Darlington native receives South Carolina’s highest honor
COLUMBIA — Clemson University Trustee Louis B. Lynn received the Order of the Palmetto, South Carolina’s highest civilian honor, from Gov. Henry McMaster.
In his remarks, McMaster stated that he chose to award Lynn the Order of the Palmetto for his contributions not only to education, but also to the South Carolina community as a whole.
“Dr. Lynn is an incredible leader who has contributed so much, not only to Clemson University but to the entire state of South Carolina,” said Clemson President James P. Clements. “He is a successful entrepreneur who gives back to his community in so many ways and is simply a wonderful person. I am thrilled that he has received this recognition from Governor McMaster.”
Lynn was joined at the presentation by his family, close friends, pastor and BB&T South Carolina Regional President Mike Brenan.
“In the business community, you need to pay your civic rent,” Lynn said after receiving the award. “Board service has been part of that civic rent that has allowed me to contribute to the greater good of my community. It’s been a labor of love.”
Lynn, a native of Darlington, has been a Clemson trustee since 1988 and served on the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education from 2006 to 2009 and again from 2015 to 2018.
He is chairman of ENVIRO AgScience, a company he founded in 1984 as a commercial lawn care company. ENVIRO since has grown into a full-service construction management, landscape and design services company with offices in Columbia and Atlanta.
A graduate of Clemson University with a Bachelor of Science with honors in 1970 and Master of Science in 1972, Lynn received a Ph.D. in horticulture from the University of Maryland in 1975.
He is a member of the National Urban League board of directors and is on the board of directors of BB&T bank. Previously, he served on the executive committee of the Columbia Chamber of Commerce, the board of the American Horticultural Society in Washington, D.C., the board of the National Association of Minority Contractors in Washington, D.C., and was president of the South Carolina Chapter of the National Association of Minority Contractors.
In 2012, Dr. Lynn was recognized by the US Department of Commerce as the National Small Businessman of the Year. He has also received numerous other awards and recognitions for the work of his company and for his dedication to civic service.
He is former vice president of the Clemson University Black Alumni Council and is a charter member of the Clemson University President’s Club, a group of annual donors to Clemson.
