(left to right) the Rev. Dr. Earl Linderman, '59; Hon. John Drummond

Erskine College Announces Honorary Degree Recipients

Erskine College has announced the selection of two honorary degree recipients for the 2001-2002 academic year. This year's college commencement speaker, the Hon. John W. Drummond of Ninety Six, and the Rev. Dr. Clifton Earl Linderman of Statesville, N.C., will be awarded honorary doctorates at the 2002 Erskine College Commencement May 19.

Drummond grew up in Ninety Six, was educated in the public schools and served as a fighter pilot during World War II. Flying the P-47 Thunderbolt as part of the 405^th Fighter Bomber Group in England, France and Germany, he was affectionately known as "Ace Drummond" and helped provide air support to the troops invading Normandy on D-Day. His plane was shot down near Gieville, France, and he served 10 months in a prisoner of war camp. He was awarded two Purple Hearts, nine Air Medals, three Battle Stars, and a Presidential Citation. He later returned to Gieville, where a town memorial had been constructed from the remnants of his plane.

Drummond was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives in 1965, and in 1967, he was elected to the first of nine terms in the South Carolina Senate, where he has chaired committees on Interstate Cooperation; Ethics; Labor, Commerce, and Industry; and Fish, Game and Forestry. In 1993 he became chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, and in 1996 he was elected President Pro Tempore of the senate.

Drummond is known for support of governmental reform, economic development, environmental protection and racial fairness. As a leader in the Senate, he provided legislative support for both Democratic and Republican governors, and has sought to facilitate a spirit of cooperation among the parties. In 2001, Drummond's colleagues of both parties named him President Pro Tempore Emeritus.

He was married to the former Holly Self for 53 years, until her death in 2000, and they became the parents of three children: a son, Brick; and twin sons, Bob and Dick.

Drummond is slated to receive the honorary Doctor of Laws degree.

Linderman, a native of Brevard, N.C., was educated in the public schools, and is a 1959 graduate of Erskine College. He received a Bachelor of Divinity degree from Erskine Theological Seminary in 1962, and returned for a Doctor of Ministry degree, awarded in 1992.

Ordained to the ministry by First Presbytery at Concord Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church in 1962, he has served Associate Reformed Presbyterian congregations in Sharon, S.C., Brighton, Tenn., Gastonia, N.C., and Stony Point and Elk Shoals, N.C. He is Pastor Emeritus of New Sterling A.R.P. Church near Stony Point, N.C., where he served from 1979 to 2001.

Linderman's service to his denomination includes work as Moderator of several presbyteries, Stated Clerk of Mississippi Valley Presbytery and of First Presbytery, and Vice Moderator of General Synod, and he served on several Synod boards. He was a member of the Presbyterian Council of Chaplains and Military Personnel, where he served as chairman in 1991 and 1992.

Linderman is married to the former Harriet Smith, a member of the Erskine College Class of 1960, and they are the parents of three children: Dr. Bill Linderman, Mrs. Carol Bennett and Miss Susan Linderman, all of whom graduated from Erskine College, making the fifth Erskine generation in the Linderman family. He served as national Co-Chairman of the Erskine Living Endowment Campaign in 1974-75, a member of the Alumni Board in 1980-82, and secretary of the Parent Association from 1986 to 1992. He delivered Erskine's baccalaureate sermon in 1991.

Linderman will receive the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity.