Bill Workman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bill Workman
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| 33rd Mayor of Greenville, South Carolina | |
| In office June 13, 1983 – December 11, 1995 |
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| Preceded by | Harry B. Luthi |
| Succeeded by | Knox H. White |
| President of the Municipal Association of South Carolina | |
| In office 1994–1995 |
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| Preceded by | Stephen M. Creech |
| Succeeded by | Lessie B. Price |
| At-large member of the Greenville City Council | |
| In office 1981 – June 13, 1983 |
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| Preceded by | Clifford Gaddy Jr. |
| Succeeded by | Knox H. White |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
William Douglas Workman III
July 3, 1940 Charleston, South Carolina, U.S. |
| Died | May 12, 2019 (aged 78) Walterboro, South Carolina, U.S. |
| Resting place | Live Oak Cemetery, Walterboro |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouses |
Marcia Mae Moorhead
(m. 1966; div. 1996)Patti Gage Fishburne
(m. 1996) |
| Children | 2 (3 stepchildren) |
| Parent |
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| Education | The Citadel |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | United States Army |
| Rank | Lieutenant colonel |
William Douglas Workman III (born July 3, 1940 – died May 12, 2019) was an American businessman and politician. He served as the mayor of Greenville, South Carolina for 12 years, from 1983 to 1995. Greenville is a major city in Greenville County, which is the most populated county in South Carolina. It is located in the Upstate region of the state.
Workman grew up in the southern part of South Carolina. He first worked as a journalist before getting into politics. In the late 1970s, he worked for Governor James B. Edwards. For his service, he received the Order of the Palmetto, which is the highest honor in South Carolina. Before becoming mayor, Workman was a member of the Greenville city council for two years.
During his time as mayor, Workman helped improve the city in many ways. He led efforts to redevelop Main Street and build stronger cultural connections with other countries. He also oversaw the building of a baseball stadium. Many major companies moved their headquarters to the Greenville area because of his work. He also helped get funding for a performing arts center and a large sports arena.
After leaving office, Workman continued to work as a vice president for a big gas company. He also advised community leaders in South Carolina and other states. In 2006, he moved back to the Lowcountry region of South Carolina. There, he took on leadership roles in groups that focused on economic growth. In 2014, he was recognized as a South Carolina Economic Ambassador.
Contents
Becoming a Leader
Early Life and Education
William Douglas Workman III was born in Charleston, South Carolina. He spent his childhood in Columbia and Walterboro. His father, William Jr., worked for different newspapers and Newsweek magazine. His mother, Rhea, taught English at Columbia College.
Workman graduated from The Citadel, a military college, in 1961. After college, he served two years in the United States Army. He continued to serve in the Army Reserve and later retired as a lieutenant colonel.
First Jobs and Public Service
In the late 1960s, Workman worked as a news reporter. He wrote for newspapers in Charleston (News and Courier) and then in Greenville (The Greenville News). In 1971, Greenville Technical College hired him as the dean of health services.
From 1975 to 1978, Workman was a special assistant to South Carolina Governor James B. Edwards. In 1978, Governor Edwards gave him the Order of the Palmetto. This is the highest award a civilian can receive in South Carolina. After that, from 1978 to 1994, Workman worked for Fluor Daniel. This company is involved in engineering and construction. He worked in industrial relations and project development.
Mayor of Greenville
Starting in Politics
Workman served on the Greenville City Council for two years. Then, in 1983, he was elected as the city's mayor. When he was mayor-elect in June 1983, he said that the city's main goal should be "economic development." This means bringing more businesses and jobs to the area.
Early in his first term, Workman and the Greenville Chamber of Commerce worked together to attract major company headquarters. By late 1983, they had a plan. In 1984, the French tire company Michelin decided to move its North America headquarters to Greenville. This was a big win for the city. Many other companies also moved to Greenville in the years that followed. This included the pulp and paper company Bowater in 1992.
Running for Congress
In 1986, Workman ran for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. He wanted to represent South Carolina's 4th congressional district. He received support from important figures, but he did not win the election. It was a very close race, and he lost to Liz J. Patterson.
Key Achievements as Mayor
As mayor, Workman is known for helping to build strong cultural ties for Greenville. He helped establish a "sister city" relationship with Bergamo, Italy. He visited Bergamo in 1989 to discuss different exchange programs.
Under his leadership, the city also developed the West End Market project. This project helped create an arts and entertainment district in Greenville. A city councilman said that Workman was great at getting companies to support public-private partnerships. These partnerships helped build important places like the Peace Center, which is a performing arts center.
Workman also oversaw the building of the $2.7 million Greenville Municipal Stadium. He got local banks to help fund this project. He continued the redevelopment of Main Street, making it a better place for people to visit and shop. He was also involved in talks to develop the Bon Secours Wellness Arena, a large multi-purpose venue.
In 1989, Workman encouraged leaders in South Carolina to plan for the future. He wanted them to think beyond their yearly budgets. He also advised other towns on how to attract businesses and grow their communities. For example, in 1993, he told leaders at an economic summit, "If someone is looking at your community, they want to see how you treat yourselves, then they can see how you will treat them." This meant that a community's appearance and how it treats its own people can show businesses how they will be treated.
After Being Mayor
Continued Public Service
In the 1995 election for mayor, Knox White challenged Workman. White argued that Workman had been mayor for too long and was less effective. White won the election, and Workman left office.
After losing the election, Workman continued to work as a vice president for Piedmont Natural Gas. He also took on leadership roles in different organizations that aimed to boost local economic development.
In 1997, Workman shared his advice on how to attract industries during a discussion in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. In 1998, he was a main speaker at a meeting in Durham, North Carolina. Business and community leaders there wanted to improve their downtown area. Workman warned them to learn from Greenville's past mistakes during its growth. He stressed the importance of having a long-term strategic plan to attract businesses.
In 2004, U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham praised Workman's achievements. He said that Workman played a big part in making Greenville one of the top cities for business in the Southeast. Workman retired from Piedmont Natural Gas in February 2004 after 10 years.
Awards and Later Roles
In March 2004, Workman received a "Vision Award" from the Appalachian Regional Commission. In the 1970s, while working for Governor Edwards, Workman helped get the Upstate region of South Carolina included in the multi-state Appalachia area. This meant the region received yearly funding for economic growth, like for technical colleges. The award recognized Workman's "exemplary service and leadership" in regional planning and development throughout his career.
In 2006, Workman moved to South Carolina's Lowcountry region. He served as the town manager for Bluffton for three years. He was involved in a legal matter concerning a police officer, which was later settled.
Family Life and Final Years
Workman married his first wife, Marcia, in 1966. They had two sons. They divorced in January 1996. In 1996, he married his second wife, Patti. Through this marriage, he gained three stepdaughters.
In 2014, Workman was honored in the state capital as a "South Carolina Economic Ambassador" for Colleton County.
William Douglas Workman III passed away on May 12, 2019, in Walterboro.
Images for kids
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William Douglas Workman III, Mayor of Greenville
