2013 – Clemson Alumni Association

Brianna Apple Woodsby ‘05

June 25, 2014/in The Roaring 10

Brianna Woodsby is a current student in the MBA program at Clemson. Her loyalty to the University is very evident in her endeavors as President of the Spartanburg Clemson Club, an active member of the Junior League of Spartanburg, and an IPTAY representative. In addition to her Clemson endeavors, she also serves as chairman of the advisory board for the Kappa Delta chapter at Wofford College. With a degree in Language and International Trade, she holds the position of International Trade Manager with AFL. A member of Spartanburg Young Professionals and the United Way Young Leaders Society, it is evident this nominee truly upholds the values of the Roaring 10.

Tanner James Smith ‘11

June 25, 2014/in The Roaring 10

Tanner Smith played on the Clemson basketball team for four years and became the first player in Clemson history and only player in the ACC for 2012 to combine +10 points, +5 rebounds, and +4 assists per game for a season. He currently plays in the MHP RIESEN Professional Basketball team in Germany. Aside from his athletic accomplishments, he started “Tanner’s Totes,” a non-profit company helping teens cope with long-term hospital care all over the country.

Benjamin Thomas Miskelly ‘11

June 25, 2014/in The Roaring 10

Benjamin Miskelly was elected as Nashville Area Clemson Club’s President, this young man has demonstrated his true pride to the Clemson name. This candidate is very active in his community—working with Hermitage Hills Baptist Church as a Youth Leader and LifeGroup Co-Leader, with “Rebuilding Together Nashville” on the Board of Directors, and as a Clemson Representative with the ACC/SEC Leadership Council. Holding a Landscape Architecture degree from Clemson in 2011, he currently works as an Urban Planner and Graphic Designer with the Metropolitan Nashville Planning Department.

Victoria Watson Longshore ’05

June 25, 2014/in The Roaring 10

Victoria Longshore served as Clemson’s Young Alumni President in 2011, this honoree has demonstrated her exceptional advocacy and support for Clemson University. During her time as a member of the Richmond Clemson Club, she has organized many events to help the University, as well as those around her. Since her days on the Student Alumni Council, she has been committed to the Clemson Alumni Association. In her community, she serves on the Hospitality Committee within her church and works hard to coordinate several events in support of Virginia Special Olympics. She truly embodies what it means to be a Tiger.

Joseph Nicholas Lane ’03

June 25, 2014/in The Roaring 10

Joseph Lane has upheld our core values of honesty, integrity, and respect. Recently promoted to Human Resource Director for Milliken & Company, this young man has become the youngest in the history of the company. This nominee continues to show his loyalty to the University by serving on the Student Affairs Advisory Board and working closely with the Michelin Career Center, offering advice on how to make Clemson students competitive in today’s professional environment and ensuring current students find jobs each year. In his community, he works on the Board of Directors for the Blood Connection. He was also recently elected as the Chairman of the Spartanburg County Republican Party, again the youngest in the history of the organization.

Steven Epps ’08

June 25, 2014/in The Roaring 10

Steven Epps is currently serving as President of the MBA Alumni Society, our next young alumnus is proud to show his loyalty to Clemson and the Alumni Association. He remains active with the University as an IPTAY member, serving on the Alumni Council, the Greenville Luncheon Planning Committee, and as a Greenville Young Alumni Member. He remains active in his community sitting on two committees for Greenville’s young professional associations, PULSE, and was recognized as volunteer of the month for July 2013.

Shaun W. Cranford ‘03

June 25, 2014/in The Roaring 10

Shaun Cranford has shown his commitment to Clemson through his involvement with the Columbia Clemson Club. Under Shaun’s leadership the club has seen increased membership, added new events, and has raised over $10,000 in scholarships for Richland County students. Professionally, Shaun is regarded as one of the top attorneys in his field through his practice at The Cranford Law Firm. In only a few years, Shaun has built a client base that consists of over 100 Homeowner Associations through the Southeast.

William Richard Cathcart ’05

June 25, 2014/in The Roaring 10

William Cathcart has a well-established global reputation as a journalist, presidential advisor, and entrepreneur; this candidate has truly shown he holds the determined spirit of a Clemson Tiger. In 2010, he was awarded the first Distinguished Leadership Medal for Journalistic Excellence presented by the United States Business Institute. His articles have been featured on many prestigious news outlets including The Daily Beast, Anderson Cooper 360, The National Review Online, Georgian Journal, Humanevents.com, the Buenos Aires Herald, and CNN.com. As Managing Editor of the Charleston Mercury, he has had the privilege of interviewing many world leaders. He also worked as media advisor and speechwriter to the President of Georgia (the country). He continues to work in Georgia in business development and as producer for the country’s largest independent media company. In his philanthropic endeavors, he has become a leader in advocating for Cystic Fibrosis patients.

