1996 Permanent Senate Journal Printed Pages 1370-1379 - South Carolina Legislature Online

Journal of the Senate
of the Second Session of the 111th General Assembly
of the State of South Carolina
being the Regular Session Beginning Tuesday, January 9, 1996

Page Finder Index

Printed Page 1360, Mar. 28 | Printed Page 1380, Mar. 29

Printed Page 1370 . . . . . Friday, March 29, 1996

Walter H. Smith (Columbia)

David A. White (Rock Hill)

COMMITTEE TO SCREEN CANDIDATES

FOR BOARDS OF TRUSTEES

OF STATE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES

PUBLIC HEARING

********

Wednesday, March 6, 1996

9:05 a.m. - 9:58 a.m.

The proceedings taken at Room 433, Blatt Building, Columbia, South Carolina, on the 6th day of March, 1996 before Rita L. Creel, Certified Court Reporter and Notary Public in and for the State of South Carolina.

MEMBERS

Representative Eugene C. Stoddard, Chairman
422B Blatt Building
Columbia, South Carolina 29201

Senator Addison "Joe" G. Wilson, Vice Chairman
211 Gressette Building
Columbia, South Carolina 29201

Senator Warren K. Giese
512 Gressette Building
Columbia, South Carolina 29201

Senator James E. Bryan, Jr.
501 Gressette Building
Columbia, South Carolina 29201

Senator Maggie W. Glover
613 Gressette Building
Columbia, South Carolina 29201

Representative Curtis B. Inabinett
328D Blatt Building
Columbia, South Carolina 29201

Representative Lanny F. Littlejohn
402B Blatt Building
Columbia, South Carolina 29201

Representative Jennings G. McAbee
522C Blatt Building
Columbia, South Carolina 29201

ALSO PRESENT:
Ms. Paulette Geiger, Secretary

Printed Page 1371 . . . . . Friday, March 29, 1996

State-supported Colleges and Universities

Boards of Trustees

Candidates to be Screened on March 6, 1996

The Citadel - Two seats (at-large)

Col. Leonard C. Fulghum, Jr. (Charleston)

J. Palmer Gaillard, III (Charleston)

Douglas A. Snyder (Columbia)

Xavier Starkes (Columbia)

Clemson University - Three seats (at-large)

T. Moffatt Burriss (Eastover)

Joel W. Collins, Jr. (Columbia)

Louis B. Lynn (Columbia)

Davis T. Moorhead (Pendleton)

Howard N. Rawl (Gilbert)

Virginia C. Skelton (Clemson)

William C. Smith, Jr. (Columbia)

Allen P. Wood (Florence)

College of Charleston - Seven seats (six congressional districts and one at-large)

lst District, Seat 2

Cherry Daniel (Charleston)

John B. Williams (Moncks Corner)

2nd District, Seat 4

Joel H. Smith (Columbia)

3rd District, Seat 6

J. Philip Bell (Greenwood)

4th District, Seat 8

Merl F. Code (Greenville)

5th District, Seat 10

J. Vincent Price, Jr. (Gaffney)

6th District, Seat 12

Marie M. Land (Manning)

At-large, Seat 14

Timothy N. Dangerfield (Aiken)

Printed Page 1372 . . . . . Friday, March 29, 1996

Francis Marion University - Seven seats (six congressional districts and one at-large)

1st District, Seat 2

J. Michael Murphree (Summerville)

2nd District, Seat 4

Gail Richardson (Barnwell)

3rd District, Seat 6

William A. Collins (Greenwood)

4th District, Seat 8

Alex Kiriakides, III (Greenville)

5th District, Seat 10

Lorraine H. Knight (Hartsville)

6th District, Seat 12

William W. Coleman, Jr. (Florence)

At-large, Seat 14

M. Russell Holliday, Jr. (Galivants Ferry)

South Carolina State University - Two seats (at-large)

At-large, Seat 11

John Williams, Jr. (Orangeburg)

At-large, Seat 12

Walter L. Salters (Orangeburg)

Johnnie M. Smith (Greenville)

THE CHAIRMAN: The meeting is called to order. We appreciate the attendance of all of you this morning. We certainly appreciate and on the behalf of the General Assembly appreciate the job that those of you who are incumbents are doing; and those of you who desire to run, we certainly appreciate your attitude. It's kind of hard this day and time to find people who will come forward and serve for no pay or no salary. We have with us this morning on the end, Representative Littlejohn; Representative Inabinett; myself, Gene Stoddard. The other members will be coming in. They have several conflicts this morning. In the interest of time, we're going to proceed. We have our recorder, Ms. Rita Creel, here with us. Mr. Inabinett.
MR. INABINETT: Mr. Chairman, I would like to move that all members present who are incumbents and are unopposed be excused at this time.
MR. LITTLEJOHN: I second it.

