Senator John Drummond

Senator John Drummond Addresses Erskine College Seniors At The Institution's 157th Commencement

Sen. John Drummond told the Erskine College graduating Class of 2002 during the institution’s 157th commencement Sunday under the towers of the Erskine Building that he did not have the opportunity to go to college. But the World War II fighter pilot said he did spend 10 months in a German prisoner of war camp, and, "That was my higher education experience."

Drummond also received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree, and was recognized with 108 graduating Erskine seniors, including three with perfect 4.0 grade point averages, Erin English of Charleston, Brandon Martin of York, and Ashley Youngblood of Okatee.

Drummond, now a senator representing Abbeville and Greenwood Counties, said, "I was shot down by ground fire near Gieville, France. Once I was captured by the German army, I was taken to Frankfurt, Germany, for interrogation and then by train up to the Baltic Sea area where I lived as a POW for 10 months.

"Do you know the most beautiful sound I can remember? I remember hearing two other soldiers in a compound next to mine singing the ‘Star Spangled Banner.’ I still get chills when I hear that song.

"What I learned from that experience was the value of life," Drummond said. "The meaning of human rights, human dignity, and human well-being."

Drummond said he was in flight training before entering combat in Walterboro, not too far from his hometown of Ninety Six.

"The first time I got into the plane in Walteboro, I headed straight for Ninety Six," Drummond said. "All I wanted to do was buzz the town.

"We had been warned not to buzz or we would be washed out since some pilots had been killed, but I was so close to home," he said. "I took off and then I saw the little city of Ninety Six on that red hill.

"I turned the plane sideways and flew right between the smoke stack and the water tower right down over the football field and even made a few passes down Main Street," he said. "When I returned to base someone had reported me to the commanding officer.

"They sent an investigator to Ninety Six and only found one person who remembered a plane that day," Drummond said. "Of course, I had called my mother to let her know he was coming. But he said that plane could not have been under 1,200 feet.

"Still, the commanding officer disciplined me to a tent right under the flag pole until we left for the European theatre," he said. "The lesson I learned was that it doesn’t matter how smart or crafty you are, there is always accountability for your actions."

Drummond also told a story about a fellow pilot who, on a bombing run had a bomb that did not release completely from his wing. In a daring maneuver, Drummond flew his plane next to the other plane, easing his wing near the bomb.

"As I lifted his wing with my wing, the bomb released and rolled down my wing," Drummond said. "I turned the plane over so that the bomb fell off of my wing right before it hit my cockpit.

"The lesson I learned was that there are times in life that call for extreme measures and you can usually accomplish more than you think that you can accomplish," he said.

After the war, where he earned two Purple Hearts, nine Air Medals, three Battle Stars, and a Presidential Citation, Drummond said the first thing he did was go see the girl he had fallen in love with in the ninth grade, Holly Self. But when he arrived at her house in Ninety Six, he found someone else there — Strom Thurmond.

"Holly decided to go to dinner with me, and she slipped out and met me around the side of the house," Drummond said. "I used to kid Holly and tell her that she could have married Strom.

"The lesson I learned from that carried over into my career as a public servant, and that is that love truly is the greatest gift," he said.

In 1965 Drummond was elected to the state house of representatives, and two years later he was elected to the state senate where he still serves today. Drummond would go on to become President Pro Tempore of the Senate and Chairman of the Finance Committee.

Drummond closed by asking the Erskine graduates, "As you leave college, will you go out and make a contribution or an excuse?

"Be a constructive contributor to the world around you," he said. "Remember, it is not only what you do, but how you do it.

"Each one of us should live our lives to make a contribution and in the end leave a legacy born from the influences of those who have loved and guided us," Drummond said. "What will your legacy be?"

In response to Drummond’s speech, English spoke to her fellow classmates and said, "We graduate today into a changed world without the assurances of peace and prosperity, a world plagued by intolerance and conflict, but a world still full of the hope for renewal through the efforts of established and emerging generations.

"It is incumbent upon us to seize the chances before us to make a difference, to use our God-given talents as well as the gifts this institution has given is to make a contribution, not an excuse," she said.

English thanked the Erskine faculty for its contribution to her life and said, "I firmly believe that a large part of this institution’s strength lies in its smallness and the connections possible within this tight-knit community. How rare to find a place that so values honor, tradition, and family."

Erskine President Dr. John Carson, whose son Rhett was in the graduating class, also thanked Drummond, saying, "Sen. Drummond was speaking from his heart about his own personal experiences."

Carson told the seniors that he began his term as president their freshman year.

"I came in with you guys," he said. "There are many dear friends in this class that we are going to miss. But when you go, you will take a little bit of us with you, and leave a little of yourselves here. In that sense, we will always be together."

Senior Class President Livia Stephens presented the class gift, a sign on Washington Street near Belk Hall, to the school.

"As a class," she said, "we are all grateful for what Erskine has done for us."

Also during commencement, the Rev. Dr. Earl Linderman of Statesville, N.C., received the Honorary doctor of Divinity degree. Linderman, who graduated from Erskine and holds two degrees from Erskine Theological Seminary, retired after a 40-year ministry in the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, the final 20 years at New Sterling ARP Church.

Other graduates include:

Bachelor of Arts

Graduates, August 15, 2001: Jennifer Elizabeth Blackwell, Mayesville; Adam Joseph Bruyere, Clinton; Carolee Wynter Cook, Greenwood; William Rhett Harbeson, Summerville; Kristen Leigh Mills, Columbia; Christina Hope Minion, Columbia.

Graduates, December 19, 2001: Alison Nicole Herlovich, summa cum laude, Williston; Julia Rikard Price, Greenville.

