Distinguished Service Award – Page 2 – Clemson Alumni Association

President of Blue Vista Ventures, LLC, Greg Smith, is being honored by the Clemson Alumni Association with the Distinguished Service Award.

Gregory C. Smith ’84

March 22, 2019/in Distinguished Service Award

Gregory C. Smith was born and raised in Coming, New York and after high school decided to make the trek down South for college. He graduated from Clemson University with a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering in 1984 and in 1988 received his master’s in international business from the University of South Carolina.

Smith was the co-founder, Chairman and CEO of Advectis, Inc. – a company that pioneered

President of Blue Vista Ventures, LLC, Greg Smith, is being honored by the Clemson Alumni Association with the Distinguished Service Award, the highest honor that the association bestows on former Clemson Tigers.

the processing of mortgage loans electronically, leading to dramatic efficiency improvements to the overall mortgage process. After selling this business to Xerox, Smith undertook the role of VP and General Manager of Xerox Mortgage Services. Today, Smith is the president of Blue Vista Ventures, LLC, a company specializing in the investments of early-stage and start-up technology companies. Smith was credited with leading change within the mortgage industry to drive paper out of the process and lead the industry from an era of pure paper to an era of electronic mortgages. For his accomplishments, Smith was the recipient of the Steve Fraser Visionary Award in 2008, a lifetime achievement award in mortgage technology given by Mortgage Technology Magazine.

Since graduation, Smith has dedicated his time and treasures to helping move Clemson forward. He served as an inaugural member and the first chair of the Advisory Board for the Spiro Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership. Founded in 1994, the Spiro Institute provides an educational and research program in entrepreneurship that contributes to the economic development of the region, state and nation. The focus is on wealth creation through entrepreneurial activity.

Smith is a valued mentor to Clemson students pursuing their own entrepreneurial dreams. Since 2015, he has volunteered his time to teach a non-paid entrepreneurship class at Clemson, “How to Start a Start-Up,” (ENTR 1090). He led the effort to unite alumni from the various colleges at Clemson University to raise money and drive entrepreneurship initiatives through a program called Spiro Fellows. He is also an active member of the Clemson University Board of Visitors, is a major donor to the Clemson golf program and IPTAY and serves on the Golf Paws Advisory Board.

Smith and his wife, Carol, live in Alpharetta, Georgia and have three grown children, Aaron, Sarah Veach, and Audrey.

Watch the Distinguished Service Awards Tribute Video for Gregory C. Smith

A. Neill Cameron, Jr.

April 20, 2018/in Distinguished Service Award

The Clemson Alumni Association presented A. Neill Cameron, Jr. of Liberty, South Carolina with the 2018 Distinguished Service Award, the association’s highest honor for a Clemson graduate.

“The Distinguished Service Award allows us to take time to recognize a few truly remarkable members of the Clemson family, and Neill Cameron is certainly one of those,” said Clemson University President James P. Clements. “Neill achieved incredible success in his career both in advertising and as vice president of Advancement at Clemson, through his devotion to community service and in his commitment to making Clemson University better every day. We are proud of Neill and the example of service he sets for all of us.”

Originally from Atlanta, Cameron attended Clemson University like his father. In 1967 he was drafted into the

A. Neill Cameron, Jr.

U.S. Army, where he served three years on active duty and 10 years active reserve. Cameron went on to earn a bachelor’s degree from Georgia State University, an MBA from Emory University and a certificate in international business from the London Business School.

Cameron spent 30 years in advertising, the last 22 with Ogilvy & Mather, where he became the youngest division president and board member. He oversaw campaign development for brands such as American Express, Shell Oil, IBM and the Centers for Disease Control. Cameron’s numerous awards include the 1995 Silver Medal for Advertising’s Man of the Year and the U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary’s Medal for Distinguished Service.

In 1999, Cameron was asked to join Clemson as the vice president for Advancement. For 17 years, he oversaw the university’s brand marketing and communications, development, alumni relations, Clemson University Foundation visitor programs, conference center services and historic properties. He served on President James F. Barker’s executive team, which was responsible for implementing the “Top 20” initiative to have the university ranked as one of the top-20 public universities in the country. During the run to top 20, the Advancement Division led efforts to raise more than $1.5 billion, became the No. 1 alumni network, encouraged innovative ideas like CU-ICAR and developed legacy branding such as “Solid Orange,” “One Clemson” and “Determined Spirit.”

Cameron also served on the board of the Clemson University Foundation in 1996-2016, chaired the Clemson Finance Corporation, regularly taught undergraduate classes and became a life member of IPTAY. He established the Albert Neill Cameron Sr. Endowed Engineering Scholarship and the Albert “Neill” Cameron Jr. Endowment for the Brand. Cameron received the Most Preferred Administrator Award from marketing students and was named an honorary member of Clemson’s Class of ’39.

Cameron has served on boards including the Atlanta Ballet, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Egleston Hospital, Emory University’s Center for Leadership and Change, the Houston Grand Opera and the Statue of Liberty Centennial Restoration Foundation. He was on the Organizing Committee for the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games and chaired the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl Association.

The prestigious Clemson Alumni Distinguished Service Award is based on three main criteria: personal and professional accomplishments; dedication and service to Clemson University; and devotion to community and public service. Members of the Clemson family nominate potential winners, who are then selected by the Clemson Alumni Association as outstanding alumni, public servants and examples to others.

“Let me state clearly that I have never had a finer colleague and friend than Neill Cameron,” wrote Clemson President Emeritus James F. Barker. “Neill taught me that Clemson is in the forever business, and he has changed Clemson forever.”

Cameron is now president of SCHA Solutions, the private business development arm of the South Carolina Hospital Association. He and his wife, Jill Young Cameron, split their time between Columbia and Liberty. They have two grown children, Christine Martin and Kendall Cameron, and six grandchildren.

Ann Harvin Whetstone Hunter ’80, M ’82

April 20, 2018/in Distinguished Service Award

The Clemson Alumni Association presented Ann Harvin Whetstone Hunter of Greenwood, South Carolina with the 2018 Distinguished Service Award, the association’s highest honor for a Clemson graduate.

“The Distinguished Service Award allows us to take time to recognize a few truly remarkable members of the Clemson family, and

Ann Hunter is certainly one of those,” said Clemson University President James P. Clements. “Ann has committed countless hours to serving Clemson University and her community. We are proud of Ann and the example of service she sets for all of us.”

Hunter grew up in St. Matthews, was the valedictorian at Calhoun Academy and attended Clemson University, earning a bachelor’s degree in 1980 and a master’s degree in 1982, both in chemical engineering. She was a member of the Joint Engineering Council and the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) student chapter, and met her husband, Wilson Hunter ’79, through AIChE. She worked for Union Carbide Corp. before her daughter was born.

Hunter and her brother, Jack ’75, M ’78, inherited and now manage a timber farm and she is a member of the South Carolina and Greenwood County forestry associations.

Ann Harvin Whetstone Hunter

Hunter is committed to supporting Clemson, evidenced by her participation on many Clemson boards. She has held several positions in the Greater Greenwood Clemson Club and served on the Alumni National Council and the board of directors of the Clemson Alumni Association, where she was president in 2014-16. She has also served as an IPTAY representative and on the IPTAY board of directors, The Will to Lead capital campaign athletic cabinet, the Clemson University Foundation board of directors, the Board of Visitors, the Athletic Council and the Women’s Alumni Council.

In 2009, Hunter was named the Clemson Alumni Association’s Volunteer of the Year, and the Clemson Alumni Association Leadership Endowment is named for her. The men’s coaches’ locker room at Littlejohn Coliseum and the trophy case at the Allen N. Reeves Football Operations Complex are also named for Hunter. As a member of the Richard W. Simpson Society and the Clemson Legacy Society, her support has included a Scroll of Honor memorial to honor her dad and her husband’s uncle.