Printed Page 1373 . . . . . Friday, March 29, 1996

THE CHAIRMAN: The motion is made by Mr. Inabinett and seconded by Mr. Littlejohn that we exempt the screening for all those unopposed. All in favor, say aye; opposed, no. The ayes have it. Those of you who are unopposed, you may feel free to leave if you desire, or you may stay. We appreciate your attendance.
THE FLOOR: Sometimes we don't know whether we are opposed or not.
THE CHAIRMAN: I'll read those for you. College of Charleston - Joel H. Smith, J. Philip Bell, Merl F. Code, J. Vincent Price, Marie M. Land, Timothy N. Dangerfield. Francis Marion University - J. Michael Murphree, Gail Richardson, William A. Collins, Alex Kiriakides, Lorraine H. Knight, William W. Coleman, M. Russell Holliday. South Carolina State University - John Williams. I might add for the record that the SLED reports and Highway Department reports were all good on those or we certainly would have held them and questioned them further. First on the agenda, we have the Citadel, two seats at-large, four candidates. Our first candidate is Col. Fulghum. Could you take the stand, please, Colonel?
COL. LEONARD C. FULGHUM, JR. - EXAMINATION BY THE CHAIRMAN:
Q: Colonel, do you swear that the following testimony is the truth and nothing but the truth, so help you God?
A: I do, sir.
Q: Do you have any health related problems that the Screening Committee should be made aware of that would prevent you from serving on the Board in a full capacity?
A: None that I'm aware of, Mr. Chairman.
Q: Considering your present occupation and other activities, would you be able to attend Board meetings on a regular basis?
A: Yes, sir.
Q: Do you have any interests professionally or personally that would present a conflict of interest because of your service on the Board?
A: No, sir.
Q: Do you now hold any public position of honor or trust that if elected to the Board would cause you to violate the dual office holding clause of the Constitution?
A: No, sir.
Q: Thank you, sir. Are there any questions of the Colonel? No question, Colonel. Thank you, sir.
A: Thank you, sir.
THE CHAIRMAN: Next we have J. Palmer Gaillard, III.

Printed Page 1374 . . . . . Friday, March 29, 1996

J. PALMER GAILLARD, III - EXAMINATION BY THE CHAIRMAN:
Q: Mr. Gaillard, would you raise your right hand? Do you swear that the following testimony is the truth and nothing but the truth, so help you God?
A: Yes, sir.
Q: Mr. Gaillard, do you have any health related problems that the Screening Committee should be made aware of that would prevent you from serving on the Board in a full capacity?
A: No, sir.
Q: Considering your present occupation and other activities, would you be able to attend Board meetings on a regular basis?
A: Yes, sir.
Q: Do you have any interests professionally or personally that would present a conflict of interest because of your service on the Board?
A: No, sir.
Q: Do you now hold any public position of honor or trust that if elected to the Board would cause you to violate the dual office holding clause of the Constitution?
A: No, sir.
Q: Any questions of Mr. Gaillard? We now have Senator Joe Wilson with us. Thank you, sir, for coming. The members might note that you have a statement from the candidates in your file. Next, our candidate is Mr. Snyder.
DOUGLAS A. SNYDER - EXAMINATION BY THE CHAIRMAN:
Q: Mr. Snyder, would you raise your right hand, please? Do you swear that the following testimony is the truth and nothing but the truth, so help you God?
A: I do.
Q: Do you have any health related problems that the Screening Committee should be made aware of that would prevent you from serving on the Board in a full capacity?
A: No, sir.
Q: Considering your present occupation and other activities, would you be able to attend Board meetings on a regular basis?
A: Yes, sir.
Q: Do you have any interests professionally or personally that would present a conflict of interest because of your service on the Board?
A: No, sir.

