Witt Irion Langstaff, Jr. ’75

Witt Irion Langstaff, Jr. ’75

Experienced leader and Respected conservationist

Witt Irion Langstaff, Jr. of Greenville is passionate about helping people, nature and Clemson.

Witt graduated from Clemson in 1975 with a bachelor’s degree in forestry and in 1988 completed the Executive Program at the Kenan Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina. Upon graduation from Clemson, he began a 23-year career with Sonoco in Hartsville, where he held numerous general management positions including international roles as president of Sonoco Ltd. (Canada) and general manager of Sonoco-Marutsutsu, a Japanese joint venture.

In 1999 Witt formed his own consulting and training business focusing on leadership and organizational effectiveness serving clients ranging from non-profits to small, family-owned businesses to global corporations.

Witt is passionate about natural resource conservation. Working with local and regional land trusts, he has helped protect thousands of acres of ecologically sensitive land. He and his wife, Beth, have a cabin in the NC mountains where most of his conservation efforts are focused. He is a past president of the board of trustees for the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy, based in Asheville, and is a life member of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy.

Witt is an avid hiker, naturalist and photographer. His photographs have appeared in local and national publications and are frequently used by conservation groups and in environmental education programs. He leads hikes and educational outings, including hosting multiday visits of Clemson students studying Southern Appalachian Mountain ecology.

As a resident of Hartsville, SC for over 30 years, Langstaff served that community in several ways. He was president of the United Way and on the boards of directors for the Rotary Club and the YMCA.

For Clemson, Witt has served on various boards and advisory committees, including a term as president of the Alumni National Council and co-chair of the Class of 1975 Golden Tiger reunion committee. He and Beth served together on the Clemson Libraries Development Board. For many years, Witt was a volunteer organizational development resource for the Alumni Relations and Development staff and the former College of Business and Behavioral Sciences. He also mentored students through the “Ask a Tiger” program. Witt and Beth are generous donors to Clemson, including supporting the recently opened Nieri Family Alumni and Visitors Center. They support Clemson student-athletes as “Life” IPTAY donors.

Witt grew up in Kingsport, TN and was the first Clemson student in his family. Despite this, his family quickly became a “Clemson Family”. His brother and two of his sisters followed him to Clemson and in 1977 his mother, Helen Langstaff, was selected as Clemson’s Mother of the Year. Witt and Beth’s daughter, Emily, and her husband, John Merrell, both graduated from Clemson in 2003.