Floor SpeechCeremonial2026-07-13

HONORING MARK BUYCK

Joe Wilson

RSC-2 · Representative

HealthcareTaxesEnvironmentCrime & Justice

Context

On 2026-07-13, Representative Joe Wilson (R-SC-2) delivered a floor speech titled "HONORING MARK BUYCK" in the House.

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HONORING MARK BUYCK

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 113 (Monday, July 13, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 113 (Monday, July 13, 2026)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E669] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] HONORING MARK BUYCK ______ HON. JOE WILSON of south carolina in the house of representatives Monday, July 13, 2026 Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life of Mark Wilson Buyck, Jr. South Carolinians will always cherish the professionalism of Defense Attorney Mark Buyck as evidenced by his extraordinary success serving the public. A highlight of my life was in 1966, as a Washington and Lee University student, to poll watch for him at Mars Bluff Precinct in Florence, with his leadership in founding the modern Republican Party in South Carolina. I include in the Record an inspiring obituary provided by Waters-Powell Funeral Home: Mark Wilson Buyck, Jr. Mark W. Buyck, Jr., 91, of Florence, passed away July 11, 2026. Mr. Buyck was born on Christmas Day 1934, the son of Mark Wilson Buyck and Mary Otis Buyck. He graduated from Saint Matthews High School where he was President of the Senior Class, editor of the school's award-winning newspaper, and State President of the Beta Club, an honorary Scholastic Society. He graduated from his beloved University of South Carolina with an A.B. in 1956 and its Law School in 1959. He served as a judge advocate in the US Air Force for three years following law school, including spending the first two years of his 66-year marriage in Turkey with his wife, the former Julia Willcox of Florence, where their first two children were born. He and Julia were inseparable and shared their numerous life activities together. He retired from the Air Force Reserves as a Lt. Colonel. He served on the USC Board of Trustees for 28 years. He was a former member of the Board of Visitors of USC, Francis Marion University, and Winthrop University, receiving Honorary Degrees from both Francis Marion University and the University of South Carolina. He was a past president of the Greater USC Alumni Association and a former member of the State Board governing South Carolina's Technical College System. Mr. Buyck was active in local civic affairs, serving as president of the Florence Rotary Club, Florence Country Club, and Florence Little Theater. He was one of the founders of the Florence Heritage Foundation, the first Chairman of its Board, and President. He was a member of the Florence County, South Carolina and American Bar Associations, and a past president of the S.C. Defense Trial Attorneys Association. He was a permanent member of the U.S. Fourth Circuit Judicial Conference, former United States Attorney for South Carolina, and past chairman of the University of South Carolina Law School Association. Mr. Buyck was admitted to practice before all State and Federal Courts in South Carolina, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, and the Supreme Court of the United States. He was a former member of the Federation of Insurance and Corporate Counsel, the National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel, a current member of the American College of Trial Lawyers and the American Board of Trial Advocates. He was past president of the S.C. Chapter of ABOTA and a former member of its National Board of Directors. Mr. Buyck was past Chairman of the National College of District Attorneys Committee of the American College of Trial Lawyers and a former Regent and Vice-President of the National College of District Attorneys. Mr. Buyck was the past President of the South Carolina Historical Society. He served for a decade on the initial Advisory Board of the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. He was a member of the Executive Committee of the SC State Fair Association. He had been honored by two Governors of South Carolina with the Order of the Palmetto, the state's highest award, and had been listed in all published editions of the Best Lawyers in America. He received the prestigious honor of the Judge Hemphill Award for distinguished service to the legal profession and the public by the SC Defense Trial Attorneys Association and the Compleat Lawyer Award by the USC Law School. He was also the recipient of the Judge Ralph K. Anderson, Jr. Award from the Florence County Bar Association, and the SC Bar DuRant Award for distinguished public service and outstanding leadership to his profession, community, state, and nation. The DuRant Award is presented by the South Carolina Bar Foundation and is considered the highest honor for a South Carolina lawyer. Some of his most significant criminal cases occurred while serving as U.S. Attorney and in civil cases he was involved in the S.C. Tobacco cases during his private practice. Mr. Buyck was a member of the Board of Directors of The Bank of Clarendon. He served on the Board of Trustees and as Secretary of Drs. Bruce and Lee Foundation in Florence. He was on the MUSC Florence Hospital Board of Trustees and was a member of the Board of the SC State Ports Authority. Mr. Buyck was an attorney at Willcox, Buyck, and Williams, PA for over 60 years. He was a lifelong horseman. He and Julia were engaged at the Carolina Cup, and he was a former member of the Camden Hunt. One of the happiest moments of his life was when his horse Show Court won the Carolina Cup in 2017. He and Julia were generous hosts, particularly for his family and friends on his Christmas birthdays at his home and at their cottage at Pawleys Island. He was a parishioner of Saint Anthony Catholic Church, former president of the Parish Council, and former Parish School board chairman and a lector. He is preceded in death by his parents and a grandson, Hugh Willcox Buyck, Jr. Surviving are his wife, the former Julia Willcox of Florence and three children: Mark W. Buyck, III, (Virginia) of Florence, Julie B. McKissick (Charlie) of Greenville, and Hugh W. Buyck (Meredith) of Mt. Pleasant; eight grandchildren: Mark W. Buyck, IV, of Florence, Elizabeth B. Howell (Joseph) of Charleston, Brooks Buyck of Charleston, Charles McKissick, Jr. of Georgetown, Julia Smyth Anido (Andrew) of Greenville, Peter S. Buyck of Charleston; Coles Buyck of Mt. Pleasant; and his siblings, William Otis Buyck of Manning, Lynan B. Leding of Tampa, FL, and Susan B. Eckstein of Chapin. ____________________

