30 Facts About Hugh Leatherman

From 2001 until his death, Leatherman effectively controlled South Carolina's budget as the Senate Finance Chairman and was considered one of the most powerful people in South Carolina politics.

Hugh Leatherman negotiated the deal to bring Boeing to South Carolina in 2009 and secured funding for the deepening of the Charleston Harbor in 2011.

At the time of his death, Hugh Leatherman served as Vice Chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee.

Hugh Leatherman served as President Pro Tempore of the South Carolina Senate for all but one day from June 18,2014, to January 8,2019.

Hugh Leatherman was a member of the State Budget and Control Board until it was abolished in 2014.

Hugh Leatherman orchestrated the Republican takeover of the South Carolina Senate in 2001.

Hugh Leatherman was often criticized by fellow Republicans for his willingness to work with Democratic lawmakers.

Hugh Kenneth Leatherman was born in Lincoln County, North Carolina, the son of John Bingham Leatherman and Ada Annis Gantt.

Hugh Leatherman studied at North Carolina State University where he obtained a degree in civil engineering.

Hugh Leatherman continued to own around 16 percent of the company and to receive a salary from it despite stepping aside as its president in 1991.

Critics of Hugh Leatherman raised concerns about his continued relationship with his concrete business and his position overseeing the state budget and Transportation Department.

Hugh Leatherman was married twice, first to Joyce Jerline Smith in 1952; with whom he had four children, three daughters and a son.

Hugh Leatherman began his political career after his election in 1967 to the Town Council in Quinby, South Carolina.

Hugh Leatherman was elected to the South Carolina Senate as a Democrat in 1981.

Hugh Leatherman became chairman of the legislative Highway Oversight Committee during this term.

Hugh Leatherman was in office when an FBI sting ended with 17 statehouse lawmakers being convicted of crimes, generally for public corruption.

Hugh Leatherman switched parties and became a Republican in 1994 following other politicians in what was dubbed the Republican Revolution.

Hugh Leatherman was instrumental in bringing Boeing to South Carolina in 2009 with a $450 million tax incentives package.

Hugh Leatherman is seen as having been instrumental in attracting Honda to Timmonsville by convincing the South Carolina Department of Transportation to build an interchange.

Hugh Leatherman received credit for securing funding for roads which lead to Myrtle Beach.

Hugh Leatherman was criticized for the amount of funding his home district receives from the state budget.

Hugh Leatherman brought about massive expenditure in downtown Florence including a $17 million library, an arts center, and a county museum.

Hugh Leatherman was responsible for securing $300 million in state funding for deepening of Charleston Harbor in 2011.

Summer nuclear expansion project, Hugh Leatherman established a committee to investigate what had occurred.

Hugh Leatherman forced the end of a two-year-long filibuster in 2017 from Senator Tom Davis who had been stalling a state tax increase on gasoline.

Hugh Leatherman feuded with both Governor Mark Sanford and Governor Nikki Haley.

Ambassador and McMaster became the 117th Governor of South Carolina, Hugh Leatherman resigned from his leadership position in the South Carolina Senate in order to avoid ascending to the Office of Lieutenant Governor.

Hugh Leatherman was succeeded as President Pro Tempore by Kevin L Bryant, who then became the 92nd Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina.

On October 22,2021, it was announced that Hugh Leatherman was receiving hospice care at his home in Florence for "advanced and aggressive" intestinal cancer, which was inoperable.

Hugh Leatherman died on November 12,2021, at age 90.