Graduates, January 28, 2002: Faith Germaine Bowser, Due West.

Graduates, May 19, 2002: Kelly Elizabeth Beam, Statesville, N.C.; Christopher Michael Bishop, Greenville; Apryl Shuania Bowers, Greenville; Robert Lesley Brown, Taylors; Carolyn Tay Bursley, Simpsonville; James Everette Carson, magna cum laude, Due West; David Andrew Carter, Summerfield, N.C.; Kaitlin Eve Clark, Greenville; William David Coleman, summa cum laude, Abbeville; Matthew Cooper Dean, Newberry; Erin Michelle English, summa cum laude, Charleston; Kristin Carol Fisher, summa cum laude, Charleston; Mary Catherine Gainey, Gainesville, Ga.; Melissa Sue Gernat, Simpsonville; Rebecca Marie Ashmore Harris, Greenville; Dena Camille Hodge, Abbeville; Robert John Kimmons, magna cum laude, Greensboro, N.C.; Elizabeth Webb Leaphart, Greenville; Elizabeth Elaine Long, Black Mountain, N.C.; Miranda Leigh Marsh, Gastonia, N.C.; William Brandon Martin, summa cum laude, York; Leslie Suzanne McCollum, magna cum laude, New Albany, Miss.; Elizabeth Leigh Melton, Laurens; James Franklin Mitchell, Due West; Rudolph Francis Rudder, Arima Trinidad; Jamie Elizabeth Russell, Rock Hill; Heather Cherise Scoggins, cum laude, Lexington; Matthew Clary Smith, Spartanburg; Christopher Henning Spires, Winnsboro; Livia Ryan Stephens, North Augusta; Stefani Andrea Stone, Donalds; Stacey Renee Thackston, Fountain Inn; Chad Robert Todd, Loris; James Torrence Todd, Gastonia, N.C.; James Richard White, magna cum laude, Piedmont.

Candidates, Aug. 15, 2002: Kathryn Campbell Freeborn, Anderson; Cameron Paul Hunt, Savannah, Ga.; Heather Adine Isbell, Irmo; Bryan Michael Mitton, Lexington; Cayce Lynn Seawright, Donalds.

Bachelor of Science

Graduates, August 15, 2001: Kelley Lynne Mills, Columbia; Crystal Lillian Shaffer, West Columbia; Amanda Leah Wyatt, Piedmont.

Graduates, December 15, 2001: Gregory Francis Guzauskas, Gastonia, N.C.

Graduates, May 19, 2002: Chad Lewis Amidon, Cavalier, N.D.; Amanda Gail Anderson, Piedmont; Matthew Todd Ashley, Ware Shoals; Raymond Lee Bailey, Columbia; Andrea Denise Banks, Greenwood; Bonnie Jeanne Barte, summa cum laude, Columbia; Bryan Lee Beeson, Mullins; Gina Marie Berthold, magna cum laude, Greenville; Betsey Virginia Burdine, Easley; Kelly Allison Cromer, Easley; Jessica Dyann Crout, Gilbert; John Michael Crum, Due West; Joseph Patrick Davenport, Abbeville; Anne Marie Dias, Honea Path; Christopher Thomas Duncan, Asheville, N.C.; John Gabriel Fahy, Augusta, Ga.; Erin Diana Farmer, Gastonia, N.C.; Eric Andrew Freeman, Beaufort; Tobé Renita Frierson, Sumter; Lori Michelle Gilstrap, magna cum laude, Sunset; Suzanna Cathryn Jill Green, Rock Hill; Sarah Katherine Habrun, cum laude, Greenville; Thomas Mark Haren, Massillon, Ohio; Katherine Lynn Hornby, Gastonia, N.C.; Jonathan Blake Jordan, Anderson; James John Todd Kincannon, Simpsonville; Margaret Murr Kiser, Mayesville; Elizabeth Renee Marshall, Chapin; Katie Louise Martin, Laurens; Lane Jeremy Mazei, Myrtle Beach; Jennifer Leigh McClam, Florence; Christy Michele Milner, cum laude, Summerville; Erin Marie Minion, West Columbia; Mindy Lynn Moore, Lexington; Ashley Elizabeth Nichols, cum laude, Hartsville; Anna Lanette Norris, Abbeville; Barry James Peters, Simpsonville; Jonathan Reid Planton, Charleston; Brandon Keith Poston, cum laude, Pamplico; Justin Raymond Proell, Darlington; Joseph Bryant Puntch, Greenville; Jonica Lenay Rhodes, Ninety Six; Carrie Elizabeth Rodeffer, Kingstree; Mara Dee Rodeffer, Kingstree; Emily Dawn Rogers, cum laude, Clinton; Joy Michelle Rogers, Columbia; Joy Lynne Shuck, Belton; Aisha Kenyetta Smith, Monetta; Brian Anthony Smith, Athens, Ala.; Elaine Crowell Smith, Gastonia, N.C.; Emma Janeen Stephens, summa cum laude, Greenville; Melanie Jeanette Stukes, Iva; Lucile Baughton Teague, summa cum laude, Greenwood; Jason Brent Tompkins, cum laude, Williamston; Laura Ashley Travis, North Augusta; Leona Estelle Walfield, cum laude, Belton; Ohnré Jerome Whaley, Charleston; Kathryn Jeannine Whittemore, Gastonia, N.C.; Ashley Michele Wright, Inman; Ashley Dianne Youngblood, summa cum laude, Okatee.

Candidates, Aug. 15, 2002: Cynthia Lynn Bell, Due West; Malcolm Allen Lang, Jr., Carrollton, Ala.; James William Owings III, Blythewood; Trisha Lyn Page, Lexington.

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