Fame & Fortune
These Cherokeeans Have Done Quite Well, Thank You.

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                         W.J. CASH


  W.J.Cash's prophetic "The Mind of the South"has for more than a quarter of a century stood alone as the most penetrating analysis of the American South.
  W.J.Cash was born May 2, 1900, in Gaffney, S.C. He was christened Joseph Wilbur but grew to dislike both names. He reversed the initials to

"He coolly and methodically demolished the myths of the Old South and the New South by twentieth century Southerners were fooling themselves."

    " W.J." and took that as his name. He received his early education in Gaffney and graduated from Wake Forest College. He tried teaching but soon turned to journalism. He spent about 15 years with The Charlotte News. In 1940 his much admired book The Mind of The South was published. His book is "an interpretation of the Southern mind in its totality." "He coolly and methodically demolished the myths of the Old South and the New South by which twentieth century Southerners were fooling themselves."
   In the spring of 1941, Cash went to Mexico on a Guggenheim Fellowship. In July he hanged himself in a Mexico City hotel room.(The quotes are from: W.J. Cash: Southern Prophet by Joseph Morrison.)

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WOFFORD B. CAMP

   Wofford B. ( Bill ) Camp was born March 14, 1894 at Camp's Crossroads, about four miles west of Gaffney. ( Camp's Crossroads is the intersection of Old Post Road and Highway 11.) The restored home place still overlooks the old farm. Bill attended Possum Trot School and Central School. He worked hard on his parent's farm from "Kin ' til Kant" (sun up to sun down). The produce from his own small farm plot was sold door to door in Gaffney. The money received was added to his "college fund." At the age of 17 with the help of a state one hundred dollar scholarship he entered Clemson College.
   After graduation Mr.Camp took a summer job at a low-country plantation. Here he developed his love for cotton. That interest led him to fame and fortune. At the request of the U.S. government he introduced long staple cotton to the San Joaquin Valley of California.

His success made him known as the father of the California cotton industry.

   His success made him known as the father of the California cotton industry. He is recognized as one of the most important thinkers in the history of agriculture. His accomplishments and awards are many.
   Mr.Camp and his wife, Louise, gave generously to causes and institutions. Among them are Clemson College, Limestone College, Boy and Girl Scouts and the Crippled Children's Society.
   Awards that meant a great deal to Mr.Camp were ones that he received from the American Society of Agronomy,one he received on behalf of Eli Whitney, inventor of the cotton gin. He was very surprised and pleased when Clemson University awarded him its highest honor, the Clemson Medallion.
   Camp made friends and enemies when he fought for the rights of agricultural workers. He took a strong stand for a "right to work" law so that membership in a trade union was not necessary in order to have a job.
   Cherokee County is proud to claim Wofford B.Camp as one of her own.

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                ELIZABETH  HARRILL

   Elizabeth (Libby) Harrill Mitchell is the first woman in the history of the state of Maine to be elected Speaker of the House of Representatives. Libby Harrill is a Cherokee County native. She is the daughter of the late Charles and Lula Mae Harrill of Gaffney.
   Libby graduated from Gaffney High School in 1958. Among her honors were president of the student body, valedictorian, captain of the basketball team and homecoming queen. She studied English and political science at Furman University where she was a popular campus leader. After graduation in 1962, she taught school in Raleigh,N.C. A move to Switzerland where she coached Swiss teams in preparation for taking the SAT enabled her to travel in France and Italy.
   In 1965 she married Jim Mitchell of Little Rock, Ark. While living in North Carolina, she earned her master's degree. When Jim entered law school at Yale, Libby taught reading to illiterate adults.
   Mrs. Mitchell moved to Maine with her family when her husband went to work for Governor Kenneth Curtis. Her involvement with the League of Women Voters led her to elective politics. In 1974, three years after her move to Maine, she was elected to the House. In the early 1980s she was elected majority leader. She had some political set-backs, but overcame

"If I never do anything beyond this, I will consider myself one of the luckiest women in the world."
                                      
                                   Libby Harrill Mitchell
those to rise to the position she now holds. In her political life she has had the ability to draw support from "two different generations of legislators." If I never do anything beyond this," said Mrs. Mitchell, "I will consider myself one of the luckiest women in the world."
   Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell have three children, Will, Elizabeth and Charley. Joyce Harrill Childers of Gaffney is Mrs. Mitchell's  sister. All Cherokee County shows her pride in Libby Harrill Mitchell.

