Hey Greenville, Shari here. 👋 One of my favorite things about life in South Carolina is our state’s rich history + the many legacies left by South Carolinians from all walks of life.
#DYK that SC has its own hall of fame that recognizes and honors 100+ men and women of the past + present who have made exceptional contributions to South Carolina’s heritage and progress?
The South Carolina Hall of Fame (located in Myrtle Beach) is a nonprofit corporation funded in part by the state that was dedicated in 1973 by Gov. John C. West – who was inducted into the hall in 2002. It was signed into law as the state’s official hall of fame by Gov. Jim Hodges in Sept. 2001.
Those eligible for induction include both SC natives who obtained recognition in or outside of the state and non-residents who made an impact within the state. Each year, a minimum of one living + one deceased citizen is inducted. Nominations are made by the Confederation of South Carolina Local Historical Societies (CSCLHS) and are judged and selected by the Board of Trustees.
Here are 10 notable inductees that are recognized for their legacies in South Carolina:
📚 Donald Patrick “Pat” Conroy (1945-2016); inducted in 2009
Atlanta native + author Pat Conroy wrote his first book, “The Water is Wide,” after graduating from The Citadel with an English degree and working as a teacher. His autobiographical novel, “The Great Santini,” was adapted into a film starring Robert Duvall in 1979, and his most famous work, “The Prince of Tides,” became a movie in 1991 that earned seven Academy Award nominations.
🏥 Maude Callen (1898-1990); inducted in 1990
Florida native Maude Callen spent 50+ years serving the poor as a nurse + midwife with the Berkeley County Health Department. Life Magazine published a 12-page photo spread of her work in 1952, which collected $27,000 to construct a clinic in Pineville, SC – the city in which she first began her healthcare work.
🗜 Philip Simmons (1912-2009); inducted in 1994
This Daniel Island native began specialized ornamental iron work in 1928, which has since been recognized nationally. His work – ranging from gates to balconies – can be found in the South Carolina State Museum, the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., and the National Museum of American History.
🌳 Robert Marvin (1920-2001); inducted in 2001
Robert Marvin was an SC native + graduated from Clemson College in 1942 with a degree in horticulture. He was a professional landscape architect for almost 50 years and became one of the most distinguished landscape architects of the 1900s, focusing on the preservation + restoration of many historic gardens including Hilton Head Glencairn Gardens, the State House grounds, and the Augusta National Golf Club.
🌈 Susan Pringle Frost (1873-1960); inducted in 2015
This Charleston native was the first president of the Charleston Equal Suffrage League. She was also involved in the historic preservation of Charleston + helped found the Society for the Preservation of Old Dwellings (later called the Preservation Society of Charleston) in 1920. It was Susan’s decision to paint the properties along East Bay in Charleston in non-historic pastel colors, which became known as Rainbow Row.
🧸 Dr. Anne Austin Young (1892-1989); inducted in 1981
Anne Austin was known as “that crazy Anne Austin” in her hometown of Cross Hill for wanting to be a doctor during a time when medicine wasn’t an acceptable profession for women to pursue. She went on to become an obstetrician-gynecologist, practiced medicine for over 65 years, and delivered over 10,000 babies.
🏺 David Drake “Dave the Potter” (c.1801-c.1870s); inducted in 2016
David Drake was an enslaved Black potter. He produced 100+ alkaline-glazed stoneware jugs from the 1820s – 1860s. Today he is recognized for the quality of his stoneware objects + for his literacy. The potter signed much of his work “Dave” and inscribed poetry on some of his creations – even though it was against the law for slaves to read + write.
💰 Darla Moore (1954-present); inducted in 2015
SC native Darla Moore graduated from UofSC with a B.A. in Political Science in 1975, and in 1998 she made a $25 million donation to USC’s School of Business, now called the Darla Moore School of Business. Darla + her husband, Richard Rainwater, also donated $10 million to Clemson’s School of Education. Darla was awarded the Order of the Palmetto in 1998.
🇺🇸 Lucile Godbold (1900-1981); inducted in 2005
Lucile Godbold received a degree in Physical Education from Winthrop College in 1922. That same year, she qualified for the US Track + Field Team and competed in Paris. She was selected to carry our country’s flag, and during the national anthem, she led the procession of female athletes.
🎨 Leo Twiggs (1934-present); inducted in 2020
Artist, educator, and museum director. I was fortunate enough to meet + work on a symposium with Dr. Leo Twiggs in 2018. He even gave me a tour of his home studio and taught me about the batik process - the art style he is most known for. He is also the winner of the Verner Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Arts, as well as the Order of the Palmetto, SC’s highest civilian honor.
Think you know SC’s inductees? Try taking South Carolina Hall of Fame’s quizzes (easy, moderate + difficult) to test your knowledge.