Printed Page 1375 . . . . . Friday, March 29, 1996

Q: Do you now hold any public position of honor or trust that if elected to the Board would cause you to violate the dual office holding clause of the Constitution?
A: No, sir.
Q: Any questions of the gentleman? Thank you for coming, sir. Our next candidate is ...
SENATOR WILSON: Mr. Chairman.
THE CHAIRMAN: Yes, sir.
SENATOR WILSON: I'd like to note that on the past two, that both had statements which were presented to us, and that's why there were no questions, because they've answered so many of the questions by their very eloquent statements.
THE CHAIRMAN: Thank you, Senator. And those statements will be entered into the record. Our next candidate is Mr. Starkes.
XAVIER STARKES - EXAMINATION BY THE CHAIRMAN:
Q: Raise your right hand, please, sir. Do you swear that the following testimony is the truth and nothing but the truth, so help you God?
A: I do.
Q: Do you have any health related problems that the Screening Committee should be made aware of that would prevent you from serving on the Board in a full capacity?
A: No, sir.
Q: Considering your present occupation and other activities, would you be able to attend Board meetings on a regular basis?
A: Yes, sir.
Q: Do you have any interests professionally or personally that would present a conflict of interest because of your service on the Board?
A: No, sir.
Q: Do you now hold any public position of honor or trust that if elected to the Board would cause you to violate the dual office holding clause of the Constitution?
A: No, sir, I do not.
Q: Any questions of the gentleman? Thank you for coming, sir.
SENATOR WILSON: Mr. Chairman, I would like to commend Mr. Starkes on his statement, also, which is now attached. The persons who filed for The Citadel each had very eloquent statements of interest in their very fine institution.
A: Thank you, sir.
THE CHAIRMAN: That completes The Citadel slate. We move now to Clemson University. I might add that as we have finished with you,

Printed Page 1376 . . . . . Friday, March 29, 1996

you may leave if you desire, or you may stay. Clemson University. Our first candidate is Mr. Burriss.
T. MOFFATT BURRISS - EXAMINATION BY THE CHAIRMAN:
Q: Raise your right hand, please, Mr. Burriss. Do you swear that the following testimony is the truth and nothing but the truth, so help you God?
A: I do.
Q: Mr. Burriss, do you have any health related problems that the Screening Committee should be made aware of that would prevent you from serving on the Board in a full capacity?
A: No, sir.
Q: Considering your present occupation and other activities, would you be able to attend Board meetings on a regular basis?
A: Yes, sir.
Q: Do you have any interests professionally or personally that would present a conflict of interest because of your service on the Board?
A: No, sir.
Q: Do you now hold any public position of honor or trust that if elected to the Board would cause you to violate the dual office holding clause of the Constitution?
A: No, sir.
Q: Any questions of Mr. Burriss?
SENATOR WILSON: Mr. Chairman, I would like to note that if there are any institutions which have enthusiastic supporters, it would be The Citadel and Clemson, and in particular, Mr. Burriss who is widely remembered as a former member of the Richland Delegation who in the height of the football season, attended a joint legislative dinner of Richland and Lexington legislators with the President of the University at his home in an orange jacket.
THE CHAIRMAN: I understood that his orange ran even deeper than a jacket.
A: It does, yes.
THE CHAIRMAN: Thank you, Mr. Burriss. Our next candidate is Mr. Collins.
JOEL W. COLLINS, JR. - EXAMINATION BY THE CHAIRMAN:
Q: Mr. Collins, would you raise your right hand, please? Do you swear that the following testimony is the truth and nothing but the truth, so help you God?
A: I do.

Printed Page 1377 . . . . . Friday, March 29, 1996

Q: Do you have any health related problems that the Screening Committee should be made aware of that would prevent you from serving on the Board in a full capacity?
A: No, sir.
Q: Considering your present occupation and other activities, would you be able to attend Board meetings on a regular basis?
A: Yes, sir.
Q: Do you have any interests professionally or personally that would present a conflict of interest because of your service on the Board?
A: No, sir.
Q: Do you now hold any public position of honor or trust that if elected to the Board would cause you to violate the dual office holding clause of the Constitution?
A: No, sir.
Q: Any questions of the gentleman? Thank you, Mr. Collins.
A: Thank you.
THE CHAIRMAN: We now have Senator Bryan to join us. Next, we have Mr. Lynn. Senator, we're in the middle of the Clemson University candidates.
LOUIS B. LYNN - EXAMINATION BY THE CHAIRMAN:
Q: Raise your right hand, Mr. Lynn. Do you swear that the following testimony is the truth and nothing but the truth, so help you God?
A: Yes, sir.
Q: Mr. Lynn, do you have any health related problems that the Screening Committee should be made aware of that would prevent you from serving on the Board in a full capacity?
A: No, sir.
Q: Considering your present occupation and other activities, would you be able to attend Board meetings on a regular basis?
A: Yes, sir.
Q: Do you have any interests professionally or personally that would present a conflict of interest because of your service on the Board?
A: No, sir.
Q: Do you now hold any public position of honor or trust that if elected to the Board would cause you to violate the dual office holding clause of the Constitution?
A: No, sir.
Q: Any questions of Mr. Lynn?
THE CHAIRMAN: Mr. Littlejohn.

