Florence, South Carolina – This fall, one of Florence’s most popular annual events will honor a long-time pioneer in public service, law, and philanthropy. The School Foundation has named Haigh Porter as this year’s Distinguished Graduate. The 25th Annual Gala will take place on Tuesday, September 23, 2025.
The Southeastern Institute of Manufacturing and Technology (SiMT) will host the event from 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Guests can look forward to an evening of honoring Porter, exquisite cuisine, and talking about all the ways he helped the Florence neighborhood and beyond.
Porter graduated from McClenaghan High School in 1952. His academic journey took him to the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee. He got his Bachelor of Law degree from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 1965 after serving in the U.S. Army Reserve. Not long after that, he was allowed to practice law in both the South Carolina Bar and the federal courts.
Porter was constantly dedicated to public service in his professional life. He was the mayor of Florence and then the chairman of the Drs. Bruce and Lee Foundation grants committee, a job he has had since the committee started. He has had a huge effect on the philanthropic environment in the area, helping to direct large amounts of money into education, health, and community development.
In 2011, Francis Marion University gave Porter an honorary Doctor of Humanities degree to celebrate his years of service. In 2018, he was named Master-in-Equity for Florence County. This year, his judicial duties became even further when he was sworn in as Special Circuit Judge for the Twelfth Judicial Circuit on April 2, 2025.
“Our honoree for this year’s distinguished graduate has dedicated his life to service as a prominent attorney, public servant as mayor of Florence, Master-in-Equity judge, and as grants chairman of the Drs. Bruce and Lee Foundation since it was founded,” stated Jean Leatherman, chair of the foundation’s fund development committee.
Attendees should wear business clothes. Florence 1 Schools teachers can buy tickets for as little as $100, while individual guests can buy them for as much as $125. You can get a table for eight at sponsorship levels from $1,000 (bronze) to $10,000 (platinum).
People who want to go can get tickets by calling (843) 662-9996 or emailing D. Hyler at [email protected].
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The School Foundation is getting ready to celebrate 25 years of supporting education. The evening will be both a celebration of Haigh Porter’s legacy and a reminder of how powerful it is to be dedicated to making your community better for the rest of your life.
