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Article published Apr 15, 2004
Legislature pays tribute to 'living legend' Bruce
Littlejohn
ROBERT W. DALTON
Staff
Writer
Bruce Littlejohn sat back and soaked up everything going on
in the state House of Representatives Wednesday morning.The debate going on in
front of him. The deals being worked out in the back of the chamber. The
91-year-old Littlejohn took it all in.Once upon a time this was his playground
and he was the captain -- the only representative from Spartanburg County to
ever serve as Speaker of the House. For a brief but glorious moment Wednesday,
it was his House again.The Legislature summoned Littlejohn back to honor him for
his years of service to the state. Littlejohn is the owner of a unique
double-double: In addition to being elected Speaker of the House, he also is a
former Chief Justice of the state Supreme Court.Rep. Lanny Littlejohn,
R-Pacolet, announced that a section of Highway 176, from Pacolet to the Union
County line, will be renamed Bruce Littlejohn Boulevard, and Speaker David
Wilkins presented Bruce Littlejohn with the Order of the Palmetto, the state's
highest honor."I feel like my cup runneth over one more time," Littlejohn said.
"There's no road I'd rather have named for me than the one that goes to Pacolet.
I was born there, and I'll be buried there."Littlejohn was first elected to the
House in 1936. He said of the 170 people who served in the Legislature with him
in 1937, he is the only one still living."I survived by keeping on breathing,"
he said with a laugh. "That's the only way I know to keep living."Littlejohn
served until 1943, when he resigned to join the Army during World War II. He did
a tour of duty in the Philippines and was a military prosecutor of Japanese war
criminals.He returned to Spartanburg in 1946 and was re-elected to the House.
With the backing of then-Gov. Strom Thurmond, Littlejohn was elected Speaker in
1947 and served for two years.Littlejohn was elected judge for the 7th Judicial
Circuit in 1949, and served until being selected for the state Supreme Court in
1967. He was electedChief Justice in 1984 and served until his retirement in
1985.Littlejohn also has written three books: "Littlejohn's Half Century at the
Bench and Bar," "Littlejohn's Political Memoirs," and "Laugh with The Judge," a
compilation of trial anecdotes.Lanny Littlejohn said naming a road for Bruce
Littlejohn and giving him the Order of the Palmetto didn't seem like equal
payback for someone who had dedicated his life to the state."I really feel
unworthy to introduce a man of his caliber," Littlejohn said. "He's just done so
much for South Carolina.Sen. John Hawkins, R-Spartanburg, said he looked at
Littlejohn as a role model."He's a living legend," Hawkins said. "I don't know
of anyone else who has been Speaker of the House and Chief Justice. I'm just
proud to call him a friend."Sen. Jim Ritchie, R-Spartanburg, called Littlejohn
an extraordinary South Carolinian."Our state is more just and a more civil place
because of his work," he said.Littlejohn slowly made his way out of the House
chamber after the ceremony, shaking hands and exchanging words with
well-wishers. Before he left, he took one last look around."I feel at home
here," he said. "Nearly everything changes, but one thing that never changes is
the fraternity in the Legislature."Robert W. Dalton can be reached at 562-7274
or bob.dalton@shj.com.