south carolina

Former SCGOP State Chairman Dan Ross of Barnwell county died this past Tuesday of a stroke. Dan was a quintessential"honorable southern gentleman" who served as Chairman from 1976 to 1980 and was one of the prime movers that helped build our state party and usher in a competitive two-party system in South Carolina.

My first experience with him was as a member of the 1991Platform Committee, which he served as Chairman. Thatwas the last time we had a significant battle over the abortion issue in our state party, and Dan did a great job in managing the committee and helping us keepour current pro-life stance.

Allhis service to our party is too lengthy to detail, but the highlights would have to includemanaging former Governor Jim Edwards successful run for Governor in 1974, (making him the first Republican Governor since Reconstruction), and his paving South Carolina's way to prominence in presidential politics bymaking the SC "First in the South" presidential primary a reality in 1980. Since that time, no Republican haswon our party's nomination without first winning in South Carolina.