Printed Page 1378 . . . . . Friday, March 29, 1996

REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: I'd just like to emphasize Mr. Lynn, how he brought out Clemson on his resume. I love Clemson. It's a good point.
A: Thank you, sir.
THE CHAIRMAN: Thank you, sir. Next we have Mr. Moorhead.
DAVIS T. MOORHEAD - EXAMINATION BY THE CHAIRMAN:
Q: Mr. Moorhead, raise your right hand, please. Do you swear that the following testimony is the truth and nothing but the truth, so help you God?
A: I do so swear.
Q: Mr. Moorhead, do you have any health related problems that the Screening Committee should be made aware of that would prevent you from serving on the Board in a full capacity?
A: No, Mr. Chairman.
Q: Considering your present occupation and other activities, would you be able to attend Board meetings on a regular basis?
A: I would.
Q: Do you have any interests professionally or personally that would present a conflict of interest because of your service on the Board?
A: None, sir.
Q: Do you now hold any public position of honor or trust that if elected to the Board would cause you to violate the dual office holding clause of the Constitution?
A: I do not.
Q: Any questions of the gentleman? Thank you, Mr. ...
A: I have a brief statement, sir, if I may, about a hundred and twenty seconds. Mr. Chairman and members of the Committee, I appreciate the opportunity to appear before you today to talk about my desire to serve my university once more. I've served Clemson University for over forty years and over twenty years in elected positions in the alumni volunteer organization. I've served as a member of the alumni national council, vice president and president of the alumni, and I've served my Clemson, and I just seek one more opportunity to do so. Also, the thing that you do not have before in the data submitted before the Committee, my wife and I have left $100,000.00 to Clemson University in our wills to provide for unrestricted scholarships, and fifty percent of that money will be for minority scholarships.
THE CHAIRMAN: That's mighty decent of you, sir. Any questions of the gentleman? Thank you, sir.
A: Thanks to the Committee.

Printed Page 1379 . . . . . Friday, March 29, 1996

THE CHAIRMAN: You might note that Mr. Moorhead did not have a statement with his resume. Next on the list is Mr. Rawl.
HOWARD N. RAWL - EXAMINATION BY THE CHAIRMAN:
Q: Raise your right hand, please, Mr. Rawl. Do you swear that the following testimony is the truth and nothing but the truth, so help you God?
A: I do.
Q: Do you have any health related problems that the Screening Committee should be made aware of that would prevent you from serving on the Board in a full capacity?
A: No, sir.
Q: Considering your present occupation and other activities, would you be able to attend Board meetings on a regular basis?
A: Yes, I would.
Q: Do you have any interests professionally or personally that would present a conflict of interest because of your service on the Board?
A: No, sir.
Q: Do you now hold any public position of honor or trust that if elected to the Board would cause you to violate the dual office holding clause of the Constitution?
A: No, sir, I don't.
Q: Any questions of the gentleman? We have your statement, Mr. Rawl. Thank you.
A: Thank you.
SENATOR WILSON: A very fine statement.
THE CHAIRMAN: Yes.
SENATOR BRYAN: Which part did you like the most, the part about being from Lexington County?
SENATOR WILSON: I think the reference to being a resident of Gilbert is very important.
THE CHAIRMAN: Next on our agenda is Ms. Skelton.
VIRGINIA C. SKELTON - EXAMINATION BY THE CHAIRMAN:
Q: Raise your right hand, please, Ms. Skelton. Do you swear that the following testimony is the truth and nothing but the truth, so help you God?
A: I do.
Q: Ms. Skelton, do you have any health related problems that the Screening Committee should be made aware of that would prevent you from serving on the Board in a full capacity?
A: I do not.

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