Hunter’s commitment to her community has included being president of Greenwood High School’s PTO and twice named its Volunteer of the Year. She has also served First Greenwood Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church and the Greenwood Food Bank. As a Girl Scout leader for 25 years, Hunter is a life member of GSUSA and was named Volunteer of the Year for the Greenwood Girl Scout Service Unit in 1988. She has also served as president of the Danse de Noel Assembly.

The prestigious Clemson Alumni Distinguished Service Award is based on three main criteria: personal and professional accomplishments, dedication and service to Clemson University, and devotion to community and public service. Members of the Clemson family nominate potential winners, who are then selected by the Clemson Alumni Association as outstanding alumni, public servants and examples to others.

“Ann has participated at the highest level of service and giving with Clemson and in her community,” writes Leslie Callison, ’81, a 2017 Distinguished Service Award honoree. “She has been publicly recognized through the Clemson Alumni Association Leadership Endowment established in her name, in addition to numerous leadership and volunteer awards, yet Ann not only serves in high-profile positions, but also quietly rolls up her sleeves to work locally, in Clemson and across the state when there is a need.”

The Hunters live in Greenwood. They have one daughter, Rebecca Hunter Patrick ’07, a son-in-law, John Patrick ’04, and one grandson, Hunter.

Anthony L. Mathis ’86

April 20, 2018/in Distinguished Service Award

The Clemson Alumni Association presented Anthony L. Mathis. of Evendale, Ohio with the 2018 Distinguished Service Award, the association’s highest honor for a Clemson graduate.

“The Distinguished Service Award allows us to take time to recognize a few truly remarkable members of the Clemson family, and Tony Mathis is certainly one of those,” said Clemson University President James P. Clements. “Tony achieved incredible success in his career in the Air Force and at GE, through his devotion to community service and in his commitment to making Clemson University better every day. We are proud of Tony and the example of service he sets for all of us.”

Anthony L. Mathis

Originally from Fitzgerald, Georgia, Mathis has lived in cities all around the United States in pursuit of education, career and leadership opportunities. He came to Clemson University on an Air Force ROTC scholarship and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering in 1986. On campus, he was involved in his fraternity, Omega Psi Phi Inc., and was member of Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society.

As a second lieutenant in the United States Air Force, Mathis was sent to Edwards Air Force base in California to work in the flight test center. He earned a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from California State University-Fresno in 1990, then married his college sweetheart, Stephanie Green ’89. They moved to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio and Mathis earned a master’s degree from Xavier University in 2000.

Mathis started with General Electric (GE) Aviation in 1997 and held several senior roles in engineering, product support and marketing. In November 2016, he was named the president and chief executive officer of military systems at GE Aviation. He served as president of the GE African American Forum and runs the GE Omega Leadership Development Program.

Elevating his company and fulfilling his passion for serving others, Mathis served as the business champion for Developing Health in Boston, the March of Dimes in Seattle, ArtsWave in Cincinnati and the Jackie Robinson Foundation in New York. He is past president of the Wright-Patterson Chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen Inc. Mathis has held leadership positions in various Catholic churches and is a member of the Knights of Peter Claver. He is also a member of the Air Force Association and the National Society of Black Engineers.

Mathis serves as the GE liaison to Clemson, spearheading collaboration and student opportunities between the two organizations and facilitating increased funding from GE to the university, including naming a GE classroom at the Watt Family Innovation Center. Since 2015, he has served on the board of directors of the Clemson University Foundation. Additionally, Mathis led his fraternity’s successful fundraising efforts for the Chi Zeta Diversity Scholarship Endowment and the William C. “Bill” Clinkscales Sr. ’74 Endowed Diversity Scholarship.

The prestigious Clemson Alumni Distinguished Service Award is based on three main criteria: personal and professional accomplishments; dedication and service to Clemson University; and devotion to community and public service. Members of the Clemson family nominate potential winners, who are then selected by the Clemson Alumni Association as outstanding alumni, public servants and examples to others.

“Tony has always been a focused, tenacious and intelligent leader. These attributes shine through in his daily personal and professional dealings,” write Jesse G. Turner Jr., senior director of human resources at The Kroger Co. and a fraternity brother of Mathis’s.

The Mathises now live in Evendale, a suburb of Cincinnati, with their daughters, Jasmine, a high school junior, and Carmen, who is in fifth grade.

William (Bill) C. Smith, Jr. ’82

April 20, 2018/in Distinguished Service Award

The Clemson Alumni Association presented William (Bill) C. Smith, Jr. of Columbia, South Carolina with the 2018 Distinguished Service Award, the association’s highest honor for a Clemson graduate.

“The Distinguished Service Award allows us to take time to recognize a few truly remarkable members of the Clemson family – and Bill Smith is certainly one of those,” said Clemson University President James P. Clements. “Bill achieved incredible success on the football field, in his career in real estate, through his devotion to community service and in his commitment to making Clemson University better every day. We are proud of Bill and the example of service he sets for all of us.”

Born and raised in Duncan, Smith grew up playing several sports at James F. Byrnes High School before accepting a scholarship to play football at Clemson University. He was a four-year letterman and a starting defensive end on Clemson’s 1981 National Championship team before graduating with a bachelor’s degree in administrative management in 1982.

William C. Smith, Jr.

Smith’s career began in real estate sales, then he co-founded the company Holmes Smith Developments. He later co-founded and became CEO of Red Rock Developments LLC, a commercial real estate development company based in Columbia with an office in Charlotte. He is a member of the South Carolina and North Carolina economic developers’ associations and the national Industrial Asset Management Council, and is a graduate of Leadership Columbia and Leadership South Carolina.

Smith has held numerous leadership positions in several nonprofit organizations, including Shandon Baptist Church in Columbia. He has served on the boards of directors for the South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame, Hammond High School, the EdVenture Children’s Museum and the Columbia Urban League. For his performance on the football field and contributions in leadership and community service, Smith was awarded Clemson’s Brian Dawkins Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014.

Smith has also given back to the Clemson community. He was elected to Clemson’s board of trustees in 1996 and became a lifetime member in 2007. As a trustee, he has served as vice chairman and chaired all 11 committees, including the finance and facilities committee five times. He currently chairs the land and capital asset stewardship committee. Smith is a member of the university’s land stewardship and real estate foundations, and he also serves on the board of the football program’s P.A.W. Journey. Smith and his wife have supported both academics and athletics consecutively for 36 years. They also established the Smith Family Endowment for unrestricted scholarships at Clemson.

The prestigious Clemson Alumni Distinguished Service Award is based on three main criteria: personal and professional accomplishments; dedication and service to Clemson University; and devotion to community and public service. Members of the Clemson family nominate potential winners, who are then selected by the Clemson Alumni Association as outstanding alumni, public servants and examples to others.

“Bill has been a servant leader at Clemson and a loyal supporter who has contributed countless hours of his time in addition to significant financial contributions over the past 30 years,” writes David E. Dukes, a partner in the law firm Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough. “He is highly respected by the Clemson community, the business community and the South Carolina General Assembly.”

Smith is married to Elizabeth “Beth” Black Smith and they live in Columbia and Clemson. Their son, Cannon, played on Clemson’s 2016 Football National Championship team — making him and his father one of five Clemson father-son football champions. He is expected to graduate in December. Their daughter, Catherine “Kaki” Mac Lain ’15, M ’17, lives in Greenville with her husband Eric Mac Lain ’15, M ’17.

Michael L. Watt ’84

April 20, 2018/in Distinguished Service Award

The Clemson Alumni Association presented Michael L. Watt of Kennesaw, Georgia with the 2018 Distinguished Service Award, the association’s highest honor for a Clemson graduate.

“The Distinguished Service Award allows us to take time to recognize a few truly remarkable members of the Clemson family, and Mike Watt is certainly one of those,” said Clemson University President James P. Clements. “Mike achieved incredible success in his career in technology, through his devotion to community service and in his commitment to making Clemson University better and more innovative every day. We are proud of Mike and the example of service he sets for all of us.”

