Dr. H. Wayne Beam (left) with John W. Parris and Dr. Alan Sams.
PARRIS AGRICULTURAL ENDOWMENT ESTABLISHED
AT CLEMSON UNIVERSITY
Dr. Alan Sams, Dean of the College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences at Clemson University, has announced that Dr. and Mrs. H. Wayne Beam of Columbia have contributed $25,000 to the Clemson Foundation to establish the John W. Parris Agricultural Leadership Endowment. Scholarship funds generated from this endowment will be awarded students majoring in an agriculture or natural resources field of study and who demonstrate exceptional academic achievement and superb leadership skills.
Dr. Beam, a native of Chester and an Agricultural Education student of Mr. Parris at Chester High School in the 1960’s, was an active member and president of the Chester FFA Chapter.
A graduate of Clemson University, Beam also earned an MS Degree from Auburn University and a PhD Degree in Environmental Science from North Carolina State University. His professional career began as deputy director of the SC Land Resources Commission which was headed up by Mr. Parris. Dr. Beam later served as the founding executive director of the SC Coastal Council where he served until his retirement from state government. He is president of Beam and Associates, an environmental and governmental affairs consulting firm, headquartered in Columbia.
Mr. Parris, a native of Spartanburg County and a graduate of Clemson University with a degree in Agricultural Education, has been serving as state director of public affairs for Agricultural Education Programs in South Carolina and editor of the Agricultural Education magazine, AGRI-BIZ, since his retirement as executive director of the SC Land Resources Commission. Additionally, Mr. Parris is a charter member and former chairman of Clemson University’s National Agricultural Alumni Organization.