Multiple people have been awarded keys to the City of Greenville – but does that mean they could get into our City Hall any time? Unlock restaurants after hours? (If so, how do we sign up?)
Here’s a quick lowdown on what having the key actually means.
Back in the day (think ancient Rome + Greece), invasion was a constant possibility. When someone important visited your city to forge a relationship, the city officials would present the visitor with keys to the (literal) gates as a symbol of trust. Basically, you can visit any time and we know you won’t bring your army.
Today, the ceremony is more about recognizing someone who’s done something good for the city. Like in 2008: Crowds gathered at the Westin to see George Clooney + Renee Zellweger receive the keys to the city of Greenville. They starred in Leatherheads, which featured several scenes filmed in GVL + tons of Greenvillians as extras (imagine the tourism boost).
Then in 2011, Greenville’s student organization Young Friends of Florence (YFF) awarded keys to Simonetta Brandolini d’Adda, President of Friends of Florence. 🇮🇹
Rivers Hughes, the leader of YFF + high school senior at the time, worked with the Metropolitan Arts Council to raise $60,000+ for the boar statue in Poinsett Plaza downtown (technically called Il Porcellino). The statue has a twin in Florence, and members of Friends of Florence (the Italian organization) visited GVL for the unveiling.
And Mayor Knox White presented the keys to the City of Greenville to “Amelia Earhart” in 2016. Don’t worry, no ghosts here – Amelia was played by Leslie Goddard as part of a living history exhibit by the Upcountry History Museum + Greenville Chautauqua.
As far as Greenvillians who have received a key: Rev. Dr. Walter E. Davis was given keys by mayor Bill Workman thanks to his work with Greenville’s Economic Development Committee + the Greenville Urban League’s Housing Taskforce (he also won the Order of the Palmetto in 1985).
Greenville native Phillip Boykin has a key to the City for his wide-spanning work in entertainment, from gospel musicals to opera (his performance in the Broadway play Porgy and Bess earned him a Tony nomination).
But there are other cities in the Upstate besides Greenville.
Off-road racer Randy Hawkins received the keys to the city of Travelers Rest in 2003 + was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2009 (as of his induction, he was still a TR resident).
Stephen Thompson was given the keys to Simpsonville in 2016 for working with the children of the community as a karate instructor, where he drives a shuttle to the program for kids who need rides.
Trevor Booker, Clemson graduate + NBA Rookie at the Washington Wizards, received the keys to the city of Mauldin in 2011, when he hosted a basketball tournament benefiting The Trevor Booker Foundation.
State legislators Sen. Glenn Reese, State Rep. Donna Hicks + State Rep. Doug Brannon were given the keys to the city of Inman in 2015, when they worked to help fund a $100,000 sewer line project that would generate major new business + helped secure $100,000 of state funding to the new Inman Farmers’ Market.
Redskins football player Josh Norman received the keys to the city of Greenwood in 2016. He graduated from Greenwood High School + has continued to give back to the city throughout his career, like donating $10,000 to the Greenwood High athletic booster club.
In 2009, Greer mayor Rick Danner presented three keys: to artist Paul Chan for his work featuring Greer, to photographer Gerald Davis for photos capturing the community + to Billy McCullough, a member of the Greenville County Redevelopment Authority Board for 18 years. Nancy Welch (a journalist who interviewed celebrities including Dick Van Dyke + Mary Tyler Moore, and now works with Harvest Hope Food Bank) received the keys to the City in 2016.
