Community Foundation names new board members Hamrick, Huskey, Peeler, Howell join philanthropic organization

Carlisle Hamrick Roger Huskey Bill Peeler Joe Howell The Cherokee County Community Foundation Board of Trustees partners with the Foundation for the Carolinas to inspire philanthropy in Cherokee County. Formed by the Fullerton Foundation in 1994, the foundation is dedicated to helping nonprofit organizations make a positive impact.

The foundation typically awards grants to charitable organizations in the spring for a broad variety of programs that address the county's pressing needs. Members of the board serve on a grants committee that reviews proposals from area nonprofits and make recommendations for funding.

Carlisle Hamrick, Roger W. Huskey, Bill Peeler and Joe Howell were recently named as new members of the board.

Hamrick is president of Hamrick Mills Inc. Born in Gaffney, he graduated from Spartanburg Day School and Wofford College. He lived in Marion, N.C., and Princeton Junction, N.J., before returning to Gaffney in 1997. He and his wife, Gigi, have three children, Ansley, Carlisle Jr. and Martin.

Hamrick is a member of Buford Street United Methodist Church, where he on the finance committee, and is also a member of the district finance committee of the Palmetto Council Boy Scouts of America. Je serves on the Board of Trustees of Wofford College and Board of Directors of Kent Manufacturing Co.

In his spare time, Hamrick enjoys golf, sports and reading.

Huskey is owner and president of Hollywood's Productions Inc. Born Oct. 26, 1960, he is the son of Patsy Wix and the late James "J.J." Huskey. He has a daughter, Ashley, a student at the University of South Carolina.

Huskey graduated from Gaffney High School in 1978 and went to work for Duke Power. He began volunteering with the Gaffney Peach Festival as well as booking various musical acts in Myrtle Beach. This interest in concert promotion led him to start his own business in 1985.

Through his contract as national promoter of Coors Brewing Co., he has worked with various celebrities, including Brooks & Dunn, Rascal Flatts and Sterling Marlin. With the completion of his new home, Huskey looks forward to what his future will bring in Cherokee County.

Peeler, a Gaffney native, is the son of Sally Bratton Peeler and the late H. Smith Peeler Sr. He is the brother of State Senator Harvey Peeler of Gaffney. His twin brother, Bob, of Lexington, is a former S.C. Lieutenant Governor. His sister, Susan Peeler Wood, is a teacher at Moultrie Middle School, in Awendaw.

A graduate of Gaffney High School, Peeler received a B.A. degree from Limestone College and B.A. from Clemson University.

He and his wife, the former Pam Lipscomb, have two sons, Will, who lives with his wife, Pooh, and son, Jase, in Boiling Springs, and Jordan, who lives in Charleston.

The Peelers are members of Gaffney First Baptist Church.

Peeler serves are a board member of the Cherokee/Union Chapter of the FCA and was associated with Peeler’s Dairy for over 25 years. He is vice-chairman of the board of Broad River Electric cooperative Inc. and is a REALTOR® and real estate consultant with Don L. Wilkins & Associates. He is managing general partner of Peeler Limited Partnership and president of Peeler Holding Company, LLC.

Howell has been the CEO at Upstate Carolina Medical Center since 1999. He is credited with ushering the 125-bed hospital into the forefront of community life and institutional advancement. His most notable achievements at Upstate Carolina have been the relocation and expansion of the emergency department, positioning the hospital as the quality healthcare provider in the county; and instituting a self-reflection and improvement program throughout the facility.

Howell has been an influential member of several local charitable, business and civic organizations, including the Cherokee County Literacy Association, Habitat for Humanity, Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce, South Carolina Hospital Association and Spartanburg Technical College Advisory Board.

Prior to making Cherokee County his home, Howell was the CEO at Hamlet (N.C.) Hospital for three years. He began his healthcare administration career in 1988, following a three-year stint as a laboratory medical technologist. He holds two undergraduate degrees in biology and medical technology, from Appalachian State University and the Medical University of South Carolina, respectively, and a master's degree in healthcare administration, received in 1990 from MUSC.

His wife, Donna, is a science teacher at Gaffney High School, and they have two daughters, Caroline and Sarah. He is an avid hunter, fisherman and small aircraft pilot.