Frank Brunson inducted into the Order of the Palmetto

The Order of the Palmetto is South Carolina's highest civilian honor. Members of this select group include luminaries like James Brown, Pat Conroy, and Septima Clark. And as of August, 2023, an MUSC College of Pharmacy graduate named Frank Brunson '76!

The award was bestowed on Brunson in a ceremony with Governor Henry McMaster. The Order of the Palmetto, which recognizes a lifetime of achievement and service by South Carolina residents and native South Carolinians, was a crowning achievement for a lifetime of public service including the mayoralty of Forest Acres, S.C.

He has been a public servant for nearly 30 years and, as mayor of Forest Acres, he oversaw triumphs like building up the city's parks, cultural opportunities and the arts as well as led the city through challenges like the 'thousand-year flood' and the shooting death of Officer Greg Alia. 

Brunson, pictured above with wife Jo Ann and daughters Retta and Kenzie, earned a biology degree at Wofford College before going to graduate school at the University of South Carolina and pharmacy school at MUSC.

A long time supporter of the MUSC College of Pharmacy, Brunson was awarded the college's highest honor of Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2013.

Watch coverage of the event on WIS News