Hugh Leatherman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hugh Leatherman
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| President pro tempore of the South Carolina Senate | |
| In office January 25, 2017 – January 8, 2019 |
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| Preceded by | Kevin L. Bryant |
| Succeeded by | Office Abolished |
| In office June 18, 2014 – January 23, 2017 |
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| Preceded by | Yancey McGill |
| Succeeded by | Kevin L. Bryant |
| Member of the South Carolina Senate from the 31st district |
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| In office January 8, 1985 – November 12, 2021 |
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| Preceded by | Constituency established |
| Succeeded by | Mike Reichenbach |
| Member of the South Carolina Senate from the 11th district |
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| In office January 14, 1981 – January 8, 1985 Serving with Ralph Henry Ellis, Frank Hilton McGill, Thomas Earl Smith, Jr.
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| Preceded by | John Waller |
| Succeeded by | William Richard Lee |
| Personal details | |
| Born | April 14, 1931 Lincoln County, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Died | November 12, 2021 (aged 90) Florence, South Carolina, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic (before 1996) Republican (1996–2021) |
| Spouses |
Joyce Jerline Smith
(m. 1952; div. 1977)Jean Helms Allen
(m. 1978) |
| Children | 6 |
| Education | North Carolina State University (BS) |
Hugh Kenneth Leatherman Sr. (April 14, 1931 – November 12, 2021) was an American politician. He was a member of the Republican Party. He served in the South Carolina Senate from 1981 until his death in 2021. He represented the 31st District, which includes Florence, South Carolina.
From 2001 until he passed away, Leatherman was very powerful in South Carolina politics. He was the Senate Finance Chairman. This meant he controlled the state's budget and how money was spent. He helped bring big companies like Boeing to South Carolina. He also helped get money to make the Charleston Harbor deeper.
Leatherman was also the President Pro Tempore of the South Carolina Senate for several years. This is a top leadership role in the Senate.
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About Hugh Leatherman
Hugh Kenneth Leatherman was born in Lincoln County, North Carolina. His parents were John Bingham Leatherman and Ada Annis Gantt. He went to North Carolina State University. There he earned a degree in civil engineering in 1953.
After college, Leatherman started working at a concrete plant. In 1955, he began his own concrete company. It was called Florence Concrete Products. He started it with a business partner in Florence, South Carolina. Leatherman continued to own part of this company.
Leatherman was married two times. First, he married Joyce Jerline Smith in 1952. They had four children together. Later, in 1978, he married Jean Helms Allen. He had two more daughters with her.
Political Journey
Starting in Politics
Leatherman began his political career in 1967. He was elected to the Town Council in Quinby, South Carolina. He served as a Councilman until 1976.
In 1981, Leatherman was elected to the South Carolina Senate. He was a member of the Democratic Party at that time. Early in his Senate career, he worked with senators from both parties. He also became the chairman of the Highway Oversight Committee.
Changing Parties
In 1994, Leatherman changed parties. He became a Republican. Many other politicians switched parties around this time. This period was known as the Republican Revolution. Soon after, he helped create and lead the Republican group in the Senate.
In 2001, he played a key role in the Republican Party gaining more power in the state Senate. That year, he became the Senate Finance Chairman. This was a very important position.
Controlling the State's Money
As chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, Leatherman had a lot of control over South Carolina's budget. He focused on big projects for the state. He was very important in bringing Boeing to South Carolina in 2009. This deal included a large package of tax help for the company. His official Senate portrait even included a model Boeing 737.
He also helped attract Honda to Timmonsville. He convinced the state to build a new road interchange for the company. He also helped get money for roads leading to Myrtle Beach.
Leatherman also helped his home area of Florence. He brought a lot of money for projects there. These included a new library, an arts center, and a county museum. He also helped get a new home for aging veterans located in Florence.
Big Projects for South Carolina
Leatherman helped get $300 million for deepening the Charleston Harbor in 2011. This project made it one of the deepest harbors on the East Coast. The Hugh K. Leatherman Port Terminal opened in 2021. It was a huge project for South Carolina's economy.
Important Decisions
Leatherman was part of the Budget and Control Board. This board managed South Carolina's budget. He helped investigate what happened with a large nuclear power project that failed. He also helped end a long debate in 2017 about increasing the state tax on gasoline.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Leatherman supported a bill. It would have given college students scholarships if they got a COVID-19 vaccination. He also helped create the state budget for 2021–2022. This budget included raises for state employees and more money for teachers.
Working with Governors
Leatherman sometimes had disagreements with governors. He had strong disagreements with Governor Mark Sanford. Leatherman, along with other legislative leaders, held a lot of power in the state at that time.
He also had disagreements with Governor Nikki Haley. Governor Haley once said that Leatherman was stopping important changes in the state government. Despite their disagreements, Leatherman remained a powerful figure.
Serving as Senate Leader
In 2016, Governor Nikki Haley was chosen to be the next United States Ambassador to the United Nations. If she left, the Lieutenant Governor would become Governor. Then, the President Pro Tempore, which was Leatherman, would become Lieutenant Governor.
However, Leatherman said he would not take the Lieutenant Governor position. On January 24, 2017, when Haley became Ambassador, Leatherman resigned from his leadership role in the Senate. This was to avoid becoming Lieutenant Governor. He was then re-elected as President Pro Tempore the very next day.
Later, the role of President Pro Tempore changed. A new position, President of the Senate, was created. This change meant that Leatherman could no longer hold both the Senate Finance Chairman role and the Senate President role at the same time.
Death
On October 22, 2021, it was announced that Leatherman was receiving hospice care. He was at his home in Florence. He was battling advanced intestinal cancer. Hugh Leatherman died on November 12, 2021, at the age of 90.
