Roger Milliken set a standard for every business, not just in our state but worldwide. Through Roger Milliken's leadership and passion for innovation and research, Milliken & Company became one of the largest privately held and most successful companies in the world. Spartanburg-based Milliken & Company manufactures thousands of textiles, products, and specialty chemicals. It was my privilege to learn from his "Greatness" as he shared his passion for learning, business and politics with a few. I was simply fortunate to be included.
In 2010 during my tenure as Chairman of the South Carolina Republican Party, the annual Roger Milliken Award was established. The award recognizes individuals who exemplify leadership in the Republican Party, through statesman qualities personified by Mr. Milliken. During the last two years of his life, Mr. Milliken was instrumental in selecting the criteria for and choosing the first two recipients from South Carolina: business and political leaders Joe Edens and Greg Shorey. In his passing, the Republican Party carried the tradition forward.
Saturday, Betty Poe received the third annual Roger Milliken Award. Mrs. Poe, chairman of the Greenville County Republican Party, the immediate past president of the South Carolina Federation of Republican Women, and the 3rd Vice President of the National Federation of Republican Women, is the first woman to receive this distinction. In 2008, Mrs. Poe was an elector to the Electoral College, and received the James B. Edwards Award for service to the state party. This year, at the 4th Congressional District convention, she was elected as a Delegate to the National convention.
Although she often says that “politics is her life anymore,” her service goes far beyond politics. She serves on Clemson’s Foundation board and is the co-chairman of the Capital Campaign. She is passionate about donating time as a volunteer coordinator in the Infusion Room of the Chemotherapy Department at the Cancer Center of the Carolinas. She serves on numerous other boards and is active in her church and community.
Palladian View is honored to have the 2012 Roger Milliken Award winner as their first founding board member. Mrs. Poe’s vision for our state, women and party exemplifies the criteria Mr. Milliken sought to create. As we seek to promote qualified women into the forays of public life, Mrs. Poe follows the leadership example of Mr. Milliken and therefore is the perfect award recipient.
Karen Floyd is the Publisher of www.palladianview.com, a digital magazine for the conservative Republican woman.
