|  David
H. Wilkins Legislative Leadership
Program
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| Wilkins,
Drummond, and Riley |
The
Inaugural Wilkins
Legislative
Award Dinner
January 9, 2006
David
H. Wilkins has had an extraordinary career as a member of the South
Carolina House of Representatives, then as House Speaker, and now
as United States Ambassador to Canada.
To honor David
Wilkins’ contributions to his home state, the Riley Institute
at Furman announced the annual David H. Wilkins Legislative Award
Dinner. On January 9, 2006, more than 500 guests, including state
legislators and business leaders from across South Carolina, attended
the Riley Institute’s first annual Awards Dinner at the Columbia
Metropolitan Convention Center. The Wilkins' Award for Excellence
in State Legislative Leadership is presented to a legislator who
embodies the highest principles of leadership based on integrity,
compassion, civility, vision, inclusiveness, and courage.
The inaugural
award was presented to long-term South Carolina Senator and President
Pro-Tem Emeritus, John W. Drummond of Greenwood, South Carolina.
Senator Drummond, who represents District 10 (Abbeville-Greenwood-Laurens
counties), has served in the South Carolina House (1965-66) and
in the Senate since 1967.
John Drummond’s
public service record is remarkable and is reflected by the numerous
awards received over the years for his service, including Senator
of the Year and Outstanding Senator Awards from organizations as
diverse as the American Legion, the School Boards Association, and
the South Carolina Association of State Employees.
Senator Drummond’s
military record between 1939 and 1947 is similarly distinguished.
Between 1943 and 1945 he was presented with two Purple Hearts, nine
Air Medals, the Distinguished Flying Cross, and three Battle Stars,
and a Presidential Citation while a fighter pilot in the 405th Fighter
Bomb Unit operating over Europe.
Riley Institute
Executive Director, Don Gordon, said “the selection committee
could not have made a more appropriate choice. John Drummond has
always put the people of South Carolina ahead of partisan politics
and worked with distinction for the common good. He is a superb
public servant who works selflessly for all of the state’s
citizens.”
The inauguration
of the award marked the beginning of a larger program named for
United States Ambassador to Canada David H. Wilkins. The Wilkins
Legislative Leadership Program will also provide an annual Forum
on an Emerging Public Issue in South Carolina, Wilkins Fellows who
will intern in South Carolina government offices, and a Chair in
state politics. Ambassador Wilkins, who flew down from Ottawa for
the occasion, was praised by former US Secretary and former Governor
of South Carolina, Richard W. Riley as an “inclusive public
servant whose career as Speaker of the House in South Carolina was
marked by dignity and courage.”
To view an
article published in The Greenville News, click
here; an article in The State, click
here.
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