By Anna Brown, Staff Writer, Union County News
Two people who gave their time and talents to USC Union for decades were honored Thursday, February 29 during the school’s 24th Founders’ Day Celebration.
The honorees were Brenda Childers and Col. Richard Denton, who passed away on Oct. 2, 2023.
Childers worked at the school, earned her college degrees there and served as secretary/treasurer of the Union-Laurens Commission on Higher Education for 18 years.
Denton became involved with USC Union after his retirement from the military in 1993, was elected a member of the Commission and later served as chairman.
Tim Svedlund, current chairman of the commission, talked about USC Union’s growth over the last several years and thanked officials for their support of the campus. He pointed out that Founders’ Day was held at Main Street Junction because the Main Building of USC Union, which includes the auditorium, along with other parts of the campus, are undergoing millions of dollars worth of renovations.
He said Childers and Denton were among those who fiercely protected USC Union when former Gov. Mark Sanford attempted to close it.
“Under their watch they didn’t let the governor shut down the university,” he said. “They steadied the ship and fought for all of us here today to keep this university here. For that we are very proud- look what it has turned into.”
Svedlund said the Commission was established in 1965.
“Their (Childers’ and Denton’s) dedication exceeds every vision the 1965 delegation ever had,” he said.
Svedlund said both Childers and Denton looked at the university as if it were theirs.
Lewis Jeter III, vice chairman of the commission, presented the Founders’ Day citations for Childers and Denton and Paula Moss, secretary/treasurer of the Commission, presented the plaques.
Jeter gave his personal observations of Childers and Denton. He said he met Childers when he came to USC Union as a student in 1972 after his discharge from the Army.
“She treated me with the utmost respect,” he said. “She treated everyone with the utmost respect. She worked long hours, she worked hard, she raised her family.”
Jeter said he got to know Denton after he became a member of the Commission. Some might have thought Denton was gruff.
“But sometimes gruffness is what it takes to get things done,” Jeter said.
Childers said she was honored to be a Founders’ Day recipient. She said a big part of her life was dedicated to the university. She recalled the battle to keep the university open.
“Look where we are today,” she said. “I think this fall we had an enrollment of 1,353 students, which is wonderful. We have successful sports team and the nursing program which has built up student numbers.”
While she was working at the university Childers began taking one class each semester working toward her degree. She became the first person in her immediate family to graduate from college. Her daughters, Kelly Shumaker and Kim Foster, were seven and four respectively when she went to work and her husband, the late Gene Childers, was a state trooper who worked the night shift.
“It wasn’t easy but I was determined to complete my degree,” she said.
Shumaker and Foster unveiled her portrait.
Renee Denton and Kelsey Granger, Denton’s daughter and granddaughter, accepted the plaque on Denton’s behalf and unveiled his portrait.
“Thank you everyone who nominated Dad,” Renee said. “In the military he had many prestigious positions but what he was most proud of was being a commissioner of higher education. He was able to make a lot of changes here at the university with the support of a lot of people.”
Dr. Randy Lowell said since he became campus dean, he has found the Commission to be very supportive of the university
“They are extremely supportive and extremely excited about what this university can be,” he said.
Rev. Brad Goodale, who gave the invocation, said he was thankful for the university and the opportunities it gave him and his children, including his oldest son, Jesse, who passed away suddenly on Feb. 19. Goodale said he had agreed to speak before Jesse passed away and it was hard to speak so close to Jesse’s passing.
“He received his two year, Associate’s Degree from USC Union,” Goodale said. “I did not want to come this morning, to be honest with you, but out of his honor and his memory it is an absolute privilege to stand here today to pray and thank the people who made this university possible. It changed the trajectory and life of our oldest son.”
Featured Image: Brenda Childers, Paula Moss, and Childers’ daughters Kelly Shumaker and Kim Foster
All photos by Amanda Upton Photography
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