Watt was born in North Carolina, grew up in the suburbs of Washington, D.C., and moved to Charleston at age 12. Like his father and brother, Watt chose Clemson University, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in 1984 in the new field of computer engineering. Throughout all four years at Clemson, Watt dated his future bride, Kimberly K. Fowler ’85. They were married in 1985.

With encouragement from his mentor, John Gowdy, Watt went on to graduate school, earning a master’s degree in electrical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1986. He then began work at the Georgia Tech Research Institute designing radar systems, satellite communications systems and computer networks for the U.S. Department of Defense. In 1989, Watt joined his father’s startup company, Scientific Research Corporation (SRC), which provides innovative technology solutions to government, military and private organizations. Over the last 29 years, SRC has grown to employ more than 1,300 high-tech professionals tackling some of the military’s greatest challenges. He currently serves as the chairman and CEO of SRC.

Watt has held leadership positions in several organizations, including the British American Business Group and the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce. He received the National Small Business (Tibbetts) Award in 2000 for small business research contributions and was recognized with a top job-creator award in South Carolina. Watt and his family have supported Mount Paran Christian School, Grady Memorial Hospital and North Metro Church in Kennesaw, Georgia, as well as Clemson Athletics.

Michael L. Watt

Watt has served in several key leadership roles for Clemson advisory boards, including in the Clemson University Research Foundation; the Holcombe Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering; the College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences; and on the Clemson University Foundation board of directors. His gifts and vision helped create the state-of-the-art Watt Family Innovation Center. For his commitment to promoting innovation on and off campus, Watt was inducted into the Thomas Green Clemson Academy of Engineers and Scientists in 2008.

The prestigious Clemson Alumni Distinguished Service Award is based on three main criteria: personal and professional accomplishments; dedication and service to Clemson University; and devotion to community and public service. Members of the Clemson family nominate potential winners, who are then selected by the Clemson Alumni Association as outstanding alumni, public servants and examples to others.

“It has been a pleasure to follow Mike’s career and see the impact he has made on Clemson University, the engineering profession, the well-being of our state and nation, as well as the lives of many people,” wrote A. Wayne Bennett, dean emeritus of the Clemson University Graduate School.

The Watts have two sons, Wes ’13 and Austin ’16, and a daughter, Mary Katherine, a freshman at Clemson. As a hobby, Watt enjoys competitive automotive racing in Ferrari and Le Mans prototype cars. His racecars are decorated with Clemson colors and themes.

Richard M. Davies ’86

April 4, 2017/in Distinguished Service Award

The Clemson Alumni Association presented Richard M. Davies, a Charlotte business owner and volunteer, with the 2017 Distinguished Service Award, the association’s highest honor for a Clemson graduate.

“Rich Davies sets an extraordinary example of what a Clemson graduate can accomplish,” said Clemson University President James P. Clements. “He is a leader in his career, he is a dedicated public servant who gives back tirelessly to his community, and he is a loyal and devoted Clemson supporter. We are exceedingly proud to call him part of the Clemson family.”

Richard M. Davies

Davies grew up in Durban, a coastal city in South Africa, playing soccer and rugby, and briefly competed as a professional cricket player in England. His family moved to the United States in 1982. After making a phone call to Danny Ford, Davies became a kicker for the Clemson University football team. He played football from 1982 to 1985 and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business administration in 1986.

A third-generation commercial property developer, Davies began his career in banking and loans before joining his father’s development business. Davies then founded and is now CEO of Pavilion Development Company, a real estate development firm based in Charlotte.

Davies has given back as a leader and visionary to several Clemson programs. He is a member of the Trevillian Cabinet for the College of Business and served as vice-chair on the executive committee of The Will to Lead capital campaign. An avid fan of Clemson athletics, Davies served on the athletic director’s advisory council and football committee under Terry Don Phillips. He is also president of the All-In Team Foundation founded by Dabo and Kathleen Swinney. He has supported the Tiger Golf Gathering and the new Larry B. Penley Jr. Golf Facility and hosts an annual PGA Championship dinner for Clemson leaders and Charlotte-area alumni.

From helping the disadvantaged to promoting education and conservation, Davies has been a leader for a variety of charitable causes. He’s served on the board of the Novant Foundation-Presbyterian Medical Center since 2009. He was named to the Forest Hill Church Council of Elders and is the past chair of the church’s finance and risk management committee and governance committee. He is a past chair of the Mecklenburg County board of advisers for Easter Seals, past member of the board of trustees of Charlotte Latin School, and past member of the board of Habitat for Humanity of Charlotte. Davies is currently a member of the board of directors for the Guy Harvey Ocean Research Foundation. Tapping into a passion to help his home country, Davies founded the Sbonelo Scholarship Foundation that awards scholarships to economically disadvantaged students in South Africa to attend top boarding schools.

The prestigious Clemson Alumni Distinguished Service Award is based on three main criteria: personal and professional accomplishments; dedication and service to Clemson University; and devotion to community and public service. Members of the Clemson family nominate potential winners, who are then selected by the Clemson Alumni Association as outstanding alumni, public servants and examples to others.

“I have had a front-row seat in watching Rich serve and give to [Clemson] in so many ways,” wrote Dabo Swinney, head coach of Clemson Football. “He has given of his financial resources, but his service goes way beyond that. He has been a servant leader for Clemson both academically and athletically as he has chaired or led many different committees. He is the epitome of this award and the true spirit of Clemson.”

Davies and his wife, Kelly Carr Davies (’86), live in Charlotte and spend time in Florida. Their two sons, Christopher and Timothy, both graduated from Clemson, as did their daughter-in-law, Lauren Holley Davies.

John W. Kelly Jr ’77

April 4, 2017/in Distinguished Service Award

The Clemson Alumni Association presented John W. Kelly Jr. of Boca Raton, Florida, with the 2017 Distinguished Service Award, the association’s highest honor for a Clemson graduate.

“John Kelly sets an extraordinary example of what a Clemson graduate can accomplish,” said Clemson University President James P. Clements. “He is a leader in his career, he is a dedicated public servant who gives back tirelessly to his community, and he is a loyal and devoted Clemson supporter. We are exceedingly proud to call him part of the Clemson family.”

Kelly began his career in 1982 as an assistant professor at Texas A&M University. Three years later he returned to Clemson, rising from professor to chair of the horticulture department as well as director of the Clemson Botanical Garden. He helped the garden become the official South Carolina Botanical Garden and developed its Wren House and geology museum. In 1997, he was named vice president for Public Service and Agriculture (PSA) and, in 2010, became Clemson’s vice president for economic development.

During his 28 years at Clemson, Kelly led initiatives to create, build and fund some of Clemson and PSA’s most extensive projects. He spearheaded and then directed the Clemson University Restoration Institute (CURI). He then led a team to secure the largest competitive renewable energy grant in U.S. Department of Energy history at the time, which along with public and private grants, built the SCE&G Energy Innovation Center at CURI. During his tenure, he helped obtain several of the largest gifts in Clemson’s history.

Kelly served on Clemson’s board of trustees’ university land and capital assets stewardship committee; the president’s administrative council, cabinet and implementation teams; and assisted in outlining Clemson’s clean energy strategy. He was one of three mission vice presidents and helped lead the development of two 10-year strategic plans for Clemson. Kelly secured funding for several endowed chairs and helped form academic partnerships between Clemson and other state schools. A longtime member of IPTAY and the Clemson Alumni Association, Kelly has also hosted many alumni events.

In 2014, Kelly became the seventh president of Florida Atlantic University, which he has led up the rankings to become the top-performing university in the state according to state accountability rankings. Nationally, he served on the boards of the Administrative Heads Section of the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities and the American Distance Education Consortium.

