Senator, South Carolina State Senate, District 26, 1976-present

Minority Leader, South Carolina State Senate, 2019-2021

Candidate, South Carolina State Senate, District 26, 2020

Member, Banking and Insurance Committee

Member, Education Committee

Member, Ethics Committee

Member, Finance Committee

Member, Interstate Cooperation Committee

Member, Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee

Member, Legislative Oversight Committee

Member, Subcommittee on K-12 Education

Chair, Subcommittee on Natural Resources and Economic Development

No caucus information on file.

Senior Partner, Setzler & Scott, Professional Association, 1977-present

Chair, Governor's Commission on Teacher Quality, 1999-present

Chair, Governor's Middle Grades Task Force, 1999-present

Member, National Commission of Teaching and America's Future, 1999-present

Member, Dean's Advisory Board, National College of Engineering, 1998-present

Chair, University of South Carolina Bicentennial Commission Government and Civic Affairs Committee, 1998-present

Member, Southern Regional Education Board Executive Board, 1986-present

Member, Lions Club, 1973-present

Member, South Carolina State Bar Association, 1971-present

Member, Greater West Columbia-Cayce Chamber of Commerce, 1975-1976

Member, Lexington Country Club Board, 1974-1976

Director, Lexington Jaycees, 1973

Awards:

Outstanding Leadership Award, Governor's School for the Arts, 1990;
Legislative Award for South Carolinians with Disabilities by South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Association, 1991;
Outstanding Senator for Continued Support of Public Education, South Carolina School Boards Association, 1991;
Award for Support for Education, Palmetto State Teachers Association, 1991;
Outstanding Leadership and Contributions to Education Award by South Carolina Council of Elementary School Principals, 1990-91;
Future Farmers of America Honorary Chapter Degree, 1992;
Appreciation Award by Columbia College Board of Visitors, 1988-92;
School Health Service Award, 1992;
Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters, University of Charleston, 1992;
Legislator of the Year Award by Independent Colleges and Universities of South Carolina, Inc., 1993;
Commendation by South Carolina Counseling Association, 1994-95;
Outstanding Service Award by South Carolina Agricultural Education Programs, 1994;
Richard W. Riley Award for Exceptional Leadership and Commitment by South Carolina Consortium for Gifted Educators, 1995;
Carl Perkins Humanitarian of the Year Award for South Carolina, 1995;
Legislator of the Year, South Carolina Association of School Librarians, 1995;
Honorary Doctorate of Education, Columbia College, 1997;
Public Servant of the Year by South Carolina Chamber of Commerce, 1998;
Award in Appreciation of Unrelenting Efforts on Behalf of the Parents and Young Children of South Carolina by Department of Education Parenting/Family Literacy Initiatives, 1999;
W. J. Castine Partner in Progress Award for Exemplary Service to South Carolina Elementary and Middle Schools, 1999;
Distinguished Service Award for Contributions to Higher Education and Student Financial Assistance Programs, 1999;
Award for Exceptional Leadership and Commitment to Technical Education, 1999;
Award of Appreciation for support by South Carolina FFA Association, 2000;
Honorary American FFA Degree by National FFA Organization, 2000;
Friend of Reading Recovery Award for outstanding contributions, 2000;
Outstanding Policy Leader from South Carolina State Board of Education, 2000;
Award for Exemplary Service to Public Education by South Carolina Association of Teacher Educators, 2001;
Outstanding Service Award, South Carolina Education Association-Retired, 2002;
Friend of the Taxpayer Award, South Carolina Association of Taxpayers, 2002;
Honored by the American Institute of Architects, South Carolina Chapter, 2004;
Recognition by South Carolina School Nurses, 2002;
Legislator of the Year, South Carolilna Association of the Deaf, 2005;
Outstanding Contributions to Public Education, Governor's Workforce Education Task Force & Superintendent of Education, 2005
Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws, University of South Carolina, 2008
West Metro Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year, 2011
Future of Education's Golden Apple Award, South Carolina Chapter National Coalition for Public School Options, 2011
Friend of Conservation Award. Lexington Soil and Water Conservation District, 2011
Greater Lexington Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center, The Chairman's Award, 2012
Citizens for Sound Conservation Peas and Carrots Award, 2012
State Retirees Association of South Carolina, Legislator of the Year, 2012

Father's Name:

Harry Earl

Mother's Name:

Verna Leona