Clarendon chamber honors 4

By ROBERT BAKER
The Clarendon Sun
bbaker@theitem.com

The Clarendon County Chamber of Commerce honored four county residents Thursday during the organization's annual dinner.

Dr. Kate Smith, a family practitioner in Turbeville, was named the 2009 House District 64 Woman of the Year, a newer award sponsored by Rep. Cathy B. Harvin, D-Summerton.

"The House District 64 Woman of the Year Award was begun in 2008 and seeks to recognize women who give selflessly of their time to volunteer efforts that improve specific areas of community concern," Harvin said, noting Smith's time at the University of South Carolina and the Medical University of South Carolina, after which she took an internship at Spartanburg General Regional Hospital and remained there to serve the hospital as an emergency room physician.

"She was one of the first physicians in the state of South Carolina to serve in this capacity," Harvin said.

Smith returned to MUSC, studying pediatric medicine, "but her hometown of Turbeville implored her to come home," Harvin said.

"Turbeville's two doctors at the time had decided to leave and go to Sumter, (and) our recipient agreed to go home for a short while," Harvin said. "Each time (she) would decide that it was time to return to MUSC, the town fathers and mothers would hold a special prayer meeting and bring gifts for our recipient to encourage her to remain as their physician. The pressure was strong, as was her love of home, and she never left again."

Harvin cited Smith's involvment as team physician for East Clarendon High School for 30 years and her 35 years of work as a member of the Clarendon Behavioral Health Services Board of Directors as well as her two terms with Turbeville Town Council and service on the Wofford College Board of Trustees.

"She is the recipient of the Pioneer Award presented by the Rural Health Association (and) is a recipient of the distinguished South Carolina Silver Crescent Award, presented by Gov. Jim Hodges," Harvin said. "Our recipient is a role model for each and every one of us and it is my honor and privilege (to present this award to her)," Harvin said.

John Milton Odom, owner of Odom Auction in Manning, was deemed 2009 Business Person of the Year, an award sponsored by The Manning Times.

"(He) is an important part of Clarendon County's business community," said Chamber Executive Director Dawn Griffith. "He also assists our community with many charitable causes such as conducting auctions for the American Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity and the Animal Shelter of Clarendon County.

Cathy Gilbert, managing editor for The Manning Times, was named the county's 2009 Citizen of the Year, an award sponsored by the Bank of Clarendon.

Gilbert was nominated, Griffith said, because of her work with Clarendon Habitat for Humanity and "other worthwhile projects."

"She is involved in many other worthwhile projects and events in our county which reflects the pride and the love that she has for Manning," Griffith said.

Harvin also greeted the final honoree for the evening, Nelson Walker, who was named the 2009 Ambassador of the Year, sponsored by the C. Alex Harvin III family.

"The Clarendon County Ambassador of the Year recognition was first awarded in 2001 ... C. Alex Harvin III ... wanted to pay tribute to his father, Alex Harvin, for the work that he and many others did many decades ago to stimulate business interests and opportunities in Clarendon County," Harvin said. "These forefathers used their own financial resources and ingenuity in a time when there was no Clarendon Development Board or Chamber of Commerce. Community members took it upon themselves to find way to grow the local economy."

Chamber Executive Director Dawn Griffith agreed.

"Nelson is instrumental in recruiting and coordinating fishing tournament activities for the county," she said. "He is a true promoter of tourism for our county."

Griffith said the dinner is held each year in November to honor extraordinary leaders in the county. The first recipient of Businessperson of the Year was Jerry Bradshaw in 1986. Citizen of the Year was added in 1991; Ambassador of the Year in 2002; and Woman of the Year in 2008.

"The dinner (is) held to recognize (the) outstanding business leaders in our county and also to (have) an event that would bring the citizens together to honor (these) persons," Griffith said.