It had been awhile since the greater Laurens County business community had been invited into the Clinton community’s news source since 1900. So, last Tuesday, we with the assistance of the Laurens County Chamber of Commerce took care of that oversight.
The newspaper partnered with the county’s main economic engine to host a 2-hour drop-in, the Business Connection After Hours. And, even though it was hot on a steamy summer afternoon, old and new friends gathered in the newspaper’s conference room and offices to highlight local journalism, and its contributions to a vibrate business community. It also served as a commemoration (not a retirement!) for The Chronicle’s Editor Vic MacDonald marking his 50th year as a community journalist, all in communities throughout South Carolina.
In 1975, MacDonald graduated from Newberry College with a BA degree in English and extensive course work in journalism, including two stints as Editor of the national award-winning newspaper, The Indian. He went to work for Banner Publications, out of Camden, as Editor of The Lee County Messenger in Bishopville.
Following a year there, he moved to the flagship newspaper in Camden, working in that community and as a traveling troubleshooter for the chain’s newspapers in North and South Carolina. Following stints in Greenwood and Florence, MacDonald and his young, growing family spent 20 years in Newberry. For a brief time he was PIO for the Newberry County School District, and then moved back to the newspaper. He worked for a time again in Greenwood, and spent 5 years teaching at Newberry High School, before moving on to Manning and then to Clinton 2012 to work with The Chronicle’s Publisher Larry Franklin.
“I consider my time as a public information officer and a high school teacher of English, American & British Literature, newspaper, yearbook, and creative writing at Newberry High School as an extension of my journalism work,” MacDonald said. “All three of our children - Tori, Patrick, and Mary Beth - are NHS graduates and college graduates (Wofford, USC, Furman and Newberry) and they had the unfortunate circumstance of being the subjects of many of their dad’s personal columns in The Newberry Observer.”
For its part, the Business Connections host, the Laurens County Chamber of Commerce, posted, “What a fantastic evening at The Clinton Chronicle celebrating Vic MacDonald’s remarkable 50-year career! We has a great time catching up with friends, making new connections, and learning more about our local news source and its dedicated publisher.”
MacDonald received a very unexpected honor, as Doug Gilliam, the State Representative for Clinton and Union, and Luke Rankin, the State Representative for Laurens, presented him with an United States Flag flown over The Statehouse and a certificate recognizing the honor for his 50-year community journalism career. Vic and his wife Pat MacDonald live in Laurens, and they were honored by the attendance of their representative on the Laurens County Council, Shirley Clark.
“Pat and I are humbled by the number of people who came to the newspaper to wish us well and who have sent well-wishes our way. We had a wonderful time catching up with friends, and to anyone we missed that evening we apologize and thank you for attending,” MacDonald said. “The one thing I wish I had done better was directing folks to The Chronicle’s special sections and magazines that we have on display in our records room; however, you know where we are, and where we plan to stay on North Broad Street, so stop by any time to stock up on your reading material. You will learn a lot about a great place to live, Laurens County, South Carolina.”
The South Carolina Press Association printed one of MacDonald’s career-commemorative columns in its most recent newsletter, and Newberry College plans to publish a piece about the veteran journalist in an upcoming on-line alumni newsletter.
An alumni office representative said they have his college, senior yearbook portrait, but they needed a more up-to-date photo - so, MacDonald sent the picture he uses with his Clinton Chronicle personal column (July 23 & 30 issues and Page 6A in today’s issue).
MacDonald set up a display of Career & Family mementos in what used to be The Chronicle’s press room. Like many weekly newspapers nationwide, The Chronicle does not have its own press any more and, instead, relies on its printing partner, The Laurens County Advertiser, to meet the weekly printing schedule and the publication of special community-interest sections. Its weekly deadline is 4 p.m. each Monday (its other major platform is the website MyClintonNews.com).
For its part, in addition to the July 29 Chronicle event, the Laurens County Chamber of Commerce staff participated in the July 31 block party opening of The Vault salon + spa at 205 W. Laurens St. in Laurens (the former Laurens County Museum location) and will participate in these two upcoming community-interest events:
Aug. 13, 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m., Piedmont Technical College’s Business & Industry Engagement Forum at the PTC Laurens County Center of Advanced Manufacturing, Hwy 221N at I-385, Laurens; and
Aug. 14, 11 a.m., the grand opening at 113 North Broad St., Clinton, of Aspen & Figgs, Main Street Clinton, and the Clinton Art Gallery.
(Vic’s e-mail: news@clintonchronicle.net)
