Rick Timmons, a native of Greenville, South Carolina, is a third-generation leader in his family’s enterprises, Canal Insurance Company and Central Realty Corporation. He graduated from Vanderbilt University in 1974 and earned a master’s degree from the University of Chicago in 1976. Rick began his career with IBM Corporation and, after two years, returned to Greenville to join the family businesses.

After more than four decades, he is currently the Senior Vice President for Investments at Canal Insurance Company and Secretary of Central Realty Corporation. He also leads two privately held real estate firms that purchase, develop, and manage real estate, as President of Timber-Lands LP and President of Lullwater Syndicate, Inc.

Rick has provided extensive board leadership across the community and within the family companies. He has chaired the boards of Christ Church Episcopal School, the Peace Center for the Performing Arts, and Lullwater Syndicate, Inc. His board service has included United Way of Greenville County, The South Financial Group, Furman University, and the Canal Insurance Company. He currently serves on the boards of Central Realty Corporation, Timber-Lands L.P., Lullwater Syndicate, Inc., the Palmetto Promise Institute, and Furman University (emeritus).

The Timmons family has been a steadfast partner to Furman University for generations. Rick’s late father, Bill Timmons, served six terms as a trustee, and his aunts Kitty Wells Timmons ’48 and Jean Timmons Pelham ’42 are recognized in the Benefactors Circle. They provided the lead gift for Timmons Arena, have sponsored Furman ProAm events over many years, and established a major Music Department scholarship honoring William R. Timmons ’14 and Eva Timmons. Most recently, Rick, his siblings, and cousins made significant gifts supporting the renovation of Timmons Arena.

Rick and his wife, Pat, live in Greenville, and they have three children.