By Betsy Finklea
The outstanding career of Maceo Nance, who recently retired from the S.C. Department of Commerce, and the success of the Tri-County Industrial Park were celebrated at a luncheon recently at Abingdon Manor.
Maceo Nance is considered the guru of economic development in rural South Carolina having served at the Department of Commerce for 30 years and was involved in many of the projects that Dillon County, the Pee Dee area, and other parts of rural South Carolina benefit from today.
Nance was the recipient of a Senate resolution which described his outstanding career. It says “during Mr. Nance’s long tenure, he made a significant impact on the state’s economic and community development efforts. He held many roles and spearheaded nearly every rural initiative for the Department of Commerce and the former State Development Board…Mr. Nance was instrumental to the growth of the South Carolina Rural Summit, which will soon celebrate its 35th year. He created the curriculum for the South Carolina Economic Developer’s Institute and Advance Symposium cohorts. These programs have trained and equipped hundreds of economic development professionals and local government officials around the state…one of Mr. Nance’s most recent endeavors was the Rural Initiative, authorized by the General Assembly in 2019, where $65 million dollars was to be dispersed to fourteen rural counties to facilitate economic development and infrastructure improvements.”
Nance is a recipient of the Order of the Palmetto and has received numerous honors and awards.
The luncheon was a surprise to Nance, who thought he was attending a Tri-County Park meeting.
The luncheon was two-fold, however, as it also celebrated the success of the Tri-County Park, which is a true 30-30-30 partnership between Dillon County, Marion County, and Marlboro County. Dillon County Economic Development Director Rodney Berry called it the “gift that keeps on giving” and a vital component of the county’s economic development efforts.
After the initial remarks, guests dined on mixed greens spinach and strawberry salad with a honey balsamic vinaigrette dressing, chicken and broccoli penne pasta with white wine and lemon butter sauce, and key lime cheesecake mousse, prepared by David Longacre, head chef at Abingdon Manor.
Appreciation plaques were given to Bill Bethea, Jeff McKay of NESA, and Deepal Eliatamby for their work on the Tri-County Park. Each one of these men took time to recognize Nance for his work.
Bill Bethea said Nance had been a “good and faithful servant” and thanked him for focusing on rural South Carolina.
Jeff McKay said he had “never met a man who has more passion for rural South Carolina than Maceo.”
Deepal Eliatamby said that Nance was “a consensus builder,” who brought people together and saw the best of everybody. He said without Nance that “rural South Carolina would have disappeared.”
Presentations and remarks were made from Tonny McNeil of Marlboro County, Joel Rogers of Marion County, Mayor Tally McColl of the City of Dillon, and Rodney Berry.
Nance said he grew up on a poultry farm in Orangeburg and in November 1974, he walked into the doors of the State Development Board, which later became the Department of Commerce, as a financial resources representative. He said he had not a clue what economic development was and planned to stay 3-5 years until he could find something else to do. That 3-5 years turned into 50.
Nance said the Tri-County Park was something to be proud of and without Bill Bethea and Deepal Eliatamby, he doesn’t think it would be what it is today.
Nance spoke about some of the lessons learned during his life and career and shared those lessons with the group. They included:
–The best classroom in the world was at the feet of his parents and grandparents.
–Being kind is more important than being right.
–A simple walk with his father as a child did wonders for him as an adult
–Money does not buy class.
–Ignoring the facts does not change the facts.
–Be glad that God doesn’t give us everything we want.
–Love heals all wounds.
–Life would be less complicated if we all did the right thing.
Nance appeared to be very appreciative of the luncheon and this recognition of his career.
PHOTO GALLERY
Photos by Johnnie Daniels/The Dillon County News, LLC
