HEMINGWAY, S.C. (AP) - The “Workhorse of Williamsburg County” is retiring.
W.B. Wilson, a Williamsburg County Councilman for the past 23 years, said county residents gave him the nickname after noticing the good things he helped accomplish. But now, at 81 years old, the workhorse is ready to pass his torch.
“I’ve been on county council for 23 years, and it comes a time in life whenever you must pass the torch to somebody else,” Wilson said. “We’re going to fold the tent, because it is all over for me.”
Wilson did not file for the upcoming statewide primary election. Two candidates, Theresa Robinson Brooks and Torrance T. Wilson, have filed for the District 2 seat on the county council which Wilson currently holds. The district covers communities such as Indiantown, White Oak and part of Kingstree.
Over the years, Wilson believes he has done a good job for the county. He has helped a lot of people — especially young people, he said.
But Wilson said he is most proud of his efforts to bring water to Williamsburg County.
“My father died of kidney disease, and with the pump water we use, it’s very close to the septic tank. And it will leech into it,” Wilson said. “And I begged for water, and we were able to get water through the USDA through grants. And we are very proud of that.”
A county water service is now available, and his father’s health is what prompted Wilson to push for it.
“We passed the referendum in 1997, and that’s whenever we started getting water,” Wilson said. “And we have more water in Williamsburg County than we have in most counties in South Carolina through grants and loans.”
Wilson said his goal when he first joined the council was to do something for his community. Attention to rural roads came first.
“We rocked and paved a tremendous amount of roads,” he said. “I wanted to take Williamsburg County to another level, and I feel as though I’ve done a pretty good job. “
Wilson has served on many of the South Carolina Association of Counties’ committees over the past 16 years, including the legislative committee, board of directors’ scholarship committee and the county government and intergovernmental relations policy steering committee. Locally, Wilson has been part of the Williamsburg County Billing Committee, part of the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and the Hemingway High school band and athletic booster clubs, among other organizations.
The Rev. Alfred Darby of Williamsburg County said Wilson is who he calls the Leonardo Da Vinci of the 21st century, a multitalented individual. He said he’s seen Wilson do so much for his community, including getting roads paved and lending assistance to others.
“He’s a people’s person,” Darby said. “When you’re in positions of leadership, you have to be a people’s person. Even the young children love him. I’ve visited the schools with him, and he relates well to the young as well as the old.”
While some people are divided, controversial and stir confusion, Darby said Wilson is a peacemaker.
Williamsburg County Councilman Jonathan Miller said he’s only known Wilson since last year, but he will miss his attitude and the laughter he brings to a group.
Miller said he and Wilson often go to trainings together, and everyone knows him, greets him and respects him.
“He works well with everybody,” Miller said. “And he’s been around for some time and understands life in itself and some of the things life brings. And he’ll gladly relay those things to you if you’re interested.”
At 81, Wilson said he does 100 jumping jacks, 50 squats and walks two miles each day. Miller said even when they are away at trainings, Wilson will still wake up at 6 a.m. to exercise.
“I’m glad he won’t be going, because now I can sleep in until time to go to class,” Miller joked.
Wilson said sometimes people do not know when to leave politics. But he knows it is time for him to retire. During retirement, he said he will stick to his daily exercising routines and continue to raise vegetables for senior citizens in Hemingway, Kingstree and Johnsonville.
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Information from: Morning News, http://www.scnow.com
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