Harrison F. “Hack” Trammell ’78

Harrison F. “Hack” Trammell ’78

Community stalwart. Faithful alumnus.

Harrison F. “Hack” Trammell has been described as a transformational leader, as the definition of a “Clemson Gentleman” and as an unapologetic Clemson fanatic.

After graduating from Clemson in 1978 with a bachelor’s degree in accounting, Hack joined the audit division of Arthur Andersen & Co. In 1985, he moved to Carolinas HealthCare System (now Atrium Health) and subsequently served for over 20 years as president of regional facilities.

In 2008, Hack returned to Clemson to become president and chief executive officer of the Clemson University Foundation. The foundation is an independent, not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization that promotes the welfare and future development of the University by receiving, investing and managing gifts from donors, including long-term endowment gifts. He led the foundation through the Great Recession, revamped its business model to increase support of the fundraising enterprise by almost $4 million annually and had Clemson’s endowment surpass $1 billion by his retirement in 2021. During his tenure, the endowment provided over $200 million in payouts in support of the University.

He provided leadership for the Clemson University Real Estate Foundation and the Clemson University Land Stewardship Foundation, which developed several projects at the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR) in Greenville. They also were drivers in the early development phase of the Nieri Family Alumni and Visitors Center.

Hack himself is a major donor to Clemson. In addition to supporting the Samuel J. Cadden Chapel, the Nieri Family Alumni and Visitors Center and the Clemson University Foundation Tomorrow Begins Today Scholarship Endowment, he and his wife, Cheryl, established the Harrison F. “Hack” and Cheryl Trammell Family Scholarship Endowment. They support Clemson student-athletes as longtime IPTAY donors.

Along with both Hack and Cheryl, all four of their children are Clemson graduates. Three of the children’s spouses are as well. Hack and Cheryl were co-chairs of the Clemson University Parents’ Council Advisory Board,

Hack served on the Clemson University Institute for Parks advisory board and received the institute’s Distinguished Service Award. He was honored with the Clemson chapter of Beta Theta Pi fraternity’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2021, having served as an advisor for over a decade.

Hack’s community activities include chairing the board of trustees of the Highland-Cashiers Hospital and serving as organizing board chair of the Healing Bridges Counseling Center. He is a volunteer and mentor for Ripple of One, an organization that helps impoverished families achieve financial independence.

He has been an elder and trustee of Fort Hill Presbyterian Church in Clemson and was a leader in Sardis Presbyterian Church in Charlotte. He also served as treasurer and board member for the Charlotte Urban Ministry Center and on the board of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Senior Centers Inc.