David H. Wilkins

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
For other people named David Wilkins, see David Wilkins (disambiguation).

David Wilkins
David Jacobson
58th Speaker of the South Carolina House of Representatives
In office
December 6, 1994 – June 21, 2005
Preceded byRobert Sheheen
Succeeded byBobby Harrell
Member of the South Carolina House of Representatives
from the 24th district
In office
December 1980 – June 21, 2005
Preceded byRex L. Carter
Succeeded byBruce W. Bannister
Personal details
Born
David Horton Wilkins

(1946-10-12) October 12, 1946 (age 77)
First Lieutenant

David Horton Wilkins (born October 12, 1946) is an American attorney and a former

United States Ambassador to Canada during the administration of President George W. Bush. Prior to the appointment, he practiced law for 30 years while serving in the South Carolina House of Representatives for 25 of those years. He was speaker of the South Carolina House for 11 years. Wilkins presently chairs the public policy and international law practice department of a South Carolina law firm.[1]

Family life and education

A lifelong resident of

cum laude with a bachelor's degree in 1968. He earned his J.D. degree from the University of South Carolina and then served in the United States Army as a first lieutenant
. In the early 1970s, he returned to Greenville, where he and his wife, Susan, raised their two sons.

Public service

State legislature

Wilkins, a

Reconstruction
and when he retired on June 2, 2005, he was the third-longest-serving speaker in South Carolina history.

In his 25 years in the state legislature, Wilkins played a role in major reform legislation including South Carolina's ethics bill and the Education Accountability Act. Wilkins was also a figure in the relocation of the

video gambling from South Carolina and in delaying the establishment of the South Carolina Education Lottery
. During the economic recession of the 1990s, Wilkins successfully fought tax increases, and as a result, South Carolina was one of only a handful of states that did not raise its taxes.

Throughout his legislative career, Wilkins received numerous awards including the 2004 Excellence in State Legislative Leadership Award from the National Conference of State Legislatures which cited his steadfast position for relocating the Confederate flag and his refusal to cancel a national conference in the wake of the

9/11 terrorist attacks
. Wilkins was also named Outstanding Legislator of the Year by a wide range of organizations, and he served as President of the National Speakers' Association and as chair of the Southern Legislative Conference.

Political activities and appointment as ambassador to Canada

Wilkins was state chair of the

West Point in 2002.[2]

He was nominated by President Bush for the post of

United States Ambassador to Canada on April 27, 2005, and the Senate confirmed him by voice vote on May 26, 2005.[3][4] Wilkins formally presented his credentials to the Governor General of Canada Adrienne Clarkson
on June 29, 2005.

Tenure as ambassador

Upon his arrival in Canada, Wilkins pledged his commitment to "strengthening the ties that bind our two great nations." In an April 2008 interview, Wilkins reiterated that sentiment stating, "we have the largest trading relationship the world's ever known, and I think the best relationship. To just remind ourselves on both sides of the border how important we are to each other and keep trying to make it stronger -- that's certainly my goal."

Before his appointment, Wilkins had only been to Canada once, when he was in the United States Army Reserve three decades prior.

In his first 20 months as ambassador, the top irritant between the nations – softwood lumber – was resolved, with the support of most of the Canadian lumber industry. In addition to the softwood lumber dispute, Wilkins addressed a number of other issues including the Northwest Passage, Rendition, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), and Canada's role in Afghanistan.

Wilkins left office in January 2009, at the end of President Bush's second term.[3]

Clemson University activities

Wilkins was awarded an honorary doctorate of humanities in 2003 from the University,[5] where he also earned the Alumni Association's Distinguished Service Award.

On 28 March 2007, Wilkins was elected by the University's Board of Trustees as a lifetime seat recipient to serve on the University's 13 member Board. On July 17, 2009, Wilkins was unanimously elected to a two-year term as chair.[6]

Post-government career

In February 2009, Wilkins became a partner at Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP and chairs the Public Policy and International Law practice group, which focuses primarily on representing businesses on both sides of the U.S.-Canada border.[7][8]

References

  1. ^ "David Horton Wilkins' Biography". Vote Smart. Retrieved May 28, 2017.
  2. ISBN 9780160723193
    . Retrieved May 28, 2017.
  3. ^ a b "David Horton Wilkins (1946–)". United States of America Office of the Historian. Retrieved May 28, 2017.
  4. ^ Thomas Library of Congress. [1] Archived February 1, 2016, at the Wayback Machine Nomination: PN455-109
  5. ^ "U.S. Ambassador to address graduates at fall commencement | Lander University". www.lander.edu. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
  6. ^ "University Governance | Clemson University, South Carolina". www.clemson.edu. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
  7. ^ "David H. Wilkins". Nelson Mullins. Retrieved May 28, 2017.
  8. ^ Ambassador David H. Wilkins joins Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP, Reuters, February 1, 2009.

External links

Diplomatic posts
Preceded by
United States Ambassador to Canada

2005–2009 		Succeeded by
David Jacobson
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=David_H._Wilkins&oldid=1208378222"