97 Years Ago A Legend Was Born

Dec 24, 2023, 6:17 AM

Mr. Wylie L. Hamrick was a graduate of Gaffney High School, was a 1950 graduate of Clemson University and was Chairman of the Board of Hamrick Mills.

Born in Gaffney the day before Christmas in 1926, he was the husband of the late Frances Smith Hamrick and was the son of the late Lyman Abbott Hamrick and Catherine Pace Hamrick. Mr. Hamrick was a graduate of Gaffney High School where he played football and was invited to participate in the Shrine Bowl. He was later inducted into Gaffney High's football Hall of Fame. He was a 1950 graduate of Clemson University having played football there for Frank Howard and served on Clemson's Board of Visitors.

Mr. Hamrick was a Rotarian, a member of the Crust Breakers, a member of the Beattie-Watts-Stevens Outing, a member of the Linthead Group and was a member of First Baptist Church where he was formerly Chairman of Deacons. A charitable person, Mr. Hamrick was a past Director and Chairman of the Hamrick Mills Foundation and was presently serving as the Vice Chairman of The Fullerton Foundation. He was named Limestone College's "Philanthropist of the Year" in 2000. Mr. Hamrick was a loyal benefactor and longtime member of the Board of Trustees for Limestone College. He was a Trustee Emeritus and former Chairman of the trustee board. A Rotarian for over 50 years he maintained perfect attendance and was a past president of The Gaffney Rotary Club. He was a past president of United Way of Cherokee County and active with Boy Scouts, having served as Scout Master and District Chairman. He loved Cherokee County and was proud to call Gaffney his home.

Mr. Hamrick was Chairman of the Board of Hamrick Mills and had a profound knowledge of textile manufacturing and enjoyed being a part of the textile industry. His service to the industry included being a past president of the South Carolina Textile Manufacturers Association and a trustee of the Institute of Textile Technology. He was a member of the Southern Textile Association and a recipient of the Chapman Award from that organization. He was most at home working with Hamrick Mills' associates in one of the plants striving for the highest efficiencies and lowest off quality.

In addition to his service to Hamrick Mills and the textile industry, Mr. Hamrick was deeply involved with his church and his community. He was a member and deacon of First Baptist Church in Gaffney, formerly serving as Chairman of Deacons. He looked forward to attending his Sunday School class.

Mr. Hamrick had many social interests and hobbies. He enjoyed playing golf, hunting and fishing. What he loved most was entertaining family and friends in his home where they laughed, played pool and fellowshipped together.

This was my grandfather who passed away in August of 2012. He would have been 97 years old today and there's not a day that goes by that I don't miss him. Of course, being his grandson also comes with some serious pressure to be successful and based upon his accolades, I would never be able to fill his shoes. Heck, I'm not even worthy to tie his shoelaces, but nonetheless I hope to accomplish at least half of what he was able to do.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO A LEGEND AND A CLEMSON GENTLEMAN!

GO TIGERS AND MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE!

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Our country won't go on forever, if we stay soft as we are now. There won't be any America because some foreign soldiery will invade us and take our women and breed a hardier race.

~Chesty Puller
Lt.General United States Marine Corps

97 Years Ago A Legend Was Born

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Thanks for sharing!***

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