John Gregg McMaster Jr.

John Gregg McMaster, Jr. COLUMBIA, SC - John Gregg McMaster, Jr., 100, passed away in Columbia early Friday morning, February 20, 2015. Born on March 16, 1914 in Florence, the son of Dr. and Mrs. John Gregg McMaster, he received a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of South Carolina in 1936, an L.L.B. from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 1938, and a J.D. degree in 1970. In 1944 he married Ida Bacot Dargan of Florence, whose nickname was "Pet." They had six children, all boys, four of whom became lawyers. Mr. McMaster was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives in 1944, serving two terms. From 1953 - 1954, he served as Code Commissioner for South Carolina, and from 1952 - 1967 he served on the SC Aeronautics Commission, the last eleven years as chairman. He was elected president of the Richland County Bar Association in 1976. From 1982 - 1988, he served on the board of the Richland County Public Defender Corporation, the last two years as chairman. He was elected to the American College of Trial Lawyers in 1968; awarded membership in the Cum Laude Club by Fellows of the Foundation, the USC Education Foundation, in 1969; elected a Fellow in the International Academy of Trial Lawyers in 1981; awarded the John W. Williams Distinguished Service Award by the Richland County Bar Association in 1991; and awarded the Order of the Palmetto by Governor Campbell in i991. He was honored in 1991 by Resolution of the South Carolina House of Representatives for distinguished service to the South Carolina Association of Life Insurance Companies; granted the Worthy Adversary Award by the South Carolina Association Trial Lawyers Association in 2004; awarded membership in the American Board of Trial Associates in 2004; received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Richland County Bar Association in 2012; and received a Resolution of congratulations from the South Carolina House of Representatives on his ninety-ninth birthday in 2013. Admitted to practice in all state and federal courts in SC, Mr. McMaster was a member of the Richland County Bar Association, the South Carolina Bar, the National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel, the South Carolina Defense Trial Attorneys Association and the Fourth Circuit Judicial Conference. For years he was the senior practicing attorney in South Carolina, having been at the bar over seventy-five years upon his retirement in 2013. He tried his last case at age 93. Mr. McMaster was a member of the Saint Andrews Society of Columbia, The Torch Club, Forest Lake Club, The Forum Club, The Centurion Society and The Columbia Ball. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Columbia from his college days and served as Sunday school teacher, Deacon, Elder, and Elder Emeritus. Mr. McMaster was predeceased by his wife, Ida Dargan; his sister, Eleanor "Sis" McMaster Bradham (Riley, Jr.) of Sumter; and his brother, Hugh Buchanan McMaster (Jean Kelly) of Columbia. He is survived by his six sons, John Gregg McMaster, III (Judy Cook), Henry Dargan McMaster (Peggy McAbee), George Hunter McMaster, William Gourdin McMaster (Elizabeth Laffitte), Frank Barnwell McMaster, all of Columbia, and Joseph Dargan McMaster of Charlotte; grandchildren, John Gregg McMaster, IV (Laurel Briggs) of Columbia, Henry Dargan McMaster, Jr. of Columbia, Mary Rogers McMaster of New York, William Gourdin McMaster, Jr. MD, of Nashville, Dargan McMaster Rain (Rob) of Spartanburg, George Hunter McMaster, II of New York, Joseph Dargan McMaster, Jr. of Columbia, Eleanor Gourdin McMaster of Columbia; and great grandson, Shawn McMaster of Columbia; and great granddaughter, Elizabeth Laffitte Rain of Spartanburg. . The service for Mr. McMaster will be held 2 o'clock, Sunday, February 22 at First Presbyterian Church, with Dr. Derek W. H. Thomas and Dr. John R. de Witt officiating. Visitation with the family will follow in Jackson Hall. Shives Funeral Home, Trenholm Road Chapel, is assisting the family. Memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church, 1324 Marion Street, Columbia, SC 29201. Memories and condolences may be shared at ShivesFuneralHome.com. Visit our guestbook at www.legacy.com/obituaries/ charleston