Hollings
to give school's first commencement address
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Hollings
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Former U.S. Sen. Ernest F. "Fritz" Hollings will provide
the May 19 commencement address to the first graduating class
of the Charleston School of Law, Dean Richard Gershon announced
today. (Graduation details below.)
"The school is extremely honored to have Senator Hollings
as its inaugural commencement speaker," Gershon said. "He
is the epitome of public service. From the time he left The Citadel
in 1942 to become a soldier in World War II to the 38 years of
service in the United States Senate, Fritz Hollings has proved
what can be done in the public sector to help people. We can think
of no more fitting lifetime public servant to energize our first
graduating class."
Hollings, who retired from the U.S. Senate in 2004, was first
elected to the S.C. House of Representatives in 1948. Six years
later, he became the state's lieutenant governor. In 1958, he
was elected governor. His four-year tenure was marked by creation
of the state's technical education system and modern recruitment
of industry into the state. Elected to the U.S. Senate first in
1966, Hollings became known as a maverick who pushed major environmental
improvements in the early 1970s. In the 1980s and beyond, he was
recognized as a budget hawk for fiscal discipline and later served
as chairman of the powerful Senate Commerce Committee.
Graduation ceremony details
The Charleston School of Law expects 185 students to be awarded
law degrees in its first-ever graduation on May 19. The ceremony,
which will start at 2 p.m., will be at McAlister Field House at
The Citadel. Graduation is open to the public. A reception for
students and their guests will follow at the school at 81 Mary
Street in downtown Charleston.
More details will be announced in the near future.
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