Robert J. Hirsch

John S. Grinalds, president of The Citadel; Myrtle Beach Mayor Mark S. McBride; Robert J. Hirsch, president of the S.C. Hall of Fame Board of Trustees; Wofford Malphrus, immediate past president of the Jasper County Historical Society; Earle Morris, former lieutenant governor of South Carolina; and Dr. Rodger Stroup, director of the S.C. Department of Archives and History.

Program participants will include Coach McKissick; members of Lucile Godbold,s family; Joe Pye, superintendent of Dorchester School District Two in Summerville; Myrtle Beach Mayor Mark McBride; S.C. Hall of Fame President Robert Hirsch and Vice President Gene Anderson; and others.

So Hirsch was caught totally off guard last month when he was given The Order of the Palmetto, the highest state civilian award that recognizes people who have made an important contribution to the state.

The award was presented during a dinner hosted by the S.C. Hall of Fame, which Hirsch led as president from 1980 until his recent retirement.

Hirsch was nominated for the award by former colleagues.

Hirsch said his daughter Nancy Capp of Myrtle Beach said it was the first time she saw him lacking for words.She was on hand with other family members to watch as he received the award.
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"I don't look at politics as a career, but I look at politics as a contribution that is part of our responsibilities as citizens," Hirsch said."The decisions being made are so vital to all our lives and people should be a part of them."

From 1974 to 1978, Hirsch served as Myrtle Beach mayor, then was a City Council member for a four-year term beginning in 1988.
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Hirsch served as the director of the state's energy management office and then was executive assistant for energy resources.

Hirsch remains the S.C. Hall of Fame's chairman emeritus.

Marilyn Chewning, who got to know Hirsch through her work with the area chamber of commerce, said Hirsch provided solid leadership for the state Hall of Fame and recalled how during his tenure as a City Council member he was instrumental in getting the portraits of inductees in the lobby of the building and the name displayed on the outside of the North Oak Street facility.

Although Hirsch is proud of his achievements as a politician, he is more proud of the fact that he and his high school sweetheart, Ethel, will celebrate 60 years of marriage in June.

Robert J. Hirsch was presented with The Order of the Palmetto award by former Gov.
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Hirsch received the award for his 26 years of service as the president of the S.C. Hall of Fame.

Bob Hope not only braved visits to the battlefront, he also braved several stops in South Carolina, including Myrtle Beach, during his long career.

In 1976, Hope arrived on the Grand Strand to attend a promotion for a center opening in Surfside Beach.Robert Hirsch, then mayor of Myrtle Beach, remembered picking him up from the airport.

"I was amazed how his staff briefed him on local stuff," Hirsch said Monday.

"He joked about Socastee, and he joked about how my wife had sewn my clothes at the time," said Hirsch, who was mayor from 1974 to '78.
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"He led a good, full, productive life," Hirsch said."I'm glad for the opportunity to have known him and happy for his contributions to the military and life."

Program participants included McKissick; Joe Pye, superintendent of Dorchester School District Two in Summerville; Dr. Dunbar Godbold, nephew of Lucile Godbold; Myrtle Beach Mayor Pro Tem Judy Rodman; S.C. Hall of Fame President Robert Hirsch and Vice President Gene Anderson; and others.