SPARTANBURG ONE DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI
Spartanburg One is proud to recognize and celebrate the exciting achievements and life events of our alumni! Beginning in August of 2021, we highlight the successes and contributions of a Chapman or Landrum High School alum with a monthly feature on our website and social media platforms. Please help us celebrate our incredible alumni by nominating a Chapman or Landrum High school graduate via the link below!
Congratulations to our April Spartanburg One Distinguished Alumni, Mr. Benny E. Waldrop! Mr. Waldrop is a 1961 graduate of Chapman High School and is the founder of Waldrop, Inc. Prior to his successful career in the heating and air conditioning industry, Mr. Waldrop served in the Army National Guard. After returning from active duty, he entered the workforce and discovered his passion for the heating and air conditioning business. After several years of advancing through the ranks, Mr. Waldrop began his own business and later obtained his license as a South Carolina Mechanical Contractor. From the company’s beginning in the residential marketplace in 1970 as Waldrop Heating & Air Conditioning, the company was changed in 2007 to Waldrop, Inc. to accommodate the establishment of two separate operating divisions, Waldrop Mechanical Services, and Waldrop Heating & Air Conditioning. Waldrop, Inc. now employs more than 250 employees. Mr. Waldrop has received many accolades for his work, including being named the Small Business Person of the Year by the Spartanburg Chamber of Commerce and receiving honorary memberships to the South Carolina Mechanical and South Carolina Heat Pump Associations. After 41 years of service in the industry, Mr. Waldrop is now enjoying retirement with his wife Gail. Do you know an alum of Chapman or Landrum High Schools with an exciting achievement, life event, or other news to share with the Spartanburg One community? Help us celebrate our Distinguished Alumni by nominating someone today!
A 1994 graduate of Chapman High School, Willie Earl Hines, Jr. attended college at Montreat College in Charlotte, NC, and Limestone College, in Gaffney, SC. He has worked for over 22 years in the telecommunications industry and is currently a Sales Director for Charter Spectrum Residential Inbound Department. Elder Hines acknowledged his call into the ministry and preached his initial sermon on June 11, 2006. Since that time, he has served in many capacities at Life With Jesus Ministries, including Local, State, and National Levels. As an involved Spartanburg County resident, Elder Hines made history as the first African American to hold the title of City Chaplain for Inman, S.C. In addition, he is an appointed city spokesperson on behalf of the Honorable Mayor Cornelius D. Huff of Inman, SC. He is a 2019 Alumnus of the Spartanburg Grassroots Leadership Development Institute, a special initiative of the Spartanburg County Foundation. Additionally, Elder Hines is the author of the newly released book, “Trauma to Triumph.” Elder Hines served as the President of the South Carolina State Council Young People's Union from 2008 to 2014. He served as Vice-President from 2006 to 2008 and worked closely with previous administrations in many other functions and capacities. Since 2015, he has served as the State President of the Singles Department of the South Carolina State Council. Among his many accolades and accomplishments, the most important to him is his love for God, family, and people. He has three children, Kenisha Angelica, Jasmine Alisha, and Elijah Timothy Hines. He is also affectionately known as "Poppy" to his three grandchildren, Jayden, Trinity, and Autumn Sims. Do you know an alum of Chapman or Landrum High Schools with an exciting achievement, life event, or other news to share with the Spartanburg One community? Help us celebrate our Distinguished Alumni by nominating someone today!
We are pleased to recognize the late Coach Steve Coley as our DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI for the month of February! Coach Steve Coley was a 1961 graduate of Landrum High School and went on to start the Cardinals' baseball program in 1972, compiling a 377-185 record. He coached the Cardinals from 1972-1980 and 1985-1996. Coach Coley led the Cardinals baseball team to the school's first state championship in 1975. He was inducted posthumously into the South Carolina Athletic Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2018 and will be inducted into the 5th Class of the South Carolina Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame later this year. We are so proud of Coach Coley’s accomplishments and the impact he had on our community!
We would like to posthumously recognize Mr. Mike Smith as the January Spartanburg One Distinguished Alumni. Mike Smith was a 1976 graduate of Landrum High School and attended USC Spartanburg. During his college years, he was a volunteer EMT with the Landrum and Croft Rescue Squads and went on to become the Global Sales Manager for Milliken and Company’s Chemical Division. Mike devoted his time to serving the Free Masonry and Scottish Rite Foundation on local, state, and national levels. He was the Chairman of the Scottish Rite Foundation, which operates three language clinics for preschool children in South Carolina free of charge. In 2019, Mike was awarded the Order of the Palmetto for his charitable contributions to the Scottish Rite Foundation and all of his other charitable endeavors. Mike was a member of the Spartanburg One Board of Trustees for twelve years and served as the Chairman of the Board in 2009 and 2010. Additionally, he volunteered with both the Chapman Athletic Booster and Chapman Band Booster Clubs while his children attended CHS.