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                   ZACK McKOWN

   Zach McKown was born in Gaffney in 1952, the son of Jonathan McKown and the late Sable McKown. Today Zach is a partner in the architectural firm of I TSAO and McKown. A firm that is rapidly gaining international renown for producing architecture of distinction. The firm has permanent offices in New York and Singapore.
   Zach graduated from the University of South Carolina Honors College and obtained his Master of Architecture degree from the Harvard Graduate I School of Design. He obtained extensive experience in the design of large scale and technologically sophisticated corporate and commercial projects as a senior designer/architect with Ulrich Franzen and Associates; Rafael Vinoly and Associates, Architects; and the Grad partnership.
   One of the largest challenges of this firm was the design of Suntec City in Singapore. This mega development comprises a 1.08-million-square-foot convention center, four 45-story office towers, an 18-story tower, 800,000 square feet of retail and entertainment space, and parking for 3,200 cars. The firm put McKown in charge of this project.
   Other major projects have been in Juala Lampor, Malaysia, an 80-room luxury hotel in New York's Soho district, a 28-story apartment tower in Shanghai.
    Zach has made himself well-known as an outstanding architect. Cherokee County can be proud to call him one of our own.

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ANDIE  MACDOWELL

 Rosie refers to her mother as her "friend" who inspired her by telling her,"You can do anything."

JIM SIMMONS

   In the world of music, Jim Simmons has made his mark. Jim,the son of Edith Simmons and the late George Simmons, was born in Gaffney January 24,1949. While attending Gaffney High, he studied music under the capable direction of the late Elizabeth Frieze and Limestone College Professor, Janet Dubois.
   After graduation from Appalachian State in 1971, Jim joined the Air Force.His musical career began at Lackland AFB where he played with the Band of the West. In Washington, D.C., he was the accompanist for the Singing Sergeants for five years.
   Upon leaving the Air Force Jim was the conductor with the Ice Capades for four years. He traveled with the tour company "Annie" and "Evita." One of the performances of "Annie" was in Charlotte. A number of friends from Gaffney had the pleasure of hearing Jim conduct.
   After working with Walt Disney World for 10 years, he went with the road tour of Ringling Brother Barnum and Bailey for a year.
   Today Jim tours with the road companies of popular musicals serving as assistant conductor. A recent tour was "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat." Presently he is with "Cats" Tour IV. Jim has an apartment in Orlando. With his busy schedule all over the United States, he is seldom " at home."Cherokee County applauds his success.

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JAMES B. BELL

   Brian (as he was called) Bell was born in York (Yorkville) March 1890. Brian's father, Capt. James B. Bell, moved the family to Gaffney in 1902 to establish a law practice.
   In 1905, at the age of 15, Brian started his newspaper career as a reporter for The Gaffney Ledger. He was promoted to news editor in 1906. His career carried him to other cities and in 1924 he was hired by the Associated Press as a newsman. He was reassigned to correspondent, News Editor for the Western Division and then Chief of Bureau. His work assignments included New Orleans, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington, D.C.
   Bell played a major role in the AP coverage of the Scopes Evolution Trial in the summer of 1925 in Dayton,Tennessee. The epic legal battle between Clarence Darrow and William Jennings Bryan, the Bible's champion, kept four staff correspondents busy from dawn until midnight. Bell became so well known that when the trial ended in a flood of oratory Judge Paulston called on him for some expression for the court record.
   "Mr. Bell, won't you say a word?" No, sir, judge," was the good natured reply.
   Bell was also involved in the covering of the flight of Charles A.Lindbergh from New York to Paris in

"Mr.Bell, won't you say a word?"