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HONORING MARK BUYCK Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 113 (Monday, July 13, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 113 (Monday, July 13, 2026)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E669] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] HONORING MARK BUYCK ______ HON. JOE WILSON of south carolina in the house of representatives Monday, July 13, 2026 Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life of Mark Wilson Buyck, Jr. South Carolinians will always cherish the professionalism of Defense Attorney Mark Buyck as evidenced by his extraordinary success serving the public. A highlight of my life was in 1966, as a Washington and Lee University student, to poll watch for him at Mars Bluff Precinct in Florence, with his leadership in founding the modern Republican Party in South Carolina. I include in the Record an inspiring obituary provided by Waters-Powell Funeral Home: Mark Wilson Buyck, Jr. Mark W. Buyck, Jr., 91, of Florence, passed away July 11, 2026. Mr. Buyck was born on Christmas Day 1934, the son of Mark Wilson Buyck and Mary Otis Buyck. He graduated from Saint Matthews High School where he was President of the Senior Class, editor of the school's award-winning newspaper, and State President of the Beta Club, an honorary Scholastic Society. He graduated from his beloved University of South Carolina with an A.B. in 1956 and its Law School in 1959. He served as a judge advocate in the US Air Force for three years following law school, including spending the first two years of his 66-year marriage in Turkey with his wife, the former Julia Willcox of Florence, where their first two children were born. He and Julia were inseparable and shared their numerous life activities together. He retired from the Air Force Reserves as a Lt. Colonel. He served on the USC Board of Trustees for 28 years. He was a former member of the Board of Visitors of USC, Francis Marion University, and Winthrop University, receiving Honorary Degrees from both Francis Marion University and the University of South Carolina. He was a past president of the Greater USC Alumni Association and a former member of the State Board governing South Carolina's Technical College System. Mr. Buyck was active in local civic affairs, serving as president of the Florence Rotary Club, Florence Country Club, and Florence Little Theater. He was one of the founders of the Florence Heritage Foundation, the first Chairman of its Board, and President. He was a member of the Florence County, South Carolina and American Bar Associations, and a past president of the S.C. Defense Trial Attorneys Association. He was a permanent member of the U.S. Fourth Circuit Judicial Conference, former United States Attorney for South Carolina, and past chairman of the University of South Carolina Law School Association. Mr. Buyck was admitted to practice before all State and Federal Courts in South Carolina, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, and the Supreme Court of the United States. He was a former member of the Federation of Insurance and Corporate Counsel, the National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel, a current member of the American College of Trial Lawyers and the American Board of Trial Advocates. He was past president of the S.C. Chapter of ABOTA and a former member of its National Board of Directors. Mr. Buyck was past Chairman of the National College of District Attorneys Committee of the American College of Trial Lawyers and a former Regent and Vice-President of the National College of District Attorneys. Mr. Buyck was the past President of the South Carolina Historical Society. He served for a decade on the initial Advisory Board of the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. He was a member of the Executive Committee of the SC State Fair Association. He had been honored by two Governors of South Carolina with the Order of the Palmetto, the state's highest award, and had been listed in all published editions of the Best Lawyers in America. He received the prestigious honor of the Judge Hemphill Award for distinguished service to the legal profession and the public by the SC Defense Trial Attorneys Association and the Compleat Lawyer Award by the USC Law School. He was also the recipient of the Judge Ralph K. Anderson, Jr. Award from the Florence County Bar Association, and the SC Bar DuRant Award for distinguished public service and outstanding leadership to his profession, community, state, and nation. The DuRant Award is presented by the South Carolina Bar Foundation and is considered the highest honor for a South Carolina lawyer. Some of his most significant criminal cases occurred while serving as U.S. Attorney and in civil cases he was involved in the S.C. Tobacco cases during his private practice. Mr. Buyck was a member of the Board of Directors of The Bank of Clarendon. He served on the Board of Trustees and as Secretary of Drs. Bruce and Lee Foundation in Florence. He was on the MUSC Florence Hospital Board of Trustees and was a member of the Board of the SC State Ports Authority. Mr. Buyck was an attorney at Willcox, Buyck, and Williams, PA for over 60 years. He was a lifelong horseman. He and Julia were engaged at the Carolina Cup, and he was a former member of the Camden Hunt. One of the happiest moments of his life was when his horse Show Court won the Carolina Cup in 2017. He and Julia were generous hosts, particularly for his family and friends on his Christmas birthdays at his home and at their cottage at Pawleys Island. He was a parishioner of Saint Anthony Catholic Church, former president of the Parish Council, and former Parish School board chairman and a lector. He is preceded in death by his parents and a grandson, Hugh Willcox Buyck, Jr. Surviving are his wife, the former Julia Willcox of Florence and three children: Mark W. Buyck, III, (Virginia) of Florence, Julie B. McKissick (Charlie) of Greenville, and Hugh W. Buyck (Meredith) of Mt. Pleasant; eight grandchildren: Mark W. Buyck, IV, of Florence, Elizabeth B. Howell (Joseph) of Charleston, Brooks Buyck of Charleston, Charles McKissick, Jr. of Georgetown, Julia Smyth Anido (Andrew) of Greenville, Peter S. Buyck of Charleston; Coles Buyck of Mt. Pleasant; and his siblings, William Otis Buyck of Manning, Lynan B. Leding of Tampa, FL, and Susan B. Eckstein of Chapin. ____________________