Congratulations to our December Spartanburg One Distinguished Alumni, Dr. Howard Hall! Dr. Hall is a 1981 graduate of Chapman High School and is currently the Director for the University of Tennessee Institute for Nuclear Security. He holds a joint appointment with Consolidated Nuclear Security (Y-12 National Security Complex) and serves as a Professor in both the Department of Nuclear Engineering and the Bredesen Center For Interdisciplinary Research and Graduate Education. Dr. Hall is also a Senior Fellow in Global Security Policy at the Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy at the University of Tennessee. Dr. Hall received his Ph.D. in Nuclear and Radiochemistry from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1989; and his BS in Chemistry from the College of Charleston in 1985. He has led efforts supporting US Government programs in aviation safety and security, nuclear threat detection, and nuclear emergency response. In 2005, Dr. Hall was part of the team awarded the Department of Homeland Security/Science and Technology Directorate Undersecretary’s Award for Science. Professor Hall is a member of the American Nuclear Society, the American Physical Society, the American Chemical Society, the American Society for Engineering Education, the Institute of Nuclear Materials Management, and holds the rank of Fellow in the American Institute of Chemists and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Do you know an alum of Chapman or Landrum High Schools with an exciting achievement, life event, or other news to share with the Spartanburg One community? Help us celebrate our Distinguished Alumni by nominating someone today!
Wanda McDowell is a 1987 graduate of Chapman High School who went on to receive her B.A. in Psychology from Converse College. McDowell worked in Admissions at Converse for many years before entering into the school nutrition field. She currently works for Super Bakery, Inc., owned by former Pittsburgh Steeler Hall-of-Famer, Franco Harris. McDowell serves on School Nutrition Association’s Industry Advisory Board, as well as on the School Nutrition Foundation (SNF) Board. She was a key leader of the 2021 SNF 5K Walk with a Purpose Committee, helping to raise money to support SNF scholarships and professional development programs. McDowell’s commitment extends to the state level, where she has served on Industry Advisory Boards in Tennessee, South Carolina (two terms), and Mississippi (six terms), as well as several steering committees and scholarship committees. Most recently, McDowell was named the 2021 National Industry School Nutrition Association Member of the Year. We are honored to recognize Wanda Moore McDowell as a Spartanburg One Distinguished Alumni and wish her continued success!
Dr. Pack is a 2004 graduate of Chapman High School and is currently an Assistant Professor and Early Childhood Coordinator for the Department of Teacher Education at Lander University, and also serves as an adjunct professor at Southern New Hampshire University. Additionally, Dr. Pack serves as the coordinator of the Teacher Cadet program at Lander, where she recruits students from South Carolina high schools to join the educator profession and supports the Teacher Cadet program. Dr. Pack currently has three children who attend Spartanburg One schools and she actively serves on the Parent Advisory Committee at Holly Springs-Motlow Elementary. Dr. Pack is an outstanding advocate for public education and we are so proud to recognize her as a Spartanburg One Distinguished Alumni!
Taylor Jones is a 2014 graduate of Landrum High School. Taylor graduated from North Greenville University with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management and Finance before acquiring her Series 7 and 66 certifications as a Financial Advisor with Edward Jones. Taylor has established her own Edward Jones office in Tryon, N.C. and is one of the youngest women in the business. Taylor and her husband, John Gavin, reside in Boiling Springs. They are active members of their church and are excitedly expecting their first child. We are proud of Taylor Jones for all of her accomplishments and are so proud to recognize her as a Spartanburg One Distinguished Alumni!
Colby is a 2016 graduate of the University of South Carolina where he earned a bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice. Colby became a SC State Trooper in December of 2016, earning the designation of SC Troop 3 Trooper of the Year during his fourth year with the patrol. In 2020, Colby began a new role in law enforcement as a Special Agent for the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED). Colby is a Spartanburg One alumni full of humble ambition to serve his community! Caitlyn (Johnson) Grigg graduated from Chapman High School in 2012. She attended the College of Charleston, majoring in Psychology & Creative Writing, & graduated from Clemson University with her M.Ed./Ed.S. in Counselor Education. Caitlyn is currently a school counselor at Campobello-Gramling School and is an incredible advocate for students and mental health.