R 382
2017 -- H 6387
Enacted 09/19/2017

H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N
DECLARING OCTOBER 7, 2017, TO BE "REVEREND DR. SAMMY C. VAUGHAN DAY" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

Introduced By: Representatives Casey, Morin, Phillips, Keable, and Shekarchi
Date Introduced: September 19, 2017

     WHEREAS, Reverend Dr. Sammy C. Vaughan was born in Brooklyn, New York, and
raised in Franklin, Virginia. He was baptized at the age of 9 at the First Baptist Church of
Franklin, Virginia. He attended both elementary and high school in the city and graduated from
Hayden High School in 1948; and
     WHEREAS, Shortly after graduating from high school, Reverend Vaughan joined the
United States Navy, and served our nation with honor and distinction for 22 years, retiring in
1969 as a Chief Aviation Storekeeper. He served our nation during the Korean and Vietnam Wars
and is the recipient of four Good Conduct Medals; and
     WHEREAS, Reverend Dr. Vaughan graduated from Providence College in 1976 with a
Bachelor of Science degree in Hospital Administration. He is the retired Corporate Director of
Community Relations/EEO of the Lifespan Health Care System of Providence. He was employed
at Rhode Island Hospital and Lifespan Health Care System for more than thirty-five years, until
his retirement; and
      WHEREAS, In 1990, Reverend Dr. Vaughan earned a Master's degree in Religious
Education from the Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and in 1997, he earned a Doctor of
Religious Education degree from the Andersonville Theological Seminary. He was licensed to
preach the Gospel on April 24, 1983, and was ordained as a Minister of the Gospel on January 31,
1988. For the past thirty-four years, and particularly the past twenty-eight years as Senior Pastor
of Saint James Baptist Church, Reverend Vaughan has served the greater community with
passion and devotion, bringing the good news of God's love, grace, spirit and truth on a daily
basis to people from all walks of life; and
     WHEREAS, Reverend Dr. Vaughan has served as the Past President of the United
Baptist Convention for Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire. He has also served as
a member of the Board of Directors for the Human Development Center of Greater Woonsocket,
as a member of the Corporation of Women and Infants Hospital, as President of the Minister's
Alliance of Rhode Island, and as a Chaplain for the Woonsocket Police Department. He is also a
Past Grand Master, Prince Hall Grand Lodge, Jurisdiction of Rhode Island, a Grand Prior,
Council of Deliberation, a Thirty-Third degree Prince Hall Mason, and a member of the United
Supreme Council, Northern Jurisdiction; and
     WHEREAS, The Reverend Dr. Vaughan was married for sixty-three years to the late
Gwendolyn E. Maynard of Providence. He has three sons and a daughter, six grandchildren, and
five great-grandchildren; now, therefore be it
     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and
Providence Plantations hereby declares October 7, 2017, to be "Reverend Dr. Sammy C. Vaughan
Day" in the State of Rhode Island. We furthermore thank him for his service to our nation in the
United States Navy, and for his many decades of distinguished public and community service to
the City of Providence and the State of Rhode Island; and be it further
     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to
transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Reverend Dr. Sammy C. Vaughan.
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LC003009
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