Commissioners Present Order of the Brick to James H. “Jay” Lucas

South Carolina Mental Health Commission Chair Greg Pearce and Member Alison Evans, Psy.D., recently presented retiring SC House Speaker James H. “Jay” Lucas with a handmade brick from the 1827 wall that formerly surrounded the S.C. State Hospital. When the wall was lowered in 1962, the bricks were used for new building projects, including construction of the Chapel of Hope; the  “Order of the Brick” is awarded by the S.C. Mental Health Commission and honors individuals who have made outstanding efforts to support the BHDD Office of Mental Health mission.

Lucas, who served as Representative for South Carolina’s 65th district since 1999 and as Speaker of the House since 2014, retired from the Legislature at the end of this year’s session. Throughout his political career, he has supported mental health initiatives. In fact, upon receiving the Award, Lucas recalled that one of the first awards he received as a legislator was “Professional of the Year” from the South Carolina Mental Health Association of Darlington County in 1999.

Commissioners Pearce and Evans thanked Lucas for his support of mental health during his legislative career and offered congratulations on his retirement. On behalf of the full Commission, they presented the Award “in appreciation of [his] steadfast support of the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (BHDD) Office of Mental Health and South Carolinians who live with mental illness.”

Pictured: S.C. Mental Health Commission Chair Greg Pearce and  Member Alison Evans, Psy.D., present the Order of the Brick to James H. “Jay” Lucas.