The prestigious Clemson Alumni Distinguished Service Award is based on three main criteria: personal and professional accomplishments; dedication and service to Clemson University; and devotion to community and public service. Members of the Clemson family nominate potential winners, who are then selected by the Clemson Alumni Association as outstanding alumni, public servants and examples to others.

“Dr. Kelly’s contributions to Clemson University and to the people of South Carolina will be of long-lasting value to our farmers, our citizenry, and to the state’s economy,” wrote George Askew, dean of Clemson’s College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences and vice president for Public Service and Agriculture.

Kelly lives in Boca Raton with his wife, Carolyn Boltin Kelly (CU ‘99), and their children Carly and Stella. His children, Christopher and Kimberly, are both Clemson graduates.

Ronnie D. Lee ’76

April 4, 2017/in Distinguished Service Award

The Clemson Alumni Association presented Ronald D. Lee, D.M.D., of Aiken with the 2017 Distinguished Service Award, the association’s highest honor for a Clemson graduate.

“Ronnie Lee sets an extraordinary example of what a Clemson graduate can accomplish,” said Clemson University President James P. Clements. “He is a leader in his career, he is a dedicated public servant who gives back tirelessly to his community, and he is a loyal and devoted Clemson supporter. We are exceedingly proud to call him part of the Clemson family.”

Lee graduated Clemson with honors in microbiology in 1976, then earned an M.S. in environmental science and engineering at UNC-Chapel Hill. After working several years as an engineer, he enrolled in dental school, earning a Doctor of Dental Medicine from the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) in 1988, having served as president of his class all four years. As a dental student, he earned three prestigious awards for scholarship and leadership. Having practiced dentistry in Aiken for 28 years, Lee has been recognized for leadership and excellence in his field, including being named a Fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry, a title given to only 7 percent of practicing dentists nationwide.

Lee has donated significant time and talents to Clemson University. He is active in the Aiken County Clemson Club and, as a member of the Clemson board of visitors, he hosted new student receptions in Aiken. In 2010, the South Carolina General Assembly elected Lee to the Clemson board of trustees, where he currently serves on the committees for Educational Policy, Finance and Facilities, and Student Affairs. He served on the presidential search committee that recommended James P. Clements, and he currently is serving his sixth year as trustee liaison to the board of visitors.

For 45 years, Lee has been an active member, past deacon and volunteer at Millbrook Baptist Church and has served as a medical missionary to Honduras. He has served on the board of Dollars for Scholars, a college scholarship program for local students. In 2015, he was named one of six trustees for the Sage Valley Golf Club Foundation, which hosts the world’s premier international junior golf tournament.

The prestigious Clemson Alumni Distinguished Service Award is based on three main criteria: personal and professional accomplishments; dedication and service to Clemson University; and devotion to community and public service. Members of the Clemson family nominate potential winners, who are then selected by the Clemson Alumni Association as outstanding alumni, public servants and examples to others.

“Dr. Lee has my highest recommendation for this prestigious recognition,” wrote S.C. State Senator Tom Young Jr. “Few have served Clemson or will serve Clemson with as much passion and commitment and in as selfless a manner as Dr. Lee.”

Lee is married to his high school sweetheart and ’76 Clemson graduate Debra Crawford Lee, who worked with other Clemson board of visitors’ spouses to establish the Grace Catherine Clements ClemsonLIFE Endowed Grant-in-Aid. Together the Lees also support an annual scholarship at Clemson in their names, the Emerging Scholars Program and the Barker Scholars Endowment. They have three children, Meredith Pricket, Allison Nelson, and Ryan Lee, and seven grandchildren.

Perry Sprawls Jr class of 1956, M 1961, PhD 1968 recipient of the 2017 distinguished service award

Perry Sprawls Jr ’56, M’61, PhD’68

April 4, 2017/in Distinguished Service Award

The Clemson Alumni Association presented Perry Sprawls Jr. of Black Mountain, North Carolina, with the 2017 Distinguished Service Award, the association’s highest honor for a Clemson graduate.

“Perry Sprawls sets an extraordinary example of what a Clemson graduate can accomplish,” said Clemson University President James P. Clements. “He is a pioneer and leader in his career, he is a dedicated public servant who gives back tirelessly to his community and communities around the world, and he is a loyal and devoted Clemson supporter. We are exceedingly proud to call him part of the Clemson family.”

Born on a farm in Barnwell County, South Carolina, that had been in his family since 1812, Perry Sprawls Jr. grew up working in agriculture and learning the new technology of electricity. Sprawls earned a bachelor’s degree from Clemson University in industrial physics in 1956 and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Army Signal Corps. After serving and working at Bell Labs, he returned to Clemson for the new nuclear science program, earning a master’s degree in 1961 and then earning Clemson’s first doctorate in bioengineering in 1968.

Sprawls found the opportunity to apply nuclear physics to medicine as a professor in the radiology department at Emory University. After 45 years, he retired in 2005 and became a distinguished professor emeritus. His career in medical physics includes serving as director of Medical Physics in Radiology at Emory; co-director of the College of Medical Physics at the International Centre for Theoretical Physics in Trieste, Italy; director for Medical Imaging Continuing Education for the American Association of Physics in Medicine; and co-editor of “Medical Physics International.”

His passion for expanding medical education on a global basis, particularly in developing countries, led to establishing the Sprawls Educational Foundation, which provides textbooks, online resources and collaborative teaching methods to improve global medical education. He led the establishment of the Emory University-Xi’an Cooperative Program in Radiology in China. In pursuit of expanding and improving medical education, Sprawls has taught in 14 countries and had post-graduate students working in more than 70 countries.

Sprawls’ love for Clemson led him to help the class of 1956 select the Class of 1956 Academic Success Center as their 50-year anniversary project. The center opened in 2012 and contains a suite of rooms dedicated to his parents, Neva and Perry Sprawls Sr.

Sprawls has served as a deacon and leader in the Baptist church and on the board of directors for the Asheville Lyric Opera. With an ongoing interest in preserving rural South Carolina history and heritage, one of his current projects is hosting the Barnwell County Virtual Museum.

The prestigious Clemson Alumni Distinguished Service Award is based on three main criteria: personal and professional accomplishments; dedication and service to Clemson University; and devotion to community and public service. Members of the Clemson family nominate potential winners, who are then selected by the Clemson Alumni Association as outstanding alumni, public servants and examples to others.

“Clemson University can take pride in one of its graduates who has, and continues to, make major contributions to improve health care and education in virtually every country of the world,” wrote Dr. Debra Monticciolo, FACR, professor of radiology at Texas A&M University and vice-chair for research in breast imaging at Baylor Scott and White Health, who worked with Sprawls to modernize mammographies in China.

Sprawls now lives with his wife, Charlotte, in Black Mountain. Their son, Charles Perry, is a professional singer based in New York.

James H. Stovall ’51

April 4, 2017/in Distinguished Service Award

The Clemson Alumni Association presented James H. Stovall of Greenville with the 2017 Distinguished Service Award, the association’s highest honor for a Clemson graduate.

“Jim Stovall sets an extraordinary example of what a Clemson graduate can accomplish,” said Clemson University President James P. Clements. “He was a pioneer and leader in his career, he is a dedicated public servant who gives back tirelessly to his community, and he is a loyal and devoted Clemson supporter. We are exceedingly proud to call him part of the Clemson family.”

Stovall graduated Clemson in 1951 with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and, after serving with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Korea, went on to receive one of the first master’s in environmental engineering from Georgia Tech. A pioneer in air pollution control and environmental engineering, Stovall has also volunteered significant time and talents to charitable organizations in Greenville and Anderson, as well as served his alma mater.

Active in the Clemson Alumni Association since graduation, Stovall served on the Golden Tiger Reunion Class’ finance committee. He is an avid supporter of Clemson’s military traditions: he joined the Clemson Corps; was on the committee that created Military Heritage Plaza; chaired the committee responsible for Basketball Military Appreciation Day; has organized the ROTC Seniors’ Recognition Dinner; and contributes to a scholarship for Army and Air Force ROTC.

