Your Pickens County

EASLEY — The upstate lost one of it true community leaders last week with the passing of former Tri-County Technical College President Dr. Don C. Garrison.
Garrison was President of Tri-County in Pendleton from November 1971 through June 2003. In 2002, the Tri-County Technical College Commission recognized Garrison by naming the Pendleton campus in his honor.
“We are deeply saddened by the death of Dr. Don C. Garrison, who passed away during the early morning hours of Saturday, Feb. 27,” said Dr. Ronnie Booth, currnt TCTC president. “Throughout his 32 years as president of Tri-County, he served as a tireless leader and advocate for technical education in this region and the state. He had a profound impact on the lives of thousands of students and the communities we serve.”
Garrison is survived by his wife, Carol Smith Garrison, one son, Major Donnie R. Garrison and his wife, Cheryl and grandsons, Bolt and Bryant Garrison, of Easley, as well as his mother, Vera M. Garrison of Pickens, two brothers, David Garrison and wife, Ruth, of Pickens and Dan Garrison and wife Linda of Easley. 
Born in Liberty, he was the son of Vera Medlock Garrison of Liberty and the late Ernest Casper Garrison. In addition to his father, Garrison was predeceased by his niece, Lynn Garrison, of Pickens.
He received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Furman University and Doctorate from Duke University.
In his early years in education, Garrison was head coach at Palmetto High School, assistant football coach at Pendleton High and Easley High. He also served as Interim President, Vice President, Dean of Allied Health Sciences, and Evening Dean at Greenville Technical College from 1963-1971.
Garrison was President of the Aerospace Education Foundation (AEF), Washington, D.C., from 1981-1984. He was named as a Gen. Jimmy Doolittle Fellow and a Lt. Gen. Ira Eaker Fellow for his service to AEF. His many state and national honors included the Air Force Association’s Medal of Merit in 1984. He established the first memorial in SC to those who served in the Vietnam war, served as Chairman of the Board of the S.C. Military Family Care Association, and was active with the 263rd Army Air and Missile Defense Command Family Readiness Group in Anderson..
He was awarded the Order of the Palmetto and the Order of the Silver Crescent by the Governor of South Carolina. He received the A. Wade Martin Award from the SC State Board for Technical Education and the Marie Y. Martin Administrators Award and the President of the Year Award by the American Association of Community College Trustees.
“Dr. Garrison was a great community leader,” S.C. State Representative Davey Hiott said. “He was a great leader at Tri-County Tech and in Pickens County. He was a great family man and great Christian. He will be missed.”
“I first encountered Dr. Garrison as a student at Tri-County Technical College in the mid 1970s,” State Senator Larry Martin said. “He was just beginning what would become an outstanding tenure as president of the college and as a leader of the technical college system in South Carolina. Over the years, I witnessed firsthand the tremendous dedication and strong passion he had for the development of the college. 
“Don’s primary objective was not to construct buildings but to provide a world-class educational opportunity for the students that attended Tri-County. He succeeded in making Tri-County Technical College one of the best two-year institutions in the nation, and we owe him a huge debt of gratitude for his life’s commitment and hard work on behalf of our community and state. Importantly, Don’s faith was important to him, and he lived out his Christian faith everyday through his devotion to his family, his church, and to Tri-County Technical College. Our hearts are saddened by his death and our prayers are with his wonderful family.”
“His rallying cry was ‘Jobs for People and People for Jobs,’” Booth said. “He passionately promoted the South Carolina Technical College System as the key to economic prosperity for the region and the state. He dedicated his life to developing an institution that provided top-quality training for local companies and an affordable education to those in need of job skills or the first two years of a baccalaureate degree.
“In his final commencement speech in 2003, Dr. Garrison told the graduates, ‘The key to success in life is attaching yourself to a cause that is greater than yourself.’ That’s exactly what Dr. Garrison did — he ‘walked the talk’ and devoted his life and career to the cause of providing accessible, affordable, relevant, and quality educational options for the residents of Anderson, Oconee, and Pickens counties.
“When Dr. Garrison retired, he said, ‘I truly believe that Tri-County Technical College’s best days are yet to come.’ That may be true, but it never would have been possible without the solid foundation he laid for us. Above all, I believe Dr. Garrison will be remembered for his larger-than-life personality and passion. Don took over a room when he entered it and didn’t leave until everyone there understood the value of technical colleges and the integral role they play in the economic development and prosperity of the state.
“On behalf of the faculty, staff, and students of Tri-County Technical College, I extend our deepest condolences to the Garrison family. Don was an inspiration to us all and an unforgettable leader. He will truly be missed.”