Staff reports
BEAUFORT — History professor Larry Rowland is fond of saying “All of American history began in what is now Beaufort County.” And Rowland said it again earlier this month when he made a little history of his own.
Rowland, the Distinguished Professor Emeritus of History at the University of South Carolina Beaufort (USCB), as usual, emphasized the region’s pivotal role in shaping the nation, this time on Friday, Jan. 10, at a ceremony at the Dataw Island Club, where he was awarded the Order of the Palmetto, South Carolina’s highest civilian honor, and became the namesake of USCB’s first endowed professorship: the Lawrence S. Rowland, Ph.D. Professorship.
The Order of the Palmetto, established in 1971, recognizes individuals who have demonstrated a lifetime of extraordinary service and contributions to South Carolina. On behalf of behalf of Gov. Henry McMaster, Jane T. Upshaw, USCB’s Distinguished Chancellor Emerita, presented the Order of the Palmetto to Rowland, whose unparalleled efforts to preserving and promoting the state’s history has shaped the understanding of South Carolina’s cultural and historical legacy, Beaufort County in particular.
USCB also recognized Rowland’s decades-long impact on historical scholarship and education by establishing the Lawrence S. Rowland, Ph.D. Professorship. This endowed position ensures that his legacy of academic excellence will continue to inspire future generations of scholars and students.
“For decades, Dr. Rowland’s work has inspired countless students, researchers, and residents to view our past not just as a collection of dates and events, but as a living, breathing narrative that shapes who we are today,” USCB Chancellor Al M. Panu said. “The new Lawrence S. Rowland, Ph.D. Professorship represents USCB’s admiration for him and our commitment to excellence in teaching, research and community engagement.”
Rowland’s career is marked by an impressive body of work, including:
• “The History of Beaufort County, South Carolina, Volume 1, 1514 -1861,” co-authored by Rowland, Alexander Moore and George C. Rogers, Jr.
• “Rebellion, Reconstruction and Redemption, The History of Beaufort County, South Carolina, Volume 2, 1861-1893” and “Bridging the Sea Islands’ Past and Present, 1893-2006: The History of Beaufort County, South Carolina, Volume 3,” both co-authored by Rowland and Stephen R. Wise.
“All of American history began in what is now Beaufort County,” Rowland said at the ceremony where he received both awards, underscoring the region’s pivotal role in shaping the nation.
Rowland earned a Bachelor of Arts from Hamilton College in New York, followed by a Master’s and Doctorate from the University of South Carolina. At USCB, he served as Professor of History and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.
He is a member of the Beaufort Jasper Higher Education Commission (BJHEC) and the Beaufort College Trustees, and a past president of the South Carolina Historical Society.
The newly established endowed USCB professorship named for him will provide resources for faculty research, new instructional programs, and student projects. Endowed positions attract and retain top-tier faculty, enhance academic excellence, and support groundbreaking research.
Fundraising is ongoing for the Lawrence S. Rowland, Ph.D. Professorship.
“It is no exaggeration to say that one cannot walk down Bay Street in Beaufort without running into one or more of Rowland’s former students, whose memory of him as a teacher is undimmed, and whose affection for him as a mentor and friend is immediately evident,” said John McCardell, co-chair of the fundraising committee.
To contribute to the Lawrence S. Rowland, Ph.D. Professorship, contact Mary Lurry, USCB’s Director of Development, at mlurry@uscb.edu.
