The Jake Salley Alumni Service Award
The Jake Salley Alumni Service Award is presented annually to a Byrnes Scholar whose life and contributions characteristically reflect those of Jake Salley, a loyal Byrnes Scholar, a devoted family man and an inspiring educator who gave untiringly of himself to The Byrnes Scholars and to others until his untimely death on December 4, 1979.
Pam Galloway McElveen - 2011 Jake Salley Award Recipient
Following is the text of the introduction of the 2011 Jake Salley Award recipient by Keith Wood, 1982 Scholar and 2010 Jake Salley Award recipient.
Governor Byrnes was raised by his mother after the death of his father. He knew both the psychological and financial struggles that children and surviving parents must face after the death of a parent. Mom and Pop Byrnes wanted the Byrnes Foundation to help financially and be involved with the scholars to offer any needed support. Pop Byrnes offered advice and guidance to scholars that many times addressed small but important details just as a family member might offer. 62 years ago Mom & Pop Byrnes created the Byrnes family to help scholars in many ways and indirectly the surviving parents.
The Jake Salley Award began as a way to honor a man who is remembered for serving the Byrnes family in small and necessary ways. Jake Salley was a 1949 scholar. He did many of the small unnoticed tasks that are needed for things to operate smoothly whether it involved his job or a Byrnes family function. Jake Salley was a pioneer for Technical Education in South Carolina. Until his untimely death, Jake Salley led quietly by doing.
He is remembered by the many small things that he did and NOT by things that drew everyone's attention. Jake Salley is remembered for his willingness to do the small tasks that do not receive recognition. When he knew something needed to be done he did it.
Today we will truly honor a Byrnes scholar who does the small tasks that are very necessary although most times unnoticed except by a few. I would like to ask all previous Jake Salley Award recipients to please stand with me as we recognize this year's award recipient. It is on behalf of all of the Jake Salley Award recipients that I would like to present this year's Jake Salley Award to my Byrnes sister, Pam McElveen.
Pam, like Jake Salley, works quietly on many small things that are so important and necessary. Pam has a good understanding of how important the small things are in life. Pam notices things that need to be done for the good of all but at the same time she will also notice a small need of an individual scholar. Pam will go into action to meet a need of a fellow scholar. Whether it is something a scholar needs for a job interview or just lending support for a scholar that is in a difficult situation. Pam leads many times by making mention of something that needs to be done. She will find the right person to meet the need and she will give "little nudges" to get the task completed. These "little nudges" are done quietly and most of the time go unnoticed except by a few.
In the past, Pam has helped in reading all of the applications for the Byrnes Scholar candidates. We usually have between 120 and 150 applications to read and consider. Pam also helps with interviewing the applicants that have been selected to receive an interview. Both reading the applications and interviewing the applicants is a rewarding process when accepting the scholars but difficult to turn down over 100 kids each year.
On behalf of the Byrnes family, I want to thanks Pam's family for sharing Pam with us for the countless hours that she has spent in benefit of the Byrnes family by addressing the many small needs of the family.
On behalf of all of the Jake Salley Award recipients, I present this award to you and we thank you from the bottom of our heart for the many small needs that you do not leave unnoticed and unattended.
Previous Recipients
First awarded in 1980, the following Byrnes Scholars have received the Jake Salley Alumni Service Award:
- 2010 – Keith Wood, 1982 Scholar
- 2009 – Kristine LaSalle Hobbs, 1989 Scholar, Byrnes Foundation Director, and former President, The Byrnes Scholars
- 2008 – Carrie Fletcher Pergerson, 1992 Scholar; former President, The Byrnes Scholars
- 2007 – Jerry Reaves, 1988 Scholar; former President, The Byrnes Scholars
- 2006 – Jabbar Stackston, 1992 Scholar
- 2005 – Allen Easler, 1988 Scholar
- 2004 – Roxann Wrightson, 1980 Scholar; former President, The Byrnes Scholars
- 2003 – LeeAnna Morgan, 1980 Scholar; former Secretary & Treasurer, The Byrnes Scholars
- 2002 – Ron Cobb, 1980 Scholar
- 2001 – Loretta Clark, 1982 Scholar; former President, The Byrnes Scholars
- 2000 – Margaret "Mom" Courtney, honorary Scholar
- 1999 – Maurice Brown, 1949 Scholar
- 1998 – Eddie Mills, 1983 Scholar
- 1997 – Chester Caulder, 1979 Scholar; former President, The Byrnes Scholars
- 1996 – Nancy Norton Drew, 1959 Scholar; Secretary, The Byrnes Foundation
- 1995 – Jan Hardy Whitson, 1978 Scholar; former President, The Byrnes Scholars
- 1994 – Charles Wall, 1979 Scholar; Director, The Byrnes Foundation
- 1993 – Jeanette Watson Cothran, 1952 Scholar; Director, The Byrnes Foundation
- 1992 – Dee McGraw, 1979 Scholar; Director, The Byrnes Foundation
- 1991 – Dal Poston, 1974 Scholar; Director, The Byrnes Foundation
- 1990 – Dr. Sara Trammell Hollingsworth, 1961 Scholar; former President, The Byrnes Scholars
- 1989 – Henri Duncan, 1979 Scholar; former President, The Byrnes Scholars
- 1988 – Jimmy Rambo, 1959 Scholar; former President, The Byrnes Scholars
- 1987 – Elaine Mattock, 1976 Scholar; former Secretary & Treasurer, The Byrnes Scholars
- 1986 – Lois Hatfield Anderson, 1950 Scholar; President, The Byrnes Foundation
- 1985 – Judge Bobby Mallard, retired, 1959 Scholar; former Director, The Byrnes Foundation
- 1984 – Carol Ann Flowers Green, 1950 Scholar; Director, The Byrnes Foundation
- 1983 – Jim Hunsucker; 1949 Scholar; former President and Treasurer, The Byrnes Foundation
- 1982 – Hal Norton, 1949 Scholar; President Emeritus, The Byrnes Foundation
- 1981 – Dr. Bill Rowe, 1949 Scholar; Treasurer, The Byrnes Foundation
- 1980 – Paula Harper Bethea, 1974 Scholar; former Director, The Byrnes Foundation
