Leon J. “Bill” Hendrix, Jr. ’63, M ’68
Bill Hendrix’s stellar career in business has taken him away from South Carolina for years at a time, but family and Clemson ties have kept him anchored here. He considers the friends he made at Clemson the closest and most enduring of his life, and as chairman of the University’s Board of Trustees, he makes frequent trips from his Kiawah Island home to the campus, staying in constant touch with today’s faculty, staff and students.
He considers serving as a trustee, receiving the Alumni Association’s Distinguished Service Award and — back in his student days — being president of the student body among the highest honors he has ever received. It was a special pleasure for him to see his son, Jim, serve in the same capacity as student body president in 1998.
A generous Clemson supporter, both of academics and athletics, Hendrix was a major force in the construction of the student center that bears his name. At its 2000 opening, he said, “We hope the Hendrix Student Center will play some small role in helping prepare future generations of Clemson students to enjoy life and make a difference in our world.”
Those are two things Hendrix has done in his own life. Enjoyed it — and made a difference.
The man who bird-napped Cocky
Hendrix came to Clemson from McBee, where his father was a school district superintendent. His family consisted of Bill Sr., his mother, Carolyn, and his younger brother, Guy ’77. Active in high school sports and other activities and excelling in academics, he brought those same enthusiasms to college, where in addition to being student body president, he was a member of Tiger Brotherhood, Blue Key and the Numeral Society.
Those activities aside, he, as a lowly “rat,” earned everlasting fame for capturing the USC chicken, alive and squawking, at the traditional “Last Big Thursday Game” between the two schools in the fall of 1959. Coach Frank Howard made him give it back, but his reputation was made.
After graduating in textile science at Clemson, Hendrix worked for Celanese Corp., then returned for a master’s degree in industrial management. During his second year, he and Pam Maddex of Camden were married and lived in the storied “prefabs” until 1968. That degree led to nearly 20 years with Reliance Electric Co., some 14 of them spent in Chagrin Falls, Ohio, where Bill and Pam raised their four children. All are Clemson grads: Jill ’92, Joy ’93, Holly ’95 and Jim ’98.
At Reliance, Hendrix rose to the position of executive vice president and chief operating officer, then moved on to become a principal in the investment company of Clayton, Dubilier & Rice Inc., which purchased Remington Arms Co. Inc. He became chief executive officer of Remington and retired as chairman in 2007.
Over the years, he served on the Alumni National Council, the President’s Advisory Board, the Clemson University Foundation Board of Directors and the Board of Visitors and as an IPTAY representative. He was elected a life member of the Board of Trustees in 1995 and currently serves as chairman.
His vision for Clemson? To gain top-20 status and be widely recognized for its academic and athletic excellence. And what advice would he give a Clemson man or woman entering a tough job market this year? “Show up every day, and do your best, whatever your assignment.”
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George Ulmer Bennett ’55
George Bennett was head cheerleader his senior year at Clemson — and he’s been enthusiastically fueling the Tiger spirit ever since. His greatest hope is that the special Clemson family feeling that takes hold of a freshman when first setting foot on campus will still be alive a dozen generations from now.
Bennett grew up in Columbia, the son of George Mae and Glyn Bennett. His father operated a service station near the downtown corner where Clemson cadets traditionally “bummed” rides back to campus. His father was an ardent Clemson fan, and he never considered going to college anywhere else.
At Dreher High School, Bennett was a class officer for four years and president of the student body his senior year, as well as editor of the yearbook. Experience as an Eagle Scout and a four-year association with Palmetto Boys State may account for his lifelong dedication to projects that benefit kids.
The man who fired the touchdown cannon
He made a lasting imprint after arriving at Clemson in 1951. President of his freshman class and a class officer every year after, he also led the Central Dance Association and Blue Key and was a member of Tiger Brotherhood, a cheerleader and a Distinguished Military Graduate.
His mightiest legacy from those years, though, might remain his idea for firing a cannon when Clemson scores a touchdown!
After earning a B.S. in arts and sciences, he served two years in the army at Fort Knox, Ky., the last 16 months as commander of the honor guard platoon. Next, he began a nine-year stint with Humble Oil and Refining Co., moving in fast sequence from Columbia to Charlotte and then to Hickory, N.C., where he met Nancy Moser M’ 76, his wife of almost 49 years.
During his years with Humble Oil, Bennett honed his selling and management skills. While the family — including children, Jeff ’82 and Bonnie ’84 — was living in Florida, he noticed a newsletter item about an exciting new position with his alma mater. In 1967, he became the Clemson Alumni Association’s first field representative, traveling the state and beyond to visit alumni and garner support.
In 1971, he became assistant athletic director for business, and in the years to come would be executive secretary and director of IPTAY. He has played vital roles at Clemson for nearly 23 years, building the IPTAY program to a $9.1 million, 22,000-member powerhouse by the time he retired as executive director in 2004. In addition to his dedication to all sports, he was adviser to Sigma Nu fraternity for 22 years.
Even during the period between 1979 and 1993, when he served as an acclaimed athletic fundraiser at Vanderbilt and Furman universities and at Nashville’s Baptist Hospital, he was a moving force as a volunteer organizer behind alumni and athletic support at Clemson.
A few years ago, Bennett spent several months at M.D. Anderson Hospital in Houston fighting cancer. There, he and Nancy noticed the positive effect of ringing a ship’s bell at the end of a patient’s treatment. They have since placed more than a dozen bells in cancer wards statewide in honor of Clemson alumni and others who have received treatment.
Honored with the S.C. Order of the Palmetto, as well as the Alumni Association’s Distinguished Service and Athletic Hall of Fame awards, Bennett likes to say, “You can’t sell from an empty wagon. You’ve got to have something to sell.”
Lucky for Clemson, he set up his wagon here. Today — as a special ambassador for Clemson athletics — he’s still passing out the wares. |
