This impressive polished granite with photo marker states:
Dr. W.S. Mims
Educator
Minister
Community Leader
Visionary
Patriot
1904-1970
This monument was placed by the Mims High School Reunion Foundation on June 29, 2002.
William Samuel Mims was born on August 14, 1893 and died December 26, 1969
Some of Dr. Mims accomplishments include:
A Teaching Degree from Allen University
PhD in Divinity from Allen University
Founded McCormick County Colored Industrial School
Principal of the McCormick High School (Named in his honor)
Dr. Mims lifelong motto was: GOOD, BETTER, BEST, NEVER LET IT REST, UNTIL GOOD IS BETTER AND BETTER BEST.
Source: "The Making of McCormick County", Edmonds, B., 1999
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Professor William S. Mims, born in 1893, graduated from Allen University in Columbia SC. He opened a lower school in the abandoned Knights of Pythia Lodge behind the Bethany Baptist Church on South Main Street in McCormick, SC in 1924. In 1939 he opened the McCormick County Colored Industrial school on Mims Drive. After consolidation, the Industrial school was the Mims Elementary #1. This building constructed north of the current McCormick High School was also referred to as the "old white building". It later was used for Vocational Ed classes and storage, and burned sometime after 1977. Although there were many that felt he would not succeed, Mims is credited for creating the black education system in McCormick County and all of the schools built for blacks carried his name. He died in 1969. (Edmonds 1999)
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