Wylie Hamrick

Wylie Hamrick
GAFFNEY, SC-- Wylie Lyman Hamrick, 85, formerly of 435 S. Limestone Street, went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, August 21, 2012, at his residence at Summitt Hills in Spartanburg.
Born in Gaffney the day before Christmas in 1926, he was the husband of the late Frances Smith Hamrick and was the son of the late Lyman Abbott Hamrick and Catherine Pace Hamrick. Mr. Hamrick was a graduate of Gaffney High School where he played football and was invited to participate in the Shrine Bowl. He was later inducted into Gaffney High's football hall of fame. He was a 1950 graduate of Clemson University having played football there for Frank Howard and served on Clemson's Board of Visitors.
Mr. Hamrick was Chairman of the Board of Hamrick Mills and had a profound knowledge of textile manufacturing and enjoyed being a part of the textile industry. His service to the industry included being a past president of the South Carolina Textile Manufacturers Association and a trustee of the Institute of Textile Technology. He was a member of the Southern Textile Association and a recipient of the Chapman Award from that organization. He was most at home working with Hamrick Mills' associates in one of the plants striving for the highest efficiencies and lowest off quality.
In addition to his service to Hamrick Mills and the textile industry, Mr. Hamrick was deeply involved with his church and his community. He was a member and deacon of First Baptist Church in Gaffney, formerly serving as Chairman of Deacons. He looked forward to attending his Sunday School class.
Mr. Hamrick was a loyal benefactor and longtime member of the Board of Trustees for Limestone College. He was a Trustee Emeritus and former Chairman of the trustee board. A Rotarian for over 50 years he maintained perfect attendance and was a past president of The Gaffney Rotary Club. He was a past president of United Way of Cherokee County and active with Boy Scouts, having served as Scout Master and District Chairman. He loved Cherokee County and was proud to call Gaffney his home.
A charitable person, Mr. Hamrick was a past Director and Chairman of the Hamrick Mills Foundation and was presently serving as the Vice Chairman of The Fullerton Foundation. He was named Limestone College's "Philanthropist of the Year" in 2000.
Mr. Hamrick had many social interests and hobbies. He enjoyed playing golf, hunting and fishing. He was a member of The Crustbreakers Club, The Beattie-Watts-Stevens Outing, and the Linthead Group. He loved to entertain family and friends in his home where they laughed, played pool and fellowshipped together. (cont'd top)