Meet the Travelers Rest Historical Society 2023 Board of Directors
Dot Bishop, Immediate Past President, grew up in Travelers Rest and graduated from Travelers Rest High School and the University of South Carolina. Most of her career was as a high school biology teacher and guidance counselor. She worked on the history portion of the Travelers Rest Bi-Centennial Committee in 2008. Through this experience, she learned that people were eager to know more about the history of their hometown and what life was like in the past. She and a group of interested local citizens joined together to start the Travelers Rest Historical Society and she has been active since its beginning in 2008.
Robert Boggs, Director, is a native of Slater-Marietta and attended Slater-Marietta schools until the high school closed after his ninth grade, when students were transferred to Travelers Rest High School. He is a graduate of Furman (B.A., M.A.), Duke (M.Div.), and the Univ. of the South/Vanderbilt (D.Min.). After being a United Methodist minister for 19 years, he taught history at North Greenville University for 22 years, retiring in 2020. He serves as a Museum docent and lives near downtown Greenville in his family’s home, tending a nearly 90-year-old garden.
Rosemary Bomar, President, was born in Travelers Rest and graduated from Blue Ridge High School, North Greenville and Winthrop Universities. She has worked as a public school educator, church education director, and as director of volunteers with hospice programs and has a lifelong interest in local and family history. She has served as a Historical Society officer and Board member and is a docent at the History Museum. She loves to connect people with history and community information and resources.
Clyde Carr, Vice President, has owned Clyde Carr Janitorial Service and Clyde Carr Lawn Service for 37 years. He began an Annual Golf Tournament in 1967 to assist St. John’s United Methodist Church and later North Greenville Crisis Ministry, which continues today. He is now a member of New Saint Luke’s United Methodist Church and serves as a Lay Speaker. Community activities include the Travelers Rest Historical Society, Lions Club, and Azah Shrine Temple. In 2009 he was voted Travelers Rest Citizen of the Year and Hometown Hero.
Stan Coleman, Jr., Director, is a retired Family Practice Physician with 35 years of service to the Travelers Rest area and became active on the Historical Society Board upon his retirement. Combined with his father, Stanley Sr. and uncle T.E. Coleman, they have a combined total of nearly 135 years of medical practice in the area. A 1971 Citadel graduate with post-graduate degrees from Clemson University and the Medical University of South Carolina, he also served in the Medical Corps of the U.S. Army reserve (120th ARCOM) for 15 years, retiring as a Major.
Tom Drake, Director, grew up in Travelers Rest, retired as an administrator in Greenville County Schools, and later retired as broker-in-charge of the southeastern states for a New York-based sales company. He is a founding member of the Travelers Rest Historical Society, secured the building for the History Museum, co-chaired the restoration and raising of funds for the History Museum, and is currently involved in raising funds for the Spring Park Inn.
Nancy Duncan, Director, was born in Travelers Rest at Coleman’s Hospital, attended church and schools locally, and later taught at Travelers Rest High School until retiring in 2003. A graduate of the University of Georgia (B.S. Ed.) and Converse College (M.A.T.), she was employed with Greenville County Schools for 32 years and has enjoyed working with the Travelers Rest Historical Society in some capacity since it started. Serving as Secretary, Special Projects Chair, and Board Director/Collections Committee Chair has been rewarding and has given her the opportunity to work with the community, students, board of directors, and society members.
Rusty Duncan, Director, is a native of Travelers Rest and has deep family ties to the area. Rusty is an attorney with King Law Offices in Greer. He is active in the community and is a member of Taylors First Baptist Church where he has served as a deacon, on the security team, third grade Sunday School teacher, and as a youth basketball coach.
Mark Garrison, Director, has an affinity for all things history that began with his father Walker’s parents Preston & Lois Garrison, who owned Spinning Wheel Antiques in Taylors from the late 40’s to the late 70’s. Growing up around antiques and attending buying trips with them throughout New England gave him an appreciation of history through antiques. His TR history began with his mother Joan’s parents William & Helen Griffin. Bill was Postmaster and Helen was a Postal Clerk from the early 40’s to the late 60’s, first in the “Tandem” building, then later in the “Swamp Rabbit Brewery” building when they were both Post Offices. He has been a member of the Travelers Rest Historical Society since 2014 and is happy to help serve in whatever capacity needed.
Joseph Hudson, Director, has worked with the Historical Society since 2019. He currently serves on the Collections Committee, the Long-Range Planning Committee, and is a docent at the History Museum. A Class of 2003 graduate of Travelers Rest High School, he has served for the last 12 years at music pastor of Cleveland First Baptist Church, Cleveland SC. He has a special interest in railroad history, is a member of local and national railroad organizations, and collects antiques and railroad artifacts.
Sandra Kidd, Treasurer, is a Greenville County native who has come home to Travelers Rest in 2022 after living and working across the Southeast. When she is not busy in her consulting career with non-profits in fundraising and management, she enjoys working on the genealogy of her mother’s Benson family and promoting the history and culture of the Upstate. Sandra has 40 years experience in non-profit management, finance, and consulting, with an MBA from Vanderbilt, her undergraduate alma mater. She is the niece of the late TRHS Board member Sam Benson, who was a great storyteller.
Linda League, Secretary, attended Clemson University and spent the last 40 years in corporate America, including management, sales, customer service, warehouse, technical support and operations. She is proficient in the Microsoft Suite of Products and many database management tools such as Phocus. Since retirement she has been active and held offices in many historical groups such as Daughters of the American Revolution, Colonial Dames XVII Century, First Families of SC, and several other groups.
Richard Sawyer, Director, has lived in the Greenville area since he was four years old. After college and technical education in electrical, management, and marketing, he retired after 30 years as Printing Manager and instructor with the Business division of Greenville Technical College. He is part of the SC Archaeological Society, Greenville Historical Society, and has served on the Greenville Co. Historical Preservation Commission. A Marine Corps Veteran, he has interests in local history and archaeology, collecting local memorabilia, presenting local history programs, flint knapping (making stone tools by hand), and serving on the history committee and as videographer at Reedy River Baptist Church.