1927. A prize of $25,000 had been offered by Raymond Orteig for the first non-stop flight between New York and Paris.
   In May 1927 three aircraft were waiting to take off to see who could win the prize. There was the America with Lt. Com. Richard E. Byrd and an expert crew. There was also the Columbia piloted by Clarence Chamberline and Lloyd Bertaud. And there was The Spirit of St. Louis piloted by Charles A. Lindbergh. It was an exciting time and high adventure.
   At 7:52 a.m., Lindbergh lifted The Spirit of St. Louis into the air. Bell described the adventure beside his special wire. What a relief when the plane cleared the trees! And what an experience to follow the "Lone Eagle," as Lindbergh was called, as he passed over Ireland and at 5:21 p.m. landed in Paris!
   Brian Bell was a fine newspaper man. The Gaffney Ledger gave him a good start.

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JOHNNY   DAWKINS

   Johnny Dawkins was born in Gaffney on February 21,1952, and is the third of nine children born to Esther Elizabeth Dawkins and the late Booker Taliferro Dawkins.
   Johnny's interest in the performing arts began in the fourth grade at Granard Elementary, when he was an actor in a stage adaptation of "The Creation" by James Weldon Johnson.
   An honor student at Granard, Johnny twice lettered in Varsity football and was one of only three players ever to play for both Granard and Gaffney High School.
   Twice voted Best Back by GHS teammates, Johnny still holds the GHS Single Season Scoring Record. He was the MVP of the 1970 football and track teams and was inducted into the GHS Football and Track Hall of Fame. Johnny also had a perfect attendance while attending Gaffney High School.
   In 1970 Johnny received an athletic scholarship to Mars Hill College. He was the first African American to play football for MHC, and in 1974 received a BA Degree in Art with a minor in English Literature.
   Johnny headed west for his post graduate studies to the University of Southern California's Cinema Department where George Lucas was a fellow student. In 1978 Johnny received a Master of Fine Arts Degree in Cinema from the University of Southern California.
   After graduation Johnny worked as a gofer for Mary Tyler More (MTM) Productions. "Grant Tinker, who became head of NBC Network and was Mary Tyler Moore's former husband admired my writing and gave me a great office, which turned out to be Mary's old dressing room. It was there I began my career as a professional screenwriter.'Johnny wrote episodes for such popular MTM shows as Lou Grant and St.Elsewhere. Since then, Johnny has produced and written for a number of television series; movies; pilots and after school specials including THE WAVE, the highest rated after school special ever. Johnny also worked as a staff writer/producer with Oprah Winfrey; the late Alex Haley and was the Executive Story Editor with the late Gene Roddenberry on Star Trek The Next Generation.
   Johnny has received numerous awards for his literary work including the prestigious: Emmy, Gabriel, Peabody, Christopher, Image and Humanitas Awards and was twice nominated for the Writer's Guild of America Award by fellow Hollywood Screenwriters.
   Johnny is presently the Creator and Co-Executive Producer of Earth Search, a science fiction television series in Sydney, Australia.
   Johnny attributes his success to God, his incredible parents: Esther and Booker T. and his loving and supportive brothers and sisters including: Booker T. Jr., Harold, Mary, Allen, Danny, Shirley, Teresa and Willie - also a Hollywood filmmaker. "Although my parents never graduated from high school, all of their children are college graduates and world citizens."
   Johnny's extended family and inspiration include: Willie Jefferies, John Hamrick, the late Vernon Quick, Bob Prevatte, Buddy Brumbach, H.B. Pasley and most important the late Wayne Whiteside.
   Johnny is single and resides in the desert of Twenty-Nine Palms, California.

