South Carolina Civitan History

Civitan came to North Carolina and South Carolina in 1921 and 1922, just a few years after the first Civitan Club was formed. The clubs in these sister states were designated by Civitan International as the Carolinas District. Judge Junius G. Adams of the Asheville, North Carolina, Civitan Club was its first Governor.

In South Carolina, the Greenville Civitan Club was chartered in 1922 and in turn assisted in the chartering of clubs in Columbia and the upstate area. During these early years Civitan grew rapidly in membership and service to communities in the Carolinas District. Enthusiasm for Civitan continued into the depression years when economic conditions caused a heavy loss of members. In 1933, the Greenville, Easley, Greer and Pelzer Civitan Clubs surrendered their charters.

Civitan survived the depression setback and by 1947 there were 41 active clubs in the Carolinas District. Fourteen (14) of these were in South Carolina. Also, during these early years the District had twenty-six (26) Governors and of these five (5) were South Carolinians as follows:

1924 T. M. Norris, Greenville 1936-37 O. E. Black, Columbia 1940-41 Arthur Knight, Chesterfield 1943-44 Dr. Coyt Ham, Columbia 1945-46 Dr. A. S. Gilmore, Nichols

In 1946, the challenge to oversee and administer forty-one (41) clubs covering such a large geographical area lead to a proposal to divide the Carolinas District. In Convention at Myrtle Beach on May 25-26, 1947, the delegates approved the division of the Carolinas Civitan District. The Civitan International Board approved this action and the South Carolina District became a separate entity with fourteen (14) clubs and a membership of six hundred thirty-nine (639).

THE SOUTH CAROLINA DISTRICT

Charter member clubs of the new district were: Charleston, Chesterfield, Columbia, Greenville, Hartsville, Loris, Marion, Mullins, Myrtle Beach, Nichols, Olanta, Pageland, St. Phillips-St. Michael, and Spartanburg.

During the First ten (10) years (1947-1957), the South Carolina District increased its number of clubs to thirty-one (31) with a membership of twelve hundred (1200). From 1957 to the present, membership has fluctuated considerably but the number of clubs has remained around 30 while District project activity has accelerated.

PROJECTS

The first major District project was adopted in 1948 in cooperation with local clubs. Governor A.C. Bowie proposed a Scholarship Program to assist young people in South Carolina orphanages toward a college education. Applicants were screened by competitive examination and selected annually. The project was funded through contributions of one and half-dollars ($1.50) per member from clubs in the district. The first two students to graduate were Gaynelle Kernell from Winthrop College and Dennis Dellinger from the University of South Carolina in 1953. This project was continued for many years and benefited many young people.

Fund raising in support of Civitan service projects is a very important activity and the South Carolina District joined Civitan International in promoting the sale of Claxton fruitcake in the early fifties. Fruitcake sales remain a dependable source of income for many clubs.

Other District promoted fund-raisers past and present are the sale of Halloween candy, trash bags, and the Civitan Candy Box. The latter has been a major source of income for projects for people with disabilities and for support of the Civitan International Research Center.

In 1965, the South Carolina District renewed interest in the Junior Civitan program for high school students. Under the leadership of Ed Jones of the Five Points Club, the interest in forming Junior Clubs was greatly stimulated and the first Junior Civitan District Convention was held in 1967.

The South Carolina District began participation in an ongoing camping/conference for youth program with North Carolina East and North Carolina West Districts in 1967. Known as the Civitan Youth Conference and held in the mountains of North Carolina near Little Switzerland (Wildacres), it was moved in the early 1970's to Hendersonville, North Carolina, and finally to Cleveland, South Carolina. Suffering for financial support, the camp was closed in 1989 and from it evolved the Junior Civitan Leadership Conference first held at Francis Marion College in Florence, then at Presbyterian College.

The third annual conference in 1993 attracted 113 youths in three weekly sessions. Local club scholarships are the principle support. Activities are similar to the original concept...except for location. Weekly workshops, planned by staff and campers, provide opportunities to develop skills in goal setting, organization, communications, problem solving and self-discovery. Thousands of young people have been positively influenced in this program.