Michael Blake Berry ’06

June 25, 2014/in The Roaring 10

Michael Berry has made quite the impact on his community through his teaching endeavors. Not only was he named 2011 Teacher of the Year at Pendleton High School, but the South Carolina Association of Agricultural Educators also selected him as the Outstanding Young Teacher. He was named Outstanding Young Agri-Science Educator in the Southern States and on of the top six in the nation for 2013. Adding to his long list of achievements, he was recently elected President of the South Carolina Association of Agricultural Educators and President of the historic Pendleton Farmers Society. This Agriculture Education graduate has brought Thomas Green Clemson’s vision of blending education and science together.

Odessa Sirman Armstrong ’06

June 25, 2014/in The Roaring 10

Odessa Armstrong has been described as having a “good for all” mentality rather than a “good for one.” Her dedication to service makes her an ideal candidate for the Roaring 10. She currently serves on the College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences Alumni Board and stays engaged with the Clemson Black Alumni Committee. Currently a member of the Emerging Leaders Development Program in Washington, DC, she works hard to distinguish herself as a professional, while working to serve and inspire others.

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

Thomas B. McTeer ’60

February 14, 2014/in Clemson Medallion

William Shakespeare said, “When words are scarce they are seldom spent in vain,” and Thomas B. McTeer’s more than 35 years of service to Clemson as a man of few words but great action are a testament to this statement.

And to think this longtime Tiger fan almost became a Gamecock.

McTeer was set on playing Carolina football when Coach Frank Howard offered him a last-minute scholarship. He would go on to become one of the longest-serving members of Clemson’s Board of Trustees, his passion for teamwork and unity evoking a drive that would see the University through challenge and triumph, from integration to winning a national football championship and becoming a top-25 public university.

As an industrial management major, McTeer played football and ran track; was involved in student government, Tiger Brotherhood and Blue Key Honor Society; and served as vice president of the Central Dance Association and the senior class.

President of McTeer Real Estate since 1964, McTeer also has served on the Columbia Board of Realtors and the Columbia Zoning Board of Adjustment Appeals, and offers his skills and expertise to Clemson as a member of the Real Estate Foundation Board.

McTeer’s Clemson legacy has also continued through family ties. All three of his daughters are Clemson graduates as well as one of his grandchildren; two grandchildren are current students. An IPTAY and Clemson Fund donor, McTeer established the Sandra B. McTeer Memorial Scholarship Endowment in memory of his late wife. Chair of the board from 1981 to 1983, he was named Trustee Emeritus in 2012 after retiring from his tenure that began in 1976.

Joseph D. Swann ’63

February 13, 2014/in Clemson Medallion

When he took part in student government’s efforts to welcome Harvey Gantt to Clemson in 1963, Joseph D. Swann demonstrated the self-discipline and leadership skills he would later use to help guide the University to national and international acclaim.

A Clemson University trustee for 23 years and two-term vice chair of the board, Swann demonstrated a passion for service throughout his undergraduate career as a ceramic engineering major. He was involved with student government and Blue Key Honor Society and served as vice president of the junior and senior classes. He also lent his talents as a writer to the engineering magazine Slipstick and The Tiger student newspaper.

Swann began his career in the ceramics industry by working as a development engineer for the Ferro Corp. in Cleveland, Ohio. He went on to become the division materials manager and earned an MBA from Case Western Reserve University.

After taking a job with Reliance Electric in 1969, he moved his family back south, eventually settling in Greenville and becoming vice president and general manager of the company. He was named senior vice president in 1995 when Rockwell Automation acquired Reliance Electric, and he became president in 1998. Though he retired in 2007, he continued to serve as chair of the board of directors for integrated power services.

A recipient of the Clemson Alumni Association Distinguished Service Award in 1995, Swann has served as an IPTAY representative and is a past member of the Board of Visitors. All three of his children are Clemson graduates, and his family left a permanent mark on the University in 2003 when the Swann Fitness Center was dedicated after their generous donation.

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