The School Foundation to honor William Hubbard at upcoming gala
Published in the Morning News Thursday, August 21, 2014 3:59 pm
Florence, S.C. —William Hubbard, a 1970 graduate of McClenaghan High School, will be honored as FlorenceSchool District 1’s Distinguished Graduate at the 13th Annual School Foundation Celebration Gala to be held on Tuesday, October 7, foundation officials announced recently.
“We are excited to recognize William as our 2014 distinguished graduate,” said Debbie Hyler, executive director of The School Foundation. “As the first attorney in South Carolina to be named president of the American Bar Association, William’s success proves that our goals can be attained through hard work and perseverance. His continued motivation inspires us to continue to pursue our dreams.”
Jean Leatherman, the chairwoman of the foundation’s fund development committee, said that the foundation aims to inspire and challenge students and faculty every year by spotlighting the life and career of a successful Florence 1 graduate.
“This year’s honoree is extraordinary, with a distinguished legal career and exceptional service to Florentines and South Carolinians!,” Leatherman said. “William Hubbard epitomizes all that is good about life in Florence: good family, good Christian values, and quality schools that prepare you for global success and service.”
Born and raised in Florence, Hubbard attended Royall Elementary, Moore Junior High, and McClenaghan High. He graduated with a B.A. in History from the University of South Carolina in 1974 and received his Juris Doctor from the USC School of Law in 1977. Hubbard practices business litigation at Nelson, Mullins, Riley & Scarborough in Columbia. In addition to his ABA leadership, he chairs the board of directors of the World Justice Project, a multinational, multidisciplinary initiative to strengthen the rule of law worldwide. He has served on the board of trustees of the University of South Carolina since 1986, and served as chairman of the board from 1996-2000.
During his term as president of the ABA, Hubbard will focus on legal education reform, access to justice for the poor and middle class through innovation, sentencing reform, diversity in the legal profession, and helping young lawyers succeed in their craft.
The School Foundation promotes educational excellence in FlorenceSchool District 1 through grants for innovative learning and through high impact initiatives designed to prepare all students for success. They are currently leading a school readiness awareness campaign focusing on preparing all children to enter kindergarten with the skills needed to succeed. Founded in 2000, they have funded over $962,000 in grants to educators in FlorenceSchool District 1.
The event will be held at the Southeastern Institute of Manufacturing and Technology (SiMT). It begins at 5:30 p.m. and will end promptly at 9 p.m. Tickets start at $75 for FSD1 educators and $100 for individuals. Reserved tables of eight begin at $1,000 (bronze sponsorship), $2,500 (silver), $5,000 (gold) and $10,000 (platinum). A VIP reception will be held for contributors of $2,500 or more.
Tickets can be purchased by calling Hyler at 843-662-9996 or by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. You can also purchase tickets on the foundation’s website, www.theschoolfoundation.org.