South Carolina Special Olympics support is a major District project in sponsoring the annual Summer Games at Ft. Jackson. Contributions from clubs and District account for approximately ten thousand dollars ($10,000) per year. In addition, Civitans from all over the State volunteer thousands of service hours to area, state and International Special Olympics.

Other District projects include promotion and support for Clergy Appreciation, Scholarships and Grants, Club Officer Training, Club Building, Membership Growth and Retention and Civitan Education.

ORGANIZATION

The South Carolina District is unique among Civitan Districts as one of only a few that had a central administrative office. In 1971, the District established an office in Columbia, South Carolina to support the activities of the District Governor, Directors and Program managers in providing services to local Civitan Clubs, and as place and means for information and records.

The first secretary was Virginia Sibauste who worked under the supervision of a District Administrator. For ten years Civitan Otis Jeffcoat served in this position until his retirement in 1981. Joyce Westbrook then served as Administrative Assistant to the Governor and District Board and Secretary/Treasurer of the District until her retirement in 2011 although the physical office had been closed several years before. Joyce's association with Civitan began in 1977. Since then the Secretary and Treasurer positions have been filled by Civitan volunteers, selected by the District Convention.

THEY SERVED

The Key to Success in an organization is its people...especially those with leadership qualities. Civitan has been fortunate to have those men and women of vision and commitment to step forward to guide, direct and energize with ideas and enthusiasm, often at considerable sacrifice. The following are district Governors who have contributed their talent as Builders of Good Citizenship:

**Denotes Distinguished Governor (International Award initiated in 1977)

South Carolina Civitans have served Civitan International on many committees and otherwise contributed support of Civitan programs. The following Civitans have represented the District with honor and distinction on the policy making Board of Directors as Regional International Vice Presidents or Directors:

* Prior to 1967, the South Carolina District was part of Civitan International Zone 2, consisting of the Florida, Georgia North, South Carolina and South Georgia Districts. By action of the Civitan International Board and approved in Convention, the South Carolina District was joined with North Carolina East and North Carolina West into Civitan International Area 3. Civitan reorganized districts and regions in 2004 and South Carolina joined Georgia and Florida Districts in Region 2.

RECOGNITION OF SERVICE TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA DISTRICT

Outstanding service to Civitan and Community is recognized at each Annual South Carolina District Convention to clubs and individuals through the District Awards program. For the individual Civitan, the most prestigious is the District Honor Key...followed by the "Otis Jeffcoat Award" named in honor of the distinguished former Administrator. For clubs, the most coveted is the Governor's Trophy which is presented to the club with the most outstanding community service program. The latter was initiated in 1981-82. Those who have been so honored are:

SOUTH CAROLINA CIVITAN DISTRICT HONOR KEY RECIPIENTS

OTIS JEFFCOAT AWARD

GOVERNOR'S TROPHY

1981-82 Palmetto
1982-83 Piedmont
1983-84 Spartanburg
1984-85 Florence
1985-86 Rock Hill
1986-87 Rock Hill
1987-88 Florence
1988-89 Metropolitan
1989-90 Rock Hill
1990-91 Metropolitan
1991-92 Spartanburg
1992-93 Lexington
1993-94 Metropolitan
1994-95 Charleston Lowcountry
1995-96 West Ashley
1996-97 Union Sandlapper
1998-99 Spartanburg
1999-00 Rock Hill
2000-01 Rock Hill
2001-02 Rock Hill
2002-03 Rock Hill
2003-04 Rock Hill
2004-05 Greenville
2005-06 Myrtle Beach
2006-07 Rock Hill
2007-08 Rock Hill
2008-09 Rock Hill
2009-10 Rock Hill
2010-11 Greenville
2011-12 Greenville
2012-13 Rock Hill
2013-14 Dutch Fork
2014-15 Dutch Fork
2015-16 Greenville
2016-17 Columbia
2017-18 Greenville
2018-19 Columbia
2019-20 Dutch Fork
2020-21 Greenville

DISTINGUISHED LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

1994-95 John H. Doudoukjian

JOHN H. DOUDOUKJIAN LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE RECOGNITION - CIVITAN INTERNATIONAL

The Civitan International World headquarters Building in Birmingham, Alabama has an impressive wall display (10 by 30 feet) on which the names of Civitans are inscribed in recognition of outstanding service to Civitan. The following are categories and individual Civitans of the South Carolina District who are so honored on Civitans Wall of Fame.

