ROCK HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA – S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster has awarded Winthrop University trustee Richard V. Lee Jr. ’82 the Order of the Palmetto for his decades-long service-oriented career.
Established by Gov. John C. West in 1971, the Order of the Palmetto is South Carolina’s highest civilian honor, recognizing lifetime achievements and contributions that have significantly benefited the state.
Lee joined Winthrop’s Board of Trustees in 2023 as the governor’s designee.
Before that appointment, he served four years as the Fifth Congressional District representative to the S.C. Board of Health and Environmental Control, which oversees public health, health regulation, environmental affairs and operations. In addition, Lee serves as chairman of the S.C. Governor’s Nuclear Advisory Council, which monitors and investigates nuclear waste issues in the state.
Previously, Lee also worked as a consultant specializing in developing operational innovations for companies such as PAE, Amentum and KIRA on U.S. government projects at locations including Redstone Army Arsenal, The Air Force Academy, Kodiak Island Coast Guard Station, EPA Research Center and the Department of Energy Strategic Petroleum Reserve. He also served as vice president of operations at CB&I Federal Services in Virginia, as vice president for marketing and business development at CSC/PAE in Texas, and as vice president and general manager of the mission support services division at The Shaw Group in Louisiana.
At Winthrop, Lee earned a bachelor’s degree in political science, while also studying business and history. He served as one of three alumni representatives who served on the Presidential Search Advisory Group to bring President Edward Serna ’02 to Winthrop. Additionally, in 1993, he was a member of Winthrop’s Board of Visitors.
He served for eight years on the York County Council and has been active in other area boards, commissions and organizations.
He and his wife, Kim, who is a 1980 Winthrop graduate, have four grown children.
For more information, contact Nicole Chisari, social media manager, at chisarin@winthrop.edu.
