Lifetime of achievement

Local man gets state’s highest volunteer award

April 11, 2005

By WALLACE McBRIDE
Index-Journal staff writer

O.A. “Pepper” Martin is presented the Order of the Silver Crescent during Sunday services at First Presbyterian Church of Greenwood. Shown, from left, are son Ted Martin, wife Marie Martin, Pepper Martin and the Rev. David Mayo.

For a few minutes Sunday morning, the congregation of First Presbyterian Church was on its feet to honor one man.
O.A. “Pepper” Martin received Order of the Silver Crescent.
The Governor of South Carolina awards the Order of the Silver Crescent for outstanding achievement and contributions in the community. It is the highest award in the state for volunteer and community service.
During a presentation at the start of church services, Martin, 88, received the obligatory standing ovation, the least he might have expected after decades of community service in Greenwood.
But before that, Rick Phillips, a former Boy Scout under Martin’s guidance, asked for those involved with Martin’s many service efforts to stand in honor of Martin.
After decades of involvement with Troop 57, the Emerald City Model Airplane Club and the Northwest Volunteer Fire Department, few people remained in their seats during Phillip’s presentation.
“Mr. Pepper, as we all fondly call him, has been an active member of this community, an active member of the fire department and the Boy Scouts for a very long time,” Phillips said. “If you look around the room you can see the effects of Pepper Martin are far and wide. He has touched a lot of people and has had a lot of influence over great things in this community, and all over this country.”
Martin was at a loss for words after the presentation.
“He wanted to thank each child, boys and girls, who participated in the programs that he helped with,” said son Ted Martin. “He wanted to thank each one of y’all for allowing him the privilege to have worked with you.
“‘I couldn’t do it by myself,’” he said his father told him. “‘I didn’t do it by myself.’ He appreciates the recognition, but he wanted to thank each one of you who helped him along through the years.”

Spartans sweep series, knock off Bearcats, 5-0

April 11, 2005

By BRIAN HOWARD
Assistant sports editor

Brian Discordia’s bases-clearing triple to right-centerfield in the top of the ninth inning sent the Lander University baseball team to its eighth straight Peach Belt Conference loss, as USC Upstate blanked Lander, 5-0, Sunday at Legion Field.
The Spartans swept the series after winning, 10-6 and 6-1 on Saturday.
“Nothing that I can say that hasn’t been said already,” Bearcats coach Mike McGuire said. “I thought we pitched well enough to win today. We had too many walks and those walks led to probably three of the five runs.”
Tom Peterson started on the mound for Lander (22-20 overall, 8-12 PBC). The junior left-hander pitched 3 1/3 innings, giving up two runs on one hit, walking six and striking out one in taking the loss.
The two runs Peterson gave up were unearned.
Tyler Addison worked the final 5 2/3 innings in relief for the Bearcats, surrendering three runs on seven hits, walking four and striking out seven.
“I thought Tyler pitched pretty well,” McGuire said. “Tyler’s pitched very well in the last 20 games or so. I think he was getting tired toward the end. He threw a lot last week. Five and two-thirds is probably the longest outing in his college career.”
The Spartans (30-15, 13-11), who handed Lander its second shutout of the season, broke a scoreless tie in the fourth inning by scoring twice.
With one down, Matt Goyea, who went 1-for-3, walked and stole second. Jim Kais followed with a base on balls and both would advance a base after Discordia walked to load the bases, which ended Peterson’s day.
Addison faced Andrew Maddox and got a slow roller to third, but Bearcats third baseman Kevin Jones couldn’t come up with the ball, allowing Goyea to score. John Caddell drew a two-out walk, scoring Kais from third for the final run of the inning.
USC Upstate put the game away in the top of the ninth by scoring three times on three hits.
In the ninth, the Spartans loaded the bases when Bret Hansen singled, Goyea was intentionally walked and Kais singled. Discordia’s triple gave USC Upstate a commanding 5-0 lead.
Discorida went 1-for-3 with three RBIs and Hansen went 2-for-4.
“Big difference being down two, than down five,” McGuire said. “We had opportunities in the first inning, second and eighth. We just didn’t get a key hit. It’s not any one guy that its happing to, it’s everybody.”
Kyle Bowley (3-1) earned the shutout for the Spartans, striking out five, and allowing eight hits in 7 1/3 innings pitched. James Dalton worked the final 1 2/3 innings, giving up just one hit.
The Bearcats, who have dropped 16 of their last 21 games, hit into two doubles plays. For the three-game series, Lander left 31 men on base and bounced into seven double plays.
The Bearcats play a home-and-home series with Southern Wesleyan starting Tuesday. Lander meets the Warriors 6 p.m. Wednesday at Legion Field.

Opinion

Lawmakers ... lose touch with reality back home

April 11, 2005

Most South Carolinians probably aren’t familiar with an Oklahoma physician named Tom Coburn.
Some might know of him, but not as a doctor. Call him U. S. Senator Tom Coburn, though, and it might ring a bell.
Coburn, a Republican, still practices medicine in his home state and that has created a bit of a problem for him with the Senate Ethics Committee. It seems no members of that august body are supposed to profit from any outside interests, with the possibilities of a conflict of interest always a consideration.
Coburn, a general practitioner, treats a lot of people each year, for all sorts of maladies and injuries. He says, however, he doesn’t make a profit but only enough to cover malpractice insurance and other overhead costs.
HIS EXPLANATION, HOWEVER, thus far hasn’t satisfied his critics. Nevertheless, what he says about it all makes more common sense than much of the “acceptable” actions, rules and regulations that come forth from that mount of wisdom called Capitol Hill.
Coburn’s reasoning is simple. Practicing medicine back home, he says, provides him the opportunity to stay in touch with what goes on with his constituents and what they think about issues. In short, he’s able to get a good dose of some of the reality of everyday living that average Americans face every day.
That might not seem like much to some people, but it is more important than many would like to think. Coburn says his associates in Congress too often lose touch by spending so much time in Washington. Therefore, he says, they have no real feel about what goes on back home on a routine basis.

