“M” is for Moore, Darla Dee

“M” is for Moore, Darla Dee. Business woman, philanthropist. Born in Lake City, Moore graduated from the University of South Carolina with a B.A. in political science. After obtaining an M.B.A. from George Washington University she went to work for Chemical Bank in New York City’s bankruptcy division—and made millions for the bank in the 1980s. In 1991 Moore married Richard Rainwater and in 1994 joined his firm, Rainwater, Inc., where she tripled his net worth. She was called “The Toughest Babe in Business” by Fortune and was the first woman in the magazine’s seventy-five year history profiled in a cover story. Moore has been in volved with philanthropic projects over the years, donating millions of dollars to the University of South Carolina, Clemson University, and local charities. The business school at the university is named in honor of Darla Dee Moore.