RECIPIENTS OF CIVITAN INTERNATIONAL HONOR KEYS

CIVITAN INTERNATIONAL FELLOWS

-Research Center Fellows-

John H. Doudoukjian

Robert L. Handell

Everette L. Lineberger

Dr. William D. Rentz

James M. Smith

William Leonard Still

Jane Warner

Bryan F. Bobo

William F. & Elizabeth Prince Bobo

Charles E. & Mary McCuen Snow

Edward L. Sanders

Nancy Ball

Steven C. Doudoukjian

James W. Seeley

Jane Warner

Jack Fanning

Eugene F. Bratton

Steve Matson

-Scholarship Fellows-

Sidney Dunlap Spartanburg

Carol R. Ellington West Ashley

Julian Foster Spartanburg

Otis A. Jeffcoat, Jr. Columbia

Ed S. Jones Five Points

Walter Kneece Columbia

Alvin E. Kunz Florence

Kenneth J. Norton Spartanburg

Benjamin D. Moore Palmetto

James W. Seeley Spartanburg

Mary Thompson Metropolitan

Leslie M. Timms Greenville

John H. Doudoukjian

Bryan F. Bobo Spartanburg

Jim Fleck

Terry Matheny Florence

Richard Gay

James Boyd Strawn

Betsy Nunnery

Jack Fanning

Joyce Westbrook

JUNIOR CIVITAN INTERNATIONAL FELLOWS

Kellam Allen Columbia

Pierce Cauthen Lancaster

Chris Dysard Lancaster

Dorothy Fleck Florence

Jim Fleck Florence

Anne Folk Newberry

Richard Gay Lancaster

Emmett Hutto Greenwood

Ed S. Jones Five Points

Mattie Lee Jones Columbia

Bettsy Nunery Irmo

Mitchell A. Norrell Golden Strip

Beverly Peebles Greenville

Mayleng Streett

Christal Golden

Will Anderson

Lura Boggs

Tim Parker

Matt Pitmon

John Baker

Phillip Mason

Nathan Crawford

Scott Sowell

Brian Trimnal

Mathew Blackwell

Richard Ballard

Beverly P. Bell

Bryan F. Bobo

Lisa Burgin

Michael Cooper

Whitney Harrison

Brittney Marie MacDougall

Kristen Vigrass

Josh Cato

Colton Crenshaw

Shelby Fulmer

Kaleigh-Shaye Walker

Sean Blanton

Rachel Mann

INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENTS COUNCIL CHARTER MEMBERS

Nancy Ball

Cindy W. Holcombe

Alvin E. Kunz

Bryan F. Bobo

Everette Lineberger

Lura S. Boggs

Janet P. Lyons

Kenneth J. Norton

Dorothy S. Eason

Jane H. Warner

D. Greg Vaught

SOUTH CAROLINA DISTRICT FOUNDATION

On September 19, 1994, club delegates at the South Carolina District Convention voted unanimously to establish the South Carolina District Civitan Foundation and to have the Civitan International Foundation manage the funds for the South Carolina Foundation.

In July 1995, the South Carolina Civitan Foundation Fellows Program was established to aid in funding. The South Carolina Fellows Program is available for any club, individual, family, or group to recognize another person by contributing $300.00 to the South Carolina Foundation. These funds will be endowed funds.