Stovall’s community service is rooted in a passion for Christian education and helping those who have less. He was a Boy Scout Troop Leader and District Commissioner for Upstate South Carolina. He volunteered at the Greenville Salvation Army for many years, including as chairman of the advisory board and capital campaign leader, and helped raise funds to build the Ray & Joan Kroc Community Center.

Stovall is a lifetime trustee at Anderson University, where he has served as chairman of the board of trustees, vice chairman of the presidential search committee and member of the committees that built the Thrift Library and Student Center. Additionally, he has led dozens of church mission trips, served as a deacon in many Baptist churches and served on the executive committee of the S.C. Baptist Convention.

The prestigious Clemson Alumni Distinguished Service Award is based on three main criteria: personal and professional accomplishments; dedication and service to Clemson University; and devotion to community and public service. Members of the Clemson family nominate potential winners, who are then selected by the Clemson Alumni Association as outstanding alumni, public servants and examples to others.

“Jim Stovall’s technical acumen, visionary leadership and professional service have had a positive impact on the lives of residents of the state of South Carolina, the Southeast and nationally. He is most deserving of the recognition of the Alumni Association’s Distinguished Service Award,” wrote retired Greenville-based architect F. Earle Gaulden (’51).

Stovall and his wife, Gloria, live in Greenville. They have three children: Beth, Jim Jr. and Steven, and five grandchildren, including twins who will be attending Clemson this August.

Leslie Dunlap Callison ’81

April 21, 2016/in Distinguished Service Award

The Clemson University Alumni Association will present Leslie Dunlap Callison of Lexington with the 2016 Distinguished Service Award, the association’s highest honor.

“I am extremely proud to honor Leslie Callison with the Distinguished Service Award,” said Clemson President James P. Clements. “She has done so much to support Clemson, and I am truly grateful for her contributions. Her personal accomplishments serve as a wonderful model for our current and future students.”Callison graduated Clemson in 1981 with a bachelor’s in Administrative Management and went on to receive a Masters of Business Administration from the Unviersity of South Carolina in 1985. She has worked in the banking and pharmaceutical industries, and has contributed her time and talents to organizations in her hometown and at Clemson University.

Callison has dedicated much of her life to serving her beloved alma mater. She was president of the Alumni Association from 2008-2010, and served on the University Foundation Board of Directors, IPTAY Board of Directors, and the Women’s Alumni Council Board of Directors. Callison and her father, R. Thornwell Dunlap Jr, are the first father and daughter to serve as the Clemson Alumni Association President and to receive the Distinguished Service Award.

Callison spreads her generous spirit outside of Clemson to the great benefit of her community. She has served as a member of the founding Board of Directors of Columbia’s EdVenture Children’s Museum, treasurer of Junior League of Columbia’s Holiday Market, and Deacon at Saxa Gotha Presbyterian Church. She was also extensively involved in her children’s schools and activities, winning “Volunteer of the Year” in the Lexington School Sytem. Most recently, Leslie has worked as a community technology adviser for the nonprofit group Connect South Carolina.

“The Distinguished Service Award was created to honor the dedication and service of Clemson graduates to their alma mater, their community, and their profession; i.e., this special award was created to honor Leslie Callison,” Clemson president emeritus James F. Barker wrote in his letter supporting her nomination for the award. “Clemson University would not be having the success, progress and impact we are having without her insight and energy.”

Callison lives in Lexington with her husband, Scott. Together, they were awarded the Clemson Parents’ Council Chair Award, Parent Volunteers of the Year in 2010. They have two children who are also Clemson graduates –Reel ’12 and Caroline Lambert ’10.

Janine Anthony Bowen ’89 M’91

April 21, 2016/in Distinguished Service Award

The Clemson Alumni Association will present Janine Anthony Bowen of Stone Mountain with the 2016 Distinguished Service Award, the association’s highest honor.

“I am extremely proud to honor Janine Bowen with the Distinguished Service Award,” said Clemson President James P. Clements. “She has done so much to support Clemson, and I am truly grateful for her contributions. Her personal accomplishments serve as a wonderful model for our current and future students.”

Her blend of skills as an engineer, technologist and attorney have led to a highly successful career in technology industry. She is a founding partner of JACK, an Atlanta-based law firm that specializes in negotiating strategic technology and intellectual property deals with Fortune 500 companies. In 2015, Bowen merged her practice with the national law firm LeClairRyan PC, where she is now a shareholder.Bowen graduated from Clemson in 1989 with a bachelor’s and in 1991 with a master’s degree, both in industrial engineering. She earned a juris doctor from Georgia State University College of Law in 1998.

Bowen has exhibited steadfast loyalty to Clemson by giving her time and skills to serve multiple alumni organizations. She served on the boards of directors of the Clemson Alumni Association and the Clemson Black Alumni Council. She also served on the boards of the Atlanta Clemson Club and the Atlanta Clemson Black Alumni Council. She has been a member of the Clemson University Foundation Board since 2013.

Additionally, she has served on the advisory board and as a capital campaign volunteer for Clemson’s College of Engineering and Science. She established the Janine Anthony Bowen ’89 Industrial Engineering Endowment and the Jacquelwyn Willis Anthony PEER Endowment, named in her mother’s honor.

Bowen regularly volunteers with local community charities, including service on the boards of directors for Goodwill of North Georgia and the Atlanta Center for Self-Sufficiency. She was on the board for Samaritan House of Atlanta and volunteers for The Empty Stocking Fund Inc.

Bowen lives in Stone Mountain with her son, Jackson.

Douglas Duke Richardson ’64

April 21, 2016/in Distinguished Service Award

The Clemson Alumni Association will present Douglas “Doug” Duke Richardson the 2016 Distinguished Service Award, the association’s highest honor.

“I am extremely proud to honor Douglas Richardson with the Distinguished Service Award,” said Clemson President James P. Clements. “He has done so much to support Clemson, and I am truly grateful for his contributions. His personal accomplishments serve as a wonderful model for our current and future students.”

Richardson graduated from Clemson in 1964 with a degree in industrial management and commission as a second lieutenant in the United States Army. His tours of duty included the Quartermaster Depot in Philadelphia and Vietnam.As a student at Clemson, Richardson was a member of Blue Key, Tiger Brotherhood and the Reserve Officer’s Training Corps honor guard, the Pershing Rifles. He was a member of the student Senate for three years.

He returned to South Carolina and forged a distinguished career in finance, culminating with his return to Clemson in 2001 to be the school’s director of finance and administration for Institutional Advancement Division. He held that position until he retired in 2007.

Serving as chief executive officer and treasurer of the Clemson University Foundation, Richardson modernized the accounting and processes of Institutional Advancement and was instrumental in the work to establish CU-ICAR.

He has been a member of the Clemson Legacy Society, the Academic Success Center advisory board and the Madren Center and John E. Walker Golf Course advisory board. He has been on the Clemson University Finance Corporation board of directors since 2008.

Richardson has served the Clemson community in volunteer positions in Clemson United Methodist Church and with the Boy Scouts of America. He received the Silver Beaver Award, which recognizes scouters of exceptional character who have provided distinguished service.

Richardson lives in Clemson with his wife, Wilmer. They have two grown sons, David and Ted, and five grandsons.

Bryant Graves Barnes ’76

April 21, 2016/in Distinguished Service Award

The Clemson Alumni Association presented Bryant Graves Barnes of Rock Hill the 2016 Distinguished Service Award, the association’s highest honor.

“I am extremely proud to honor Bryant Barnes with the Distinguished Service Award,” said Clemson President James P. Clements. “He has done so much to support Clemson, and I am truly grateful for his contributions. His personal accomplishments serve as a wonderful model for our current and future students.”Barnes is a 1976 graduate of Clemson with a long history of giving back to his alma mater. He was inducted into the Thomas Green Clemson Giving Society in 2013.

