“G” is for Gressette, Lawrence Marion (1902-1984)

“G” is for Gressette, Lawrence Marion (1902-1984). Legislator. Born near St. Matthews, Gressette received his law degree from the University of South Carolina. He served state government as a legislator for more than a half century. Gressette represented Calhoun County for three terms in the state House of Representatives (1925-1932). He later served twenty-three terms in the South Carolina Senate (1937-1984), representing Calhoun County until 1966 then districts Nineteen, Eleven, and Thirteen after reapportionment. While in the state Senate, Gressette was a long-time member of a number of influential committees, including Judiciary, Education, Natural Resources, Rural Electrification, and many others. He served as president pro tempore of the S. C. Senate from 1972 to 1984 Lawrence Marion Gressette's powers of oratory and persuasion, as well as his silver hair, led colleagues to dub him the “Gray Fox.”