Why did the City of Tega Cay choose the 4th of July as their official birthday date? Tega Cay’s incorporation vote took place on Saturday April 17, 1982. The first city municipal election occurred on Saturday June 19th, 1982 to elect a city Mayor and 4 council members. The Mayor and 2 Council Members votes were decided on June 19th, but 2 council seat votes were too close to call so a runoff election occurred on Saturday July 3rd, 1982. Although the SC Secretary of State record shows Tega Cay’s date of charter or incorporation as Monday April 19, 1982**, the city leaders decided to use the 4th of July 1982 to celebrate the city’s incorporation and to officially swear into office the elected officials.
On Sunday July 4th, 1982 a short parade of firemen, clowns, bicyclists, belly dancers, swim team, and newly elected officials ended at the clubhouse for the swearing in ceremony and speeches.
Located in the original Tega Cay Clubhouse, SC Attorney General Dan McLeod performed the swearing in ceremony of the Mayor (Tony Tarulli) and 2 Council Members (Max Heron, Garry Zettersten) at 4:21 P.M. On July 4th, 1982 which is the time and date Tega Cay officially became the 267th South Carolina municipality. Bertha de Varennes and Hubert Graham who won the runoff election on July 3rd raised their hands during the oath, but became council members officially on July 5th, 1982 at 7 p.m. once the runoff election was officially certified.
During the ceremony, McLeod said to the crowd, “I have no doubt that you\’ll leave a record that the rest of South Carolina can follow with pride.”
Newly sworn in Mayor Tarulli said, “Like our nation 206 years ago, Tega Cay was born in unrest at the desire of the residents. The nation did not solve all its problems, but it became the greatest nation. Become involved. Stay involved, apathy leads to deterioration and corruption.”
Probably the most memorable messages followed. Below is an article excerpt by Tim Hartis Evening Herald staff writer Monday July 5th, 1982.
About 300 Tega Cay residents celebrated the birthday of the city Sunday afternoon July 4th, 1982. Warm greetings flowed down from high places including telegrams from two who just returned from space.
Telegrams of congratulations from space shuttle Columbia astronauts Ken Matingly and Henry Hartsfield who brought the ship home safely from Its fourth mission and from President Regan were read to the jubilant crowd during the Sunday ceremony.
The space message dated July 2 read “Fourth of July greetings and happy birthday to the City of Tega Cay and its citizens. As we leave orbit today, Tega Cay ascends as a new celestial light in the southern sky.”
Buz Stebbins. a Tega Cay resident said people he worked with at the Pentagon during the 60’s are now at NASA program. He called a friend about a week ago to request the telegram. We wanted to make it memorable, said Stebbins, a retired Air Force colonel.
Reagan’s message dated July 1, read: “Congratulations to the citizens of Tega Cay on the July 4th birthday of your city, a birthday shared by our nation. We send our best wishes for your success in seeking the benefits of self-government.”
The crowd heard the greetings while standing in the clubhouse meeting room and on the room’s balcony. “
Following the swearing in ceremony, there was a cake cutting ceremony.
This tradition of celebrating the birth of our nation and the birth of the city of Tega Cay still continues today. The celebration spans 2 or 3 days, full of planned events with land and boat parades, ski team performances, water sports contest, live band concerts, Tega Cay Lions Club Fish Fry followed by a Mayor’s state of the city address, birthday cake cutting, and fireworks show.
The Brief History of Buzz Stebbins Sword in the picture cutting the birthday cake. Alfred {Buzz} Stebbins was one of the founding members of the Tega Cay Lions Club AND The City of Tega Cay. Buzz donated his treasured sword to The Tega Cay Lions Club many years ago.
Buzz Stebbins family can be traced hundreds and hundreds of years ago. Buzz said it came from his Great Great Grandfather A little research shows that John Stebbins, born in 1829 was presented the sword. John Stebbins was a Captain in The New York State Militia around 1853. THE SWORD USED TO CUT THE BIRTHDAY CAKE IS ABOUT 175 YEARS OLD.
Also read The Story of Tega Cay’s Incorporation
Sources: Evening Herald 7-5-82, 4-19-82, 6-19-82
** – Date from SoS’ January 17, 2020 letter to LOC posted online – Tega Cay Date of Charter/Commission is listed as (4/19/1982) Sources: S213159, Secretary of State, Municipal Corporation Files, 1891-2002 Towns of South Carolina. Columbia: Research, Planning and Development Board, 1947. Note. Municipalities with incorporation dates in parenthesis did not have a recorded charter in the Charter Books listed under sources. General Assembly incorporation dates are derived from the above sources, but have not been confirmed through the Statutes At Large.
See where this story fits in the Tega Cay History Complete Timeline.
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