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COACH W.L. VARNER

    Coach W.L."Willie" Varner, the Woodruff Wolverine,and winning have been,synonymous in high school football for over four decades. He is Head Coach, School District Four Athletic Director, and Assistant Principal of Woodruff High School.
   Coach Varner was born in 1926 and lived on West Buford St.
   He has been tagged with the mythical title of "Dean" of South Carolina coaches through the years, and a brief look at some of his records shows ample justification for that title.
   His career stands at 380-126-10 for an amazing winning percentage of 76 percent. Varner is only the 13th high school coach nationwide to reach the 300 win plateau. Under his guidance, the Wolverines have won 10 state championships, 16 upperstate titles, 28 conference titles and tied the state record for most consecutive state championships (4). Varner's trademark has been to field strong defensive teams as evidence of recording 201 shut outs against his opponents, including his 1976 and 1980 teams which hold the state record for not allowing any points by the opposition in four playoff games in each of those championships. He currently has the 4th best high school coaching record in the nation among active and retired coaches. He has had only one losing season in the last 41 years.
   He was named National High School Coach of the Year in 1983 and was inducted into the Wofford College Athletic Hall of Fame in 1984. He was named Regional Athletic Director of the Year in 1987 by the National High School Athletic Coaches Association. Coach Varner was inducted into the S.C. Athletic Hall of Fame in 1985. He was inducted in the S.C. Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1993.
   He also previously coached baseball for five years and accumulated a 107-12 record, winning four conference titles and two state championships. As a coach of the girls basketball program at Woodruff for 10 years, he had a record 220-40-5, winning seven conference crowns and four state championships.
   Coach Varner has twice served as head coach and once as assistant coach in the Shrine Bowl. He also has twice served as head coach in S.C. North-South All-Star Game and won all those contests.
   Coach Varner was named Regional Coach of the Year twice by the National High School Coaches Association, selected State Coach of the Year twice by The Herald-Journal Newspaper, named Kellogg Coach of the Year in 1980 and chosen on the Gatorade 1991 Coaches Care Honor Roll. He was also named Appalachian AA Coach of the Year for 1992, an honor he has received six times.
   Coach Varner was inducted into the National Hall of Fame on July 9, 1994, and is only the third coach from South Carolina to have received that honor joining the late Pinky Babb and Summerville High's John McKissick. Pepsi-Cola commemorated Vameies achievements by issuing a special bottle in IL994 showing his likeness and citing his records. He is only the second person that Pepsi has so recognized on its product. Lastly, Coach Varner was inducted into the Order of the Palmetto on July 24, 1996, which is the state's highest honor.

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                                        Jaime Bernanke

   Jaime Bernanke first made a name for himself as a writer Jand producer for National Geographic. This is a career for which his education prepared him well. Jaime was born in Gaffney February 1954 the son of Florence Bernanke and the late Fred L. Bernanke. He finished Gaffney High School and graduated from the University of South Carolina. He did graduate work at the University of Wisconsin in earning a master's degree in history, took additional courses at USC, and received a master's degree in English at Columbia University

One of his better known productions is the video "Nature's Fury."

where he had a fellowship.
   Jaime worked in television in New York for a short time before he began his career with National Geographic. His work has involved a great deal of travel to research material for the numerous specials he has written.
   When National Geographic moved the headquarters to Washington, Jaime decided to stay in New York. He and several associates formed their own company Pangolin Picture and went public.
   One of his better known productions is the video Nature's Fury." Jaime's work in National Geographic is now credited to Pangolin Pictures. His firm is now working on a film for video for Reader's Digest.

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                                Charles Madison Sarratt 

   Charles Madison Sarratt (1888-1978) was part and Cparcel of Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn. for more than 60 years. He began his Vanderbilt career as Assistant Professor of Mathematics. In 1922 he was made Dean of Students and Vice Chancellor in 1943, a position from which he retired in 1958. Dr. Sarratt died in March 1978.
   Dr. Sarratt received many honors and awards, but his co-called "goat class " in mathematics for slowpokes made him famous and loved by Vanderbilt students.