After graduating with a degree in electrical and computer engineering, Barnes built a successful career with Comporium, one of the largest telecommunications providers in the nation, rising through the ranks and becoming the chief executive officer. In 2002 he was chosen by then-South Carolina Gov. Jim Hodges to serve on the Technology Transition Team, a group focused on converting South Carolina to a knowledge-based economy.

As president and CEO of Comporium, Barnes was on the team that established the Optoelectronics Research Center of Economic Excellence in Clemson’s Holcombe Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, spearheading a $1 million contribution from Comporium to the initiative. He also was one of the Funding Partners who contributed $25,000 or more to the Barker Scholarship Endowment, established to provide need-based scholarships for undergraduate students.

Barnes and his family made a gift to repurpose Clemson’s 1902 Sheep Barn, the oldest agriculture-use building on campus, into a student engagement center. It will be named The Barnes Center in honor of his father, Frank Barnes, a 1942 Clemson graduate.

“In my service as Clemson president, I had a direct view of those who provided remarkable dedication and service to Clemson. Few can compare to Bryant Barnes,” wrote Clemson President Emeritus James F. Barker in a letter supporting Barnes’ nomination for the DSA. “His commitment to Clemson was not just manifested in words; rather, he showed his commitment by action.”

Barnes lives in Rock Hill with his wife, Lynn. They have three children — two, David and Emily, who are Clemson graduates, and Logan, who will graduate from Clemson this year.

E. Grantland Burns ’88

April 21, 2016/in Distinguished Service Award

The Clemson Alumni Association presented Grant Burns of Greer with the 2016 Distinguished Service Award, the association’s highest honor.

“I am extremely proud to honor Grant Burns with the Distinguished Service Award,” said Clemson President James P. Clements. “He has done so much to support Clemson, and I am truly grateful for his contributions. His personal accomplishments serve as a wonderful model for our current and future students.”

Burns graduated from Clemson in 1988 with a degree in political s Screen Shot 2016-05-18 at 11.20.56 AM cience. As a student, he held many leadership positions, including student body president in 1987.

Burns has forged an exemplary career as a lawyer, litigating trials and arbitrations in 20 states. He was recognized for excellence by The Best Lawyers In America and Super Lawyers, and was president of Washington and Lee University Student Bar Association. He was named one of the “Best and Brightest — 35 and Under” by Greenville Magazine in 2000.

He is a member of the South Carolina Bar and served as a member of the House of Delegates from 2007-2012. He was president of the Greenville Young Lawyers Association and of the Greenville Bar Association. Currently he is the vice president and general council for AFL, a fiberoptics company with manufacturing facilities throughout the world.

His dedication to Clemson has never wavered. He was president of the Alumni Association from 2007-08 and was on the Clemson University Foundation board of directors, the Board of Visitors and the Greenville Clemson Luncheon Club.

He has consistently supported IPTAY and the athletics program by serving on the Tiger Golf Gathering Foundation board of directors, as an alumni delegate to the IPTAY board of directors, and as an IPTAY representative since 2003. He has been a continuous IPTAY donor since graduation and is a season ticket holder for both football and basketball.

Burns lives in Greer with his wife, Julie. They have two children: Camden, who attends Furman University, and Emory who is on track to graduate from Clemson in 2018.

Robert J. “Bobby” Conrad Jr. ’80

March 31, 2015/588 Comments/in Distinguished Service Award

The Clemson Alumni Association has recognized Judge Robert J. “Bobby” Conrad Jr. of Charlotte as one of five recipients of the 2015 Distinguished Service Award, the association’s highest honor.

Conrad is a 1980 graduate of Clemson, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in history with a German minor. He was awarded the 1980 Norris Medal, the highest honor awarded at graduation. He was an Academic All-American and also a standout in athletics; starting as point guard on the basketball team that finished in the Elite Eight of the 1980 NCAA Tournament.

Conrad earned his law degree from the University of Virginia in 1983 and proceeded to carve out a legendary legal career that took him from the Upstate to the White House. He was selected by Attorney General Janet Reno to be the chief of her Campaign Financing Task Force in 2000. That same year he became the first lawyer to question in the same week a seated U.S. President and Vice President (Clinton and Gore) under oath. In 2001 his office successfully prosecuted the first trial of giving material support to a terrorist organization (Hezbollah) in the U.S. President George W. Bush nominated him as U.S. Attorney for Western North Carolina in 2001. As U.S. Attorney, he served on Attorney General John Ashcroft’s Advisory Committee. In 2005, he was confirmed by the Senate to a position as U.S. District Court Judge for the Western District of North Carolina.

Conrad has proven to be an outstanding ambassador for Clemson. He currently serves on Clemson’s Letterwinners Board of Directors, and was a member of President Barker’s Advisory Committee. He regularly mentors law students who are Clemson graduates, and has attended Clemson Club meetings in Charlotte, Rock Hill and Washington D.C. He was selected to Clemson’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 1993 and was chosen as one of Clemson’s All Time Top Twenty-Five players in 2013.

“I have come to this clear conclusion: Judge Robert Conrad has earned the Distinguished Service Award,” said Clemson president emeritus James F. Barker in his letter of nomination. “He has served his country with distinction. He has served his community with distinction. He has served his profession with distinction. And he has served our alma mater with distinction.”

Conrad and his wife, Ann, live in Charlotte. They have five children, two of whom, Bobby (2004) and Carrie (2010) are Clemson graduates.

Bobby Conrad

Gregg F. Morton ’78

March 31, 2015/562 Comments/in Distinguished Service Award

The Clemson Alumni Association has recognized Gregg F. Morton of Clemson as one of five recipients of the 2015 Distinguished Service Award, the association’s highest honor.

Morton graduated from Clemson in 1978 with a Bachelor of Science in administrative management and started his career with Southern Bell that same year, having been recruited while he was still a student. He held assignments of increasing responsibility and in 2007 was named president of AT&T South Carolina and AT&T Tennessee. He was instrumental in leading adoption of policy changes that transformed the telecommunications industry from a monopoly to a highly competitive market.

Morton has a long history of contributing to Clemson through his personal giving and outside fundraising. He was directly responsible for securing more than $1 million in gifts and contributions to Clemson, including the donation for the AT&T auditorium at the CU-ICAR campus in Greenville.

Morton also serves on numerous advisory boards and commissions within the university, including the Board of Visitors.

Morton has served on the boards of numerous organizations outside of Clemson as well, including the United Way, the Boy Scouts of America, and the Nashville Symphony. Through all his endeavors, he never misses an opportunity to share the rich traditions of Clemson with others.

Morton is the patriarch of a true Clemson family: His wife, Cathy, graduated in 1979 and their children, Christopher and Katherine, graduated in 2006 and 2007, respectively.

Gerald M. Glenn ’64

March 31, 2015/632 Comments/in Distinguished Service Award

The Clemson Alumni Association has recognized Gerald M. Glenn of The Woodlands, Texas as one of five recipients of the 2015 Distinguished Service Award, the association’s highest honor.

Glenn graduated from Clemson in 1964 with a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering. He went on to become the , chairman, president and CEO of Chicago Bridge and Iron, one of the world’s largest construction companies.

“He was a true legend in the construction industry,” said Clemson president emeritus James F. Barker in a letter nominating Glenn for the award. “He led this Fortune 500 Company with distinction for many years and moved the company to Houston during that time. This decision proved to be brilliant.”

Glenn’s support of his alma mater has benefitted thousands of past, present and future students. In 2011 he and his wife, Candi, donated $5 million to name the Glenn Department of Civil Engineering. He is a major contributor to IPTAY, serves as a member of the Clemson University Foundation Board of Directors, and is a founding partner of the Barker Scholars Endowment; to name a few of his additional commitments to the school.

