Honorable Mentions

Executive Director, Beverly Childs and ACM Curator, Dustin Norris launched a poignant campaign that recognized Cpl. Freddie Stowers as the first African American recipient of the Medal of Honor for WWI and a South Carolina native. The pair ensures the traveling exhibit they devised for Cpl. Freddie Stowers continues to sustain interest and learning about his legacy. Recently, they spearheaded a revitalizing initiative, "Andersonians in War," which also features Cpl. Freddie Stowers.  

Dr. Beverly Rice McAdams is a Director of the Anderson Campus of Tri-County Technical College. While at Anderson University, she served as the Interim Associate Dean of Students at Anderson University and VP of Diversity & Inclusion. Dr. McAdams models the importance of inclusion in her daily communications with students, leaders, and affiliates. 

Dr. McAdams contributed to the coordination of Cpl. Stowers' bronze statue representation on the university campus.

Dr. Curtis White is a retired military veteran and former Agricultural professor at Clemson University. He serves on various boards to cultivate opportunities for youth & community leaders through groups such as the Blue Ridge Community Center, Clemson Sunrise Rotary Club (33 yr-Rotarian), & the fraternity, Omega Psi Phi. 

Dr. White organizes the Cpl. Stowers Overcoming Adversity Luncheon each year to recognize teacher-selected students who have overcome adverse challenges in their lives. One student from each Anderson School District Four elementary school is presented with awards jointly sponsored by the Clemson Sunrise Rotary Club and the Family for Corporal Freddie Stowers. 

Dr. Edward Lengel is a brazen & impassioned advocate of military history and a cousin to the late Alvin York, one of the most decorated soldiers from WW1. He served as Chief Historian of the National Medal of Honor Museum (until 2023), the White House Historical Association (2016), earned the National Humanities Medal for his work on the Washington Paper Project, and is the author of over 14 books. He is a proud father and husband to Karen Lengel, also a historian. 

Dr. Edward Lengel cemented the relationship between the Family of Cpl. Freddie Stowers and National Medal of Honor Museum (opening in 2025) to secure the Purple Heart from the family for an exhibit to feature Cpl. Stowers. His contact with family representative, Dr. Ri'Cha ri Sancho led to the introduction of Mr. Josh Shick and other family relatives to assist in gaining more information for the exhibit which mainly derived from work by Ms. Jenny Paige. Dr. Lengel invited Dr. Jeffrey Sammons and Dr. Ri'Cha ri Sancho to participate in a podcast segment of Mission Inspire: Celebrating Black Medal of Honor Recipients. Later, Dr. Sammons graciously provided WW1 facts to support the LSN KIDS Youth Build-A-Book Project for Cpl. Freddie Stowers. 

Dr. Evans Whitaker has served as the President of Anderson University since 2002. His tenure has included a dedication to faith and guidance for all students, faculty, and staff in cultivating an environment where learning and camaraderie is valued. 

Dr. Whitaker served as the liaison between the Rainey Family and Anderson University to ensure the bronze statue of Cpl. Stowers met fruition as a new addition to the campus edifices. See the ETV video capture of his speech & that of Dr. Ri'Cha ri Sancho, representing the Family of Corporal Freddie Stowers here. 

Mr. & Mrs. Jim Smith are active military & community advocates. Mr. Smith was a member of the Armed Forces before joining Smith Oil Company of Pendleton, Inc. (3rd generation family business). He remained in the Army Reserves, retiring as a LTC. Born in Pendleton, SC, Mr. Smith graduated from the Citadel in 1959 and married Marjorie Smith, a student nurse at Georgia Baptist Hospital seven days later. The couple are 65-year residents of Pendleton, SC who enjoy an immediate family that has grown to the size of 49 (as of 2024). 

Staunch contributors to the legacy of Cpl. Freddie Stowers and other veterans, the Smiths dedicated a marker to Cpl. Stowers in the Pendleton Veterans Park, endowed a $20,000 scholarship for military students attending Tri-County Technical College (2021), and connected White House officials to Ms. Josephine Stowers, wife of the late David Stowers, to help advance the Medal of Honor Award to Cpl. Freddie Stowers.    

Mr. John Abercrombie, a chemist, former Sheriff's Deputy, historian, and educational blogger + podcast host departed this physical plane on March 27, 2004. Mr. Abercrombie acted as a role model and advocate for black history in his travels and community circles. In addition to his professional accomplishments, he was an orator and took pride in sharing information to connect individuals for greater partnerships. 

Mr. John Abercrombie ignited a circuit of presentation locations for the Family of Cpl. Freddie Stowers to share information and details about WW1 & inclusion. Mr. Abercrombie updated the family's base of knowledge through introductions with historians specializing in WW1/WWII details & those seeking more information about Cpl. Stowers. He provided networking opportunities to give the family greater reach in educating the public about Cpl. Stowers, and connected LSN KIDS to a Spartanburg Middle School in which students apply for the Cpl. Freddie Stowers Distinction in Diversity scholarship annually. 

Mr. Tom von Kaenel is a retired American soldier who served in the US Army as an infantryman and strategic planner during the Cold War (1977-1997), with twelve years stationed in Germany. Tom von Kaenel served in several leadership roles with local military, charities and service organizations, such as former President of Purple Heart Homes. Mr. von Kaenel is the grandson, son, father, brother, and grandfather of US veterans and he is the Founder of the Semper Fi Barn, a Veterans Retreat in Six Mile, SC (near Clemson). *Tom is married to Doris von Kaenel.*

Mr. von Kaenel was instrumental in securing the Clemson Pershing Rifles for the 2018 Cpl. Stowers Centennial Commemoration, conceptualizing and organizing the Clemson Sunrise Rotary Club, 2020 Commemoration for Cpl. Stowers and area veterans, & spearheading the addition of Cpl. Freddie Stowers as the namesake of the annual "Overcoming Adversity Luncheon."