Senator Greg Hembree of Little River, SC, who represents State Senatorial District 28 including Horry and Dillon Counties was presented the John W. Parris Agricultural Leadership Award by the SC Association of Agricultural Educators at their recent annual conference held in Rock Hill, SC. The award was presented to Senator Hembree by W. Pat Earle, Agricultural Education instructor at McBee High School and a member of the SC Agricultural Education Advisory Board.
“Senator Hembree demonstrates superb leadership on behalf of the Agriculture community in South Carolina as a member of the Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, the Education Committee, the Fish, Game and Forestry Committee and the Transportation Committee of the State Senate,” Mr. Earle said. “The Senator is a great friend and supporter of Agricultural Education and the FFA,” he emphasized.
Senator Hembree was instrumental in securing state appropriations for significant improvements to the State FFA Leadership Center near North Myrtle Beach. He was a great supporter of state legislation to establish the SC Farm Aid Fund to provide assistance to farmers devastated by the severe floods of 2015. He has also played a major role in the passage of legislation in support of Clemson University, the SC Department of Agriculture, the State Forestry Commission and the SC Department of Natural Resources.
After graduating from the University of Memphis, Senator Hembree received his Juris Doctor degree from the University of South Carolina in 1985. He has served as the city attorney for North Myrtle Beach and the 15th Circuit Solicitor for Horry and Georgetown Counties. He is a practicing attorney with the firm of Monckton, Hembree and Humphries in Myrtle Beach.
“A recipient of the Honorary FFA Chapter Degree from the Green Sea-Floyds FFA Chapter and the Honorary State FFA Degree from the SC FFA Association, Senator Hembree will be awarded the Honorary American FFA Degree by the 600,000 member National FFA Organization during its national convention in Indianapolis, Indiana in October,” Mr. Earle said.
Senator Hembree and his wife, Renee, have three children, Nora Taylor, Ellen Hall and John Isaac.
The John W. Parris Agricultural Leadership Award is the most esteemed recognition presented by the SC Association of Agricultural Educators. The award was established several years ago by the association and named in honor of Mr. Parris of Columbia, SC, a nationally recognized leader in Agriculture and Natural Resources Conservation with more than 55 years of professional service.
