History of the Chamber
The Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce has over 70 years of history serving the needs of its members and helping businesses succeed. Through the decades, the Chamber has assisted in building vital relationships that matter. The Chamber’s focus on free enterprise, economic development, tourism, and support of local charities has been their legacy.
Residents of Cherokee County knew the importance of supporting and strengthening businesses and the economy, so, in 1925, the first discussions of opening a Chamber of Commerce began and the Gaffney Chamber of Commerce was finally established January 30, 1947. Because of that continued determination and commitment to improve the quality of life for all in the entire county, encompassing Blacksburg, the Gaffney Chamber adopted the name Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce October 21, 1977.
The passion that was exhibited over 90 years ago continues today. We remain passionate about the free enterprise, education, healthcare, tourism, economic development, community development, and workforce development. We fight for local business and what they believe to be important to them.
:January 30, 1947 as the Gaffney Chamber of Commerce, the Board of Directors were: J.B. Hatcher, President – T.C. Drew, Vice President – J. Nathan Lipscomb, Treasurer. Other Board Members were William E. Bell, T.Y. Brown, R.W. Carr, J.H. Cathcart, Roy C. Cobb, T.C. Drew, A. J. Eastwood, J.C. Fort, J.B. Hatcher, J.N. Lipscomb, C.B. Poole and G.G. Watts, all of Cherokee County, S.C.
Hall of Fame
Year | Name |
---|---|
1982 | Michael Gaffney |
1982 | Dr. Thomas Curtis |
1982 | Jacob Augustus Deal |
1982 | Edward Hope DeCamp |
1982 | Robert S. Campbell, Jr. |
1983 | Frederick Hambright |
1983 | Adolphus Nott Wood |
1983 | Dr. Wylie Cicero Hamrick |
1983 | E. Raymond Parker |
1984 | Major John Franklin Jones |
1984 | James Alexander Carroll |
1984 | Oliver David Hamrick |
1984 | Jack E. Millwood |
1985 | Edgar Clifton McArthur |
1985 | Dr. John Gailliard Black |
1985 | Dr. Lee T. Nesbitt |
1986 | Dr. James Niles Nesbitt |
1986 | Bobby Gilmer Moss, PhD |
1987 | Vincent Caggiano, Sr. |
1987 | Dr. Jake Nathan Lipscomb |
1988 | Frank Wilbur Sossamon, Jr. |
1988 | Edna Earle Kirby |
1989 | L. Baker |
1989 | Guy P. Meredith, Sr. |
1992 | John M. Hamrick |
1993 | Dr. T. A. Campbill, Sr. |
1993 | Louis C. Sossamon |
1994 | William Gladden Huntt Smoke, Jr. |
1995 | Horace M. Brown |
1995 | G.W. “Dub” Blanton |
1996 | Charles A. Perkins |
1997 | Waite C. Hamrick, Jr. |
1997 | James R. Sanders, Jr. |
1998 | Albert Lee Midyette |
1998 | J. Grady Randolph |
1999 | Evelyn Howe |
1999 | C.E. Saint-Amand |
1999 | Oscar M. Fuller |
2000 | Olin R. Phillips |
2001 | John B. Travers |
2002 | Gloria G. Rosemond |
2003 | Bright G. Parker |
2003 | Dr. James W. Sanders, Sr. |
2004 | Dr. G. Preston Edwards |
2004 | H. Smith Peeler, Sr. |
2005 | Robert E. Prevatte |
2005 | Roy P. Turner |
2006 | Don L. Wilkins |
2006 | Gene Brown |
2007 | Heyward W. Porter |
2008 | Rev. Fleming J. Means |
2008 | Hoke Parris |
2009 | L.T. Hartzog, Jr. |
2009 | Ronald D. Owenby |
2009 | James Batchler |
2010 | Dr Walt Griffin |
2011 | Jodean Lemmons |
2012 | Jodean O. Lemmons Sr. |
2013 | Jay Hammett |
2014 | James M Cudd |
2015 | John Milko |
2016 | Ronnie M Brown |
2017 | John Q Little |
2018 | Bill Mason |
2019 | Harold Dean Pennington Sr. |
2019 | Jim Compton |
Chamber Presidents
Year | Name |
---|---|
1947 | John B. Hatcher |
1948 | John B. Hatcher |
1949 | Claude B. Poole |
1950 | Dewey E. Hudson |
1951 | Paul E. Morgan, Jr. |
1952 | Onnie M. Mullinax |
1953 | Tom L. Brown |
1954 | Raymond B. Lark |
1955 | Allen W. Askins |
1956 | Dr. G. Preston Edwards |
1957 | Zeb V. Whelchel |
1958 | John C. Bernhard |
1959 | Waite C. Hamrick, Jr. |
1960 | Waite C. Hamrick, Jr. |
1961 | Alan R. Willis |
1962 | Onnie M. Mullinax |
1963 | Everett V. Hinton |
1964 | Hal J. Shinn |
1965 | Robert C. Carroll |
1966 | Walton E. Lipscomb |
1967 | William T. Hatcher |
1968 | Albert L. Midyette |
1969 | Dr. J.N. Lipscomb |
1970 | Ted P. Stokely |
1971 | Jack E. Millwood |
1972 | J. Kenneth Hill |
1973 | Raymond Parker |
1974 | B.B. Bryson, Jr. |
1975 | David B. Cannon |
1976 | A. Jack Blanton |
1977 | Dr. W. Ronald Barrett |
1978 | Jack Walker |
1979 | John R. Heggestad |
1980 | Ben L. Clary |
1981 | James M. Cudd |
1982 | Steve Moss |
1983 | Gary E. Clary |
1984 | Robert L. Peeler |
1985 | John B. Travers |
1986 | Dr. W. Ronald Barrett |
1987 | John A. Leazer |
1988 | H.F. “Dick” Crater |
1989 | Richard Baines |
1990 | Mike Lopez |
1991 | Patrick J. Emrich |
1992 | Rick Patterson |
1993 | Allen Fowler |
1994 | Steve Moss |
1995 | Scott Allen |
1996 | Sam Burns |
1997 | Randy Horton |
1998 | W.B. Cook |
1999 | Dave Callahan |
2000 | Klonie Jordan |
2001 | Charles J. Bonner |
2002 | Tracy McDaniel |
2003 | Joe Howell |
2004 | Mark Propst |
2005 | David Wall |
2006 | Jan Moss |
2007 | Gayle White |
2008 | Henry L. Jolly, Jr. |
2009 | Jack Trnavsky |
2010 | Brooks Moss |
2011 | Deborah Mauney |
2012 | Ed Elliott |
2013 | Lana Gardner |
2014 | Tommy Baheler |
2015 | Jan Moss |
2016 | Kimber Gibson |
2017 | Josh Crotzer |
2018 | Daryl Smith |
2019 | Abbie Sossamon |