 1983, he played a pivotal role in the merger of the Union City Police Department and the City of Union Fire Department into a single unified agency, known as the Union Public Safety Department. He became its first director, and under his leadership, the department earned South Carolina law enforcement accreditation, becoming the first law enforcement agency in Union County to achieve such a distinction and honor. Chief Roark also made lasting improvements to the community fire service division, emphasizing advanced training and the importance of strong fire prevention efforts. Thanks to his leadership, the department earned a class 2 ISO rating, which is the Insurance Services Office, an achievement that enhanced public safety while reducing insurance costs for the residents and businesses all across Union County. After 40 years of service, Chief Roark retired from the Union County Public Safety Department in 2003, but his commitment to serving others did not end there. He returned just 2 days later to work with the Union County Sheriff's Department, where he served as a patrol deputy and the civil process deputy. {time} 1045 In 2021, South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster awarded Roark with the Order of the Palmetto, which is the State's highest civilian honor. Chief Roark officially retired from law enforcement in November of last [[Page H3463]] year after 63 years of public service. This is an outstanding achievement. His career represents a lifetime devoted to protecting others and strengthening the community he so proudly called home. His legacy is not confined to the number of years he has served, which is no doubt historic, but it is immortalized in the many lives that he touched, the standard that he continually set, and example that he leaves behind. Chief Roark's dedication, his faith, and his integrity have made a lasting impression on everyone in Union County and will continue to inspire future generations of public servants to follow in his footsteps. I am proud to recognize Chief Russell Roark and thank him for his lifetime of extraordinary service and commitment to the people of Union County and to the entire State of South Carolina. ____________________

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