Glenn and his wife, Candi, share a commitment to community that reaches well beyond Clemson, contributing not just their financial resources, but their time and talent to multiple causes. They have been heavily involved in educational and charitable organizations, with Gerald and Candi always taking leadership roles in the institutions they support.

Glenn’s nomination letters are full off testimonies that he creates and seizes the opportunity to promote Clemson’s academics and athletics to everyone he encounters. He has recruited numerous students in his adopted state of Texas to enroll at Clemson – including both of his sons, Mike and Charlie, and several of their classmates.

“Few Clemson alumni are more dedicated to their alma mater than Gerald Glenn,” said Barker. “He will not rest until the entire state of Texas can sing the Clemson alma mater.”

Charles C. Mickel ’79

March 31, 2015/637 Comments/in Distinguished Service Award

Charles C. Mickel of Greenville has been recognized as one of five recipients of the 2015 Distinguished Service Award, the association’s highest honor.

Mickel received a Bachelors of Science in industrial management from Clemson in 1979 and went on to build a remarkable career in real estate investment.

Mickel’s success has enabled him to give back to his community and his alma mater in extraordinary ways.

He is a major donor to Clemson, and has supported numerous initiatives from capital campaigns to scholarships. He has served on the Clemson University Foundation Board, the Real Estate Board, and the President’s Advisory Board.

Perhaps most notably, he is credited with assisting with the implementation of the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research (CU ICAR) facility in Greenville.

“We needed leadership to make it a reality,” said Clemson president emeritus James Barker. “We turned to Charlie Mickel and he responded with remarkable commitment, insight and passion for the idea. His quiet but tenacious leadership brought CU-ICAR into being. Simply stated, there would be no CU ICAR without him.”

Mickel’s commitment to service reaches far beyond the Clemson campus. He is the vice-chairman and treasurer of the Daniel-Mickel Foundation, a foundation dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for all people in the Greenville community. He is also passionate about the arts, and gives generously of his time and talent by serving as president of the Museum Association board and as incoming president to Artisphere, to name just two examples.

Mickel and his wife, Rachelle, live in Greenville and have two grown children.

Norman F. Pulliam, Sr. ’64

March 31, 2015/567 Comments/in Distinguished Service Award

Norman F. Pulliam Sr. of Spartanburg has been presented with the 2015 Distinguished Service Award, the association’s highest honor.

Pulliam is a 1964 graduate of Clemson, who was president of the student senate, president of the Blue Key Honor Society and winner of the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award, which honors service to campus and community. He received his MBA from Harvard University in 1967.

After graduating, Pulliam became a successful businessman, developing over half a billion dollars worth of properties throughout the southeast – primarily apartments and senior housing – as founder and president of Pulliam Investment Company Inc. for over 35 years. He has been very involved in his community, serving as either chairman or president for many organizations in Spartanburg, including the South Carolina School for the Deaf and the Blind, the Spartanburg Development Council, and the Spartanburg Boy’s Home. He is the former chairman and current trustee of the Spartanburg Regional Hospital Foundation, and currently serves on the S.C. Department of Natural Resources Board of Directors.

Pulliam continued his dedication to Clemson by providing the initial funding for the Clemson Masters of Real Estate Development program. He is a past member of the Clemson Board of Visitors, the Clemson Alumni Association Board of Directors and is a longtime major IPTAY supporter.

In 1985, he was awarded the South Carolina Order of the Palmetto, the state’s highest civilian award for extraordinary lifetime service and achievements of national and statewide significance.

In her letter supporting Pulliam’s nomination for the DSA, South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley said, “As a Clemson alumnus and citizen of the Palmetto State, Mr. Pulliam exemplifies servant leadership and civic engagement in the highest form.”

Pulliam lives in Spartanburg with his wife, Jo. They have three grown children – Tracey Rogers of Pawleys Island, Norman Pulliam Jr. of Spartanburg, and Thomas Pulliam of Greenville – and three grandchildren.

Daniel C. Stanzione Sr.

July 10, 2014/in Distinguished Service Award

Distinguished Service Award honorees demonstrate a dedication to enhancing the value of the university for future generations, professional and public service and personal accomplishments that serve as a model for present and future Clemson students.

Stanzione earned his bachelor’s in electrical engineering from Clemson in 1967. He received his graduate degrees from Clemson as well — a master’s in environmental systems engineering in 1968 and a Ph.D. in electrical engineering and computer science in 1972.

Stanzione is president emeritus at Bell Laboratories. He began his career at Bell in 1972 and served as president from 1995 to 1999. He also served as president of business units within AT&T in the late 1980s and early 1990s and as COO of Lucent Technologies from 1997 to 1999. He continues to serve as a director or adviser for several other public technology companies. Stanzione is a fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers. He has published several papers on computer simulation, microprocessors and software design and holds five patents.

Stanzione is a member of the Clemson University Foundation board of directors and has served on the corporate and foundation relations committee of The Will to Lead capital campaign. He made a donation to endow the Stanzione Endowed Scholars program, which benefits women majoring in engineering. He is a founding member of the Clemson Leadership Circle and Barker Scholars Endowment, a member of the Clemson Legacy Society, a member of the John C. Calhoun Society and was elected to the Thomas Green Clemson Academy of Engineers. He also served on President Barker’s Advisory Board.

Stanzione is a veteran of the United States Air Force. He recently married Lisa Votta and has three children.

Steve C. Griffith Jr.

July 10, 2014/in Distinguished Service Award

The Clemson Alumni Association has recognized Steve C. Griffith Jr. of Prosperity as one of four recipients of the 2014 Distinguished Service Award, the association’s highest honor.

Distinguished Service Award honorees demonstrate a dedication to enhancing the value of the university for future generations, professional and public service and personal accomplishments that serve as a model for present and future Clemson students.

Griffith graduated from Clemson in 1954 and from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 1959. He retired as general counsel and vice chairman of Duke Power in 1997 after 30 years with the company. Prior to joining Duke Power, he practiced law in Newberry from 1959 to 1964 and served in the South Carolina House of Representatives from 1960 to 1962.

In 1988, Griffith was appointed by President Ronald Regan to chair the Presidential Commission on Catastrophic Nuclear Accidents. He also served on the board of directors for Nuclear Mutual Limited from 1988 to 1997. He chaired the American Bar Association section of Public Utility, Communications and Transportation Law in 1994.

Griffith led a campaign among Clemson alumni who worked at Duke Power to make donations to Clemson; those donations were matched by Duke Power and led to the establishment of an endowed chair position in engineering. Griffith has donated annually to the Clemson Fund since his graduation and has been an IPTAY member since 1976.

Griffith supported and donated money in 1988 to start the Clemson Crew men’s and women’s rowing teams. Later women’s rowing became a varsity sport at Clemson. Today, he is affectionately known as the “Father of the Rowing Team.”

Griffith served on the Clemson Board of Visitors from 1983 to 1985 and on the Clemson University Foundation board of directors from 1989 to 1993.

Griffith has been active in service to his community, both in the Charlotte, N.C., area and in Newberry County. In 1989, he chaired Charlotte’s Arts and Science Campaign, which raised nearly $2 million. He helped establish the Lawyers Volunteer Program for the Charlotte Bar Association, and Duke Power’s legal department received a special recognition award from the N.C. Bar Association for having full staff participation in this program. In 1995, Griffith received the Robinson Award, Duke Power’s highest honor, for his work to help establish a homeless shelter.

Charles E. Dalton

July 10, 2014/in Distinguished Service Award

The Clemson Alumni Association has recognized Charles E. Dalton of Greenville as one of four recipients of the 2014 Distinguished Service Award, the association’s highest honor.

Distinguished Service Award honorees demonstrate a dedication to enhancing the value of the university for future generations, professional and public service and personal accomplishments that serve as a model for present and future Clemson students.