RECIPIENTS OF SOUTH CAROLINA DISTRICT FOUNDATION FELLOW AWARD

Billy Taylor, Florence

J.B. Potts, Rock Hill

W.V. "Bill" Dison, Charleston Lowcountry

Robert Lawson, Union

J.L. Cassells, Chester

Ed Jones, SC Junior Civitan District

Bryan F. Bobo, Spartanburg

Alvin E. Kunz, Florence

S.F. Horton, Loris

Eldred E. Prince, Loris

Thomas C. McCrorey, Chester

Oscar Eargle, Dutch Fork

Gus Becker, Sumter

Red Baldwin, North Strand

Julian Foster, Spartanburg

Janice Bell, SC Junior Civitan District

Dock Price, Chester

Anne Kearse, Piedmont

Bea Vawter, NC District East

Charles M. Thomas, North Strand

W.T. Boulware, Chester

William Ferguson, Spartanburg

James W. Seeley, Spartanburg

Margaret Potts, Rock Hill

Ken Norton, Sunrise-Spartanburg

Melinda Benson, SC Junior Civitan District

Dorothy Fleck, SC Junior Civitan District

Don Hoshaw, Dutch Fork

J. Sidney Dunlap, Spartanburg

Mac Wright, Florence

Frazier Sprawls, Florence

Mary Ellen Sprawls, Florence

Roy R. Schneider, Jr., Dutch Fork

Charles Thomas, North Strand

Robert Doyle, Sunrise

Mike Taylor, Dutch Fork

Mary Welch, Charleston Lowcountry

Janice White, Peidmont

Glenda Richardson, Peidmont

Daniel Hendrix, Chester

Fred Lockman, Spartanburg

Ken Norton, Sunrise

Troy Herlihy, Junior Civitan District

Joan Hardin, Piedmont

John Huskins, Chester

Barbara Kirby, Peidmont

David Simpson, Rock Hill

John D. Few, Spartanburg

Horace Arthur, Spartanburg

Robert "Bob" Handell, Spartanburg

E.L. "Sandy" Sanders, Spartanburg

James E. "Jim" Reeves, Spartanburg

Leonard W. Still, Spartanburg

Edward M. "Ed" Griffin, Spartanburg

Bonnie Mortrude, Charleston Lowcountry

Kathy Robinson, Charleston Lowcountry

June Dangerfield, Charleston Lowcountry

Jan Ledbetter, Charleston Lowcountry

Odd Juel - Spartanburg

Kathryn E. Robinson, West Ashley

W. Keith Parris, Spartanburg

Katherine Lockman, Spartanburg

HIGH OFFICE

The high office of President of Civitan International has been an elusive one for South Carolina Civitans. Two native sons have served with honor as head of Civitan during its long history.

The first was Dr. Maurice L. Townsend, originally from Society Hill, South Carolina, who served as President of Civitan International in 1933-34. At that time, he was a member of the Washington, D.C. Civitan Club. His convention in Toronto, Canada was the first held outside of the United States. Dr. Townsend returned to Society Hill after retirement and made himself available as a speaker at Civitan functions until his health failed.

Dr. John R. Pate, a native of Scranton, South Carolina, served as President of Civitan Inter-national in 1965-66. His home club also was Washington, D.C., a member of the Chesapeake Civitan District. Dr. Pate's convention was held in Jacksonville, Florida.

FIRST FOR SOUTH CAROLINA DISTRICT - HISTORIC MOMENT

On July 15, 1992, as Civitan International was in its seventy-second convention in Birmingham, Alabama, candidate John H. Doudoukjian was elected to the post of President-Elect of Civitan International. John was a member of the Dutch Fork Civitan Club, Columbia, South Carolina, and a Past District Governor; Past Civitan International Board Member, and served on several Civitan International Committees.

John was installed as President of Civitan International at the World Congress of Civitan in Hanover, Germany, on June 30, 1993, and assumed office on October 1, 1993 - a proud moment for all South Carolina District Civitans and a promising future.

2019 CIVITAN INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION

July 3, 2019

Civitans of South Carolina were excited to welcome Civitan International President Bob Jones and Civitans from around the world to the 99th Annual Civitan International Convention in Greenville. Delegates were treated with a beach and shag party and plenty of sweet tea. The traditional fund raising events, the Breakthru Golf Tournament and the newly named Civitan Fest raised over $240,000 to support our Civitan International Reasearch Center. Read a complete recap of the convention in the July issue of Civitan Magazine.

The information in this report is current through the 74th Annual Convention of the South Carolina District of Civitan International September, 2021, Greenville, South Carolina.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS:

A Brief History of Civitan in South Carolina - James B. Aiken, Past District Governor (1950-51).

History of the South Carolina District - L.R. Lewis, Jr., Past District Governor (1985-86).

Civitan Magazine, March-April 1992.

Alvin E. Kunz, District Historian, 1992-93.

Office of the South Carolina District, Joyce Westbrook, Administrative Assistant.

Office of Civitan International, W. John Rynearson, Executive Vice President.

Updated & published for the internet by Steve Doudoukjian. Please report errors by e-mail Updated September, 2021