THAT’S A REAL CONCERN ….. or should be for every taxpayer in South Carolina, not to mention the rest of the country. When elected officials spend a lot of time in Washington it’s not out of the question for them to begin to think they represent the interests of Washington and not the people who sent them there in the first place.
Apparently that happens more than might be expected. Otherwise, how do you account for some of the stupidity that passes for responsible legislation?
Maybe there should be a requirement for lawmakers to go home often and listen – not talk – to the voters. It might cost taxpayers more in travel expenses, maybe, but think of how much they could save when nobody is around Washington to spend.

Editorial expression in this feature represents our own views.
Opinions are limited to this page.

Obituaries

Sadie Cockrell

SALUDA — Sadie Bell Kneece Cockrell, 86, of 228 Denny Highway, widow of Colie L. Cockrell, died Saturday, April 9, 2005 at Saluda Nursing Center.
Born in Ward, she was a daughter of the late Grove C. and Annie Johnikin Kneece. She was a retired garment inspector with Saluda Shirt Plant, a member of Rescue I and Red Bank Baptist Church.
Survivors include a son, Gerald W. Cockrell of Saluda; three sisters, Earline Rushton, Annie Mae Cockrell and Beatrice Cockrell, all of Saluda.
Services are 5 p.m. Tuesday at Red Bank Baptist Church, conducted by the Rev. Gary Romines. Burial is in the church cemetery.
Visitation is 7-9 tonight at Ramey Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to Saluda Nursing Center, P.O. Box 398, Saluda, S.C. 29138 or to Red Bank Baptist Church, 309 E. Church St., Saluda, S.C. 29138.
Ramey Funeral Home is in charge.

Ethel C. Davis

Services for Ethel Calhoun Davis are 1 p.m. Tuesday at Glover’s A.M.E. Church, conducted by Dr. Delcinia M. Jamison, Pastor of Faith Tabernacle Church. The body will be placed in the church at 12. Burial is in Forrest Lawn Memory Garden in Abbeville.
Viewing is 2-8:30 and wake is 7:30-8:30 today at Abbeville & White Mortuary.
Memorials may be made to the Ethel Davis Scholarship Fund. A scholarship instituted by Faith Tabernacle to support college bound students majoring in the field of medicine.
Abbeville & White Mortuary is in charge.

Mary Johnson

ABBEVILLE, SC — Mary Wardlaw Johnson, 83, resident of 1504 Greenville St. widow of Dr. William Wilson ‘Jack’ Johnson, Jr. died Saturday April 9, 2005 at the Bamberg Nursing Home in Bamberg, SC.
Born in Abbeville, SC she was a daughter of the late David Allen and Mae Welborne Wardlaw. She was a homemaker and a very active member of Abbeville Presbyterian Church were she was a member of the Morning Circle of the church and the Abbeville Presbyterian Women. She was also a volunteer at the Abbeville Co. Memorial Hospital. A charter member of the Entre-Nous Book Club. A member of the Abbeville Heritage House and also several Bridge Clubs.
Survivors are: A son Billy Johnson and his wife Vicki of Summerville, GA. a daughter Mary Jane Maxwell and her husband Randy of Bamberg, SC. 3 grandchildren Riley and Mary Bray Maxwell and Anna Kate Johnson.
She was preceded in death by 2 brothers Billy and Earl Wardlaw.
Funeral services will be conducted Tuesday April 12, 2005 at 11:00 AM from the Abbeville Presbyterian Church with Dr,. Randy Kowalski officiating. The burial will follow in Long Cane Cemetery.
The body is at The Chandler-Jackson Funeral Home where the family will receive friends from 6:00 until 7:30 PM Monday evening. The family is at the home 1504 Greenville St. Abbeville, SC.
Memorials may be made to The Abbeville Presbyterian Church, Organ Fund 301 N. Main St.
Abbeville, SC 29620.
The family request flowers to be omitted.
THE CHANDLER-JACKSON FUNERAL HOME IS IN CHARGE OF ARRANGEMENTS.
PAID OBITUARY

Charles Sweezy

HODGES — Charles Johnson Sweezy, Jr., 73, of 130 Pineridge Drive, Hodges, widower of Rita Mae Coker Sweezy, died Thursday, April 7, 2005 at his home.
Born in Greenwood, he was a son of the late Charles and Elsie Electra Pangle Sweezy. He was retired from Brown’s Tree Service and was of the Baptist faith.
Surviving is a son, James Charles Sweezy of the home; three stepdaughters, Cindy Bryan of Greenwood, Frances Crisp of Whitmire and JoAnn Blackmon of Saluda; a sister, Nannie Lou Spradley of Lincolnton, NC; 13 grandchildren and ten great grandchildren.
Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
The family is at the home of his step granddaughter, Michelle Lollis, 106 Smith Drive, Hodges.
Memorials may be made to the Charles Sweezy account, c/o Harley Funeral Home, PO Box 777, Greenwood, SC 29648.
Harley Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.harleyfuneralhome.com
PAID OBITUARY

Nyla Breshay Wilson

Nyla Breshay Wilson, 4, of 109 Thornbrook Court, daughter of Marion D. Wilson Jr. and Elizabeth Monique Wilson died Sunday, April 10, 2005 at Greenville Memorial Hospital.
She was born in Greenville.
Survivors include two sisters, Destinee Greene and Brianna Wilson, both of Greenwood.
Services will be announced by Percival-Tompkins Funeral Home.