Dalton graduated from Clemson in 1964. He has served as president and CEO of Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative Inc. since 1982. Since 1992, he has also served as president and CEO of Blue Ridge Security Solutions. Prior to that, he and his brother, Allison Dalton, owned and operated Dalton’s Incorporated in Pickens, a high-end furniture store that once provided the décor for portions of both the Clemson House and the Clemson president’s home.

Dalton served on the Clemson Alumni Association board as well as the Clemson University Foundation board of directors. He has been an annual donor to the Clemson Fund for more than 35 years, and gave a major gift to the WestZone project as part of The Will to Lead capital campaign.

Dalton recently completed serving a two-year term as the president of IPTAY, of which he has been a member for more than 40 years. He previously served IPTAY as its treasurer, secretary and president-elect.

Dalton is serving or has recently served on the boards of directors for many Upstate agencies, including the Upstate Alliance of South Carolina, Cannon Memorial Hospital, the Greenville chapter of the American Red Cross, the Palmetto Conservation Foundation, Innovate Anderson and the Peace Center. He has also served many years on the South Carolina Department of Transportation Commission.

Because of his efforts to bring jobs to Pickens County, he was named a South Carolina Development Ally in 2005. He received the Outstanding Community Service Award from the Better Business Bureau and Individual Initiative Award from the governor of South Carolina.

Dalton and his wife, Libby, have three children, all Clemson alumni.

Thomas C. Alexander

July 10, 2014/in Distinguished Service Award

The Clemson Alumni Association has recognized Thomas C. Alexander of Walhalla as one of four recipients of the 2014 Distinguished Service Award, the association’s highest honor.

Distinguished Service Award honorees demonstrate a dedication to enhancing the value of the university for future generations; professional and public service; and personal accomplishments that serve as a model for present and future Clemson students.

Alexander graduated from Clemson in 1978 with a bachelor’s degree in economics. He has served as the senator for South Carolina Senate District 1 since 1994. Prior to that, he served in the South Carolina House of Representatives from 1987 to 1994.

Alexander chairs the Senate Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee, as well as the Public Utility Review Committee. He also chairs the Health and Human Services Subcommittee and serves on the Senate Finance Committee, the Medical Affairs Committee, the Banking and Insurance Committee and the Joint Bond Review Committee. He holds multiple leadership positions in the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Alexander is also an entrepreneur, owning Alexander Office Supply in Oconee County.

During his Senate career, Alexander has been a strong supporter of Clemson through legislative initiatives to provide funding for Public Service Activities, the Wind Turbine Drivetrain Testing Facility at the Restoration Institute in North Charleston, new research facilities through the South Carolina Research University Infrastructure Act and endowed faculty positions through the SmartState Center of Economic Excellence Program.

He has been recognized with numerous awards over the years, most recently receiving the S.C. Lions Foundation Award, the S.C. Chamber of Commerce Business Advocate Award, the S.C. Commission for the Blind Foundation Legislator of the Year Award and an Honorary Doctorate of Humanities from MUSC. In 2012, he received the Legislative Leadership Award from the Clemson Board of Visitors.

Alexander is a member of Walhalla Presbyterian Church and is involved in many local civic organizations, including the Walhalla Chamber of Commerce and the Walhalla Lions Club. He and his wife Lynda have three daughters and 10 grandchildren.

William L. “Roy” Abercrombie Jr.

February 27, 2014/in Distinguished Service Award

A 1969 graduate, Abercrombie is the former chief executive officer and president of American Federal Bank. After the company’s merger with Central Carolina Bank and Trust in 1997, he remained the executive vice president and vice chairman. He retired in 2003 and has been in commercial real estate for eight years and is chairman of Colliers International in Greenville.

Abercrombie has served as a chairman for multiple organizations, including the Greater Greenville Chamber of Commerce, the board of trustees for the Greenville Hospital System and the Community Financial Institutions of South Carolina. He is a board member for the Greenville Convention and Visitors Bureau. Over the years, Abercrombie has made significant contributions to several charities, including the American Red Cross, March of Dimes, the Salvation Army, the Hospice Foundation of America, the Children’s Museum of the Upstate, United Way and YMCA. In 1996, Abercrombie was recognized by Greenville Magazine as the Business Person of the Year.

He is an active member of his church, where he is chairman of the Finance Committee and past chairman of the Administrative Board.

Abercrombie is a former member and chairman of the Clemson Board of Visitors and served on the Clemson University Foundation Board. He is a member of the university’s Real Estate Foundation board and is the chairman and founding director of the Clemson University Land Stewardship Foundation. He has served on the President’s Council and is an IPTAY life member, a Heisman Donor and has made significant contributions to the West End Zone project and the basketball program. He is a member of the President’s Leadership Circle and the Benjamin Ryan Tillman Society.

He and his wife, Mary Carol, have two children.

Russell Carlton Ashmore Jr.

February 27, 2014/in Distinguished Service Award

Ashmore, who was president of Clemson’s Class of 1950, has continued to be an active member of the Clemson family. Over the years, Ashmore has donated to the Clemson Fund and is a Heisman-level donor to IPTAY.

In 1992, Ashmore worked to help save the Clemson ROTC program, organizing the Clemson Corps to raise funds to preserve both the program and Clemson’s military heritage. Ashmore, a military veteran, served as the Class of 1950 fundraising chairman for Military Heritage Plaza on Bowman Field and was a leader in the development of the Scroll of Honor Memorial.

Ashmore is active in his community. For two terms, he served as chairman of the board for the Greer Chamber of Commerce. He is an active board member for Partnership Tomorrow, a group invested in Greer’s economic well-being. In 2012, he was recognized by Gov. Nikki Haley with the Order of the Silver Crescent, which is given in recognition of those who make a significant contribution to a city or community.

In Fortaleza, Brazil, Ashmore helped establish the Davis Lars Children’s Home in 2000. In 2005, he also co-founded the Taylors Free Medical Clinic.

Ashmore was a member of the board of trustees of North Greenville University, serving four terms as chairman. The school awarded him an honorary doctorate in humanities in 1997.

Ashmore is an active member of Taylors First Baptist Church, where he has been a Sunday school teacher 25 years. He also has served on the board of deacons and other committees.

Ashmore is co-owner of Ashmore Brothers Inc., an Upstate leader in grading and paving since 1959. He previously worked as a plant manager for General Shale in Knoxville, Tenn.

Ashmore and his wife, Elma Ruth Stansell, have four children.

E. Mitchell “Mitch” Norville

February 27, 2014/in Distinguished Service Award

A 1980 Clemson graduate, Norville recently retired as chief operating officer of Boston Properties in Boston, Mass., one of the largest self-managed real estate investment trusts specializing in the development and ownership of office, industrial and hotel properties in the United States. While there, he was a member Sustainability Policy Advisory Committee of The Real Estate Roundtable and the Office Technology Consortium. While working in Boston Properties’ Washington, D.C., office, he served on the board of directors for the Downtown D.C. Business Improvement District.

Norville was on the Baltimore/Washington D.C. Clemson Club board for six years while living in Virginia and has contributed to the Clemson Annual Fund since 1980. He has contributed to the President’s Leadership Circle for the past three years and recently committed to endow a department chair in the College of Engineering and Science.

Norville has served on the board of directors for the Clemson University Foundation and is chairman of the Investment Committee. Norville also serves on the President’s Advisory Board and the Real Estate Development and Advancement Board. He has made significant financial contributions to IPTAY, the basketball program and the West End Zone, where he and his family have been honored with the naming of Gate 6 of Memorial Stadium the “Norville Family Gate.”

He and his wife, Carla, have three sons. Norville served 10 years as a coach for his sons’ football, basketball and baseball teams.

The other distinguished award winners are James Warren “Jimmy” Addison and Edgar James “Ed” Duckworth, both of Atlanta.

James Warren “Jimmy” Addison ’68

February 27, 2014/in Distinguished Service Award

Edgar James “Ed” Duckworth ’61

February 27, 2014/in Distinguished Service Award