2025 Hall of Fame Inductees
2025 Graduate Inductees
- Lillian Brock Fleming - Public Servant
- George "Mitch" Gault - Business Owner
- Bill Haas - Professional Golfer
- Carey Dan Joyner - Business Owner
- Dr. Hal and Minor Shaw - Philanthropists
2024 Educator Inductee
- Pearlie Harris - Teacher
The Greenville County Schools Hall of Fame Gala will be held Thursday, November 6, 2025. The Hall of Fame honors men and women who have graduated from or worked at Greenville County Schools and have made substantial or significant contributions at the local, regional, national or international levels in areas such as academia and education, arts, athletics, business, media, public service, philanthropy, medicine, military or science. The GCS Hall of Fame is the vision of District Superintendent Dr. Burke Royster. The induction event is hosted by the Greenville County Schools Foundation.
Inductees were selected by a committee of representatives from the School Board of Trustees, GCS Foundation, GCS administrators, previous Hall of Fame inductees and community leaders. The Selection Committee members were Dr. George Ward, Associate Superintendent for Operations, Lynda Leventis-Wells, GCS Board of Trustees’ liaison, Lynn Gibbs, Executive Director, GCS Foundation, Jeff Brown, Greenville Drive, Rance Bryan, Bank of Travelers Rest, Bill Evans, Previous Hall of Fame Inductee, and Gina Blohm, Community Foundation of Greenville.
Lillian Brock Fleming (Graduate)
Public Servant
Lillian Brock Flemming is a member of the Sterling High School Class of 1967. A lifelong Greenville native, she earned both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in mathematics education from Furman University, later receiving an honorary doctorate in humanities from her alma mater in 2014. She devoted 46 years to Greenville County Schools, serving as a high school math teacher and professional employment recruiter before retiring in 2017. In 1981, she became the first African American woman elected to Greenville City Council and has remained a pillar of civic leadership ever since.
A dedicated public servant, Mrs. Flemming has led or served on boards such as the Municipal Association of South Carolina, Southernside Block Partnership, Girl Scouts, Brockwood Senior Housing, and the NAACP Greenville branch. She has received numerous honors, including Furman’s Outstanding Alumni Service Award, recognition as one of Greenville’s 50 Most Influential, and the United Negro College Fund’s Outstanding Service Award.
George "Mitch" Gault (Graduate)
Business Owner
Mitch Gault is a member of the Hillcrest High School Class of 1973. He is the owner of Kent-Gault Mobile Home Sales, Inc., a family business he took over at 23 years old following his father’s passing. A respected leader in the manufactured housing industry, he served as chairman of the Manufactured Housing Institute of South Carolina and was inducted into the South Carolina Manufactured Housing Hall of Fame in 2005. His company has earned multiple awards, including SC Retail Center of the Year and Better Business Bureau Gold Star recognition.
Beyond business, Mr. Gault has devoted his life to community service through Rotary, the YMCA, and the Special Olympics, where he was honored as Adult Volunteer of the Year in 2008. He also founded “Shoes for Sharing,” providing more than 16,000 pairs to those in need. Named the YMCA of Greenville’s Community Hero in 2021, he remains dedicated to faith, family, and service.
Bill Haas (Graduate)
Professional Golfer
Bill Haas is a member of the Riverside High School Class of 2000 where he led the golf team to two team state championships and an individual state championship. Born in Charlotte, North Carolina, and raised in Greer, South Carolina, he hails from a storied golfing family - his father Jay and uncle Jerry both toured professionally.
A standout at Wake Forest University, Haas was a three-time first-team All-American, four-time All-ACC honoree, and twice ACC Player of the Year. In 2004, he swept the Haskins, Jack Nicklaus, and Ben Hogan Awards. He earned his PGA Tour card in 2006 and has won six Tour events, including the Bob Hope Classic (2010), Tour Championship (2011), Northern Trust Open (2012), AT&T National (2013), and Humana Challenge (2015). His crowning achievement came in 2011, when he captured the FedEx Cup. He was a member of three winning United States Presidents Cup teams.
Carey Dan Joyner - Awarded Posthumously (Graduate)
Business Owner
C. Dan Joyner is a member of the Greenville High School Class of 1955. A lifelong Greenville resident and 1959 graduate of Furman University, he served as a First Lieutenant in Army Intelligence before returning to Greenville to pursue real estate. In 1964, he founded C. Dan Joyner Real Estate with a $2,000 loan and three employees. The firm grew to become the Upstate’s largest real estate company, later affiliating with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices. Joyner led the company until his passing in 2012.
He was a past president of the South Carolina Association of REALTORS and the National Association of REALTORS. His community service included board leadership roles with Furman University and the Greenville Chamber of Commerce. He also served on the Board of Deacons of First Baptist Church and spent time serving the community through the Salvation Army, Food Bank, YMCA, and United Way, among other organizations. In 1998, he received the Order of the Palmetto, South Carolina’s highest civilian honor.
Dr. Hal and Minor Shaw (Graduate)
Philanthropists
Hal and Minor Shaw, Greenville High School Class of 1965, have dedicated their lives to advancing education, health, and community well-being. They were key in creating the Roper Mountain Science Center, with Minor Shaw serving as its first Association Chair. Their leadership secured resources for the Charles E. Daniel Observatory, Symmes Hall of Science, TC Hooper Planetarium, Hall of Health, and most recently, the Nature Exchange in the Environmental Science Building—impacting tens of thousands of Greenville County students, particularly from underserved communities.
Dr. Shaw, a founding member of Jervey Eye Group, balanced a distinguished medical career with teaching and leadership in ophthalmology. Mrs. Shaw, president of Micco LLC, has led statewide civic and philanthropic efforts and received South Carolina’s highest civilian honor, the Order of the Palmetto. Together, their generosity has also supported the Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities, the Ronald McDonald House, and numerous community initiatives, leaving a lasting legacy.
Pearlie Harris (Educator)
Teacher
Pearlie Harris taught at multiple Greenville County Schools from 1962 to 1994. A devoted educator, she embarked on her teaching career in segregated schools before being assigned in 1968 as the only Black teacher at Greenville’s all-white Crestone Elementary. Over a 37-year career, she became known for her compassion and dedication, eventually earning a Master’s in Education from Furman University in 1983. The university awarded her an honorary Doctor of Humanities in 2022.
Mrs. Harris' legacy in Greenville is honored through a striking eight-story mural in downtown Greenville and the Bon Secours Pearlie Harris Center for Breast Health bearing her name. She also received the papal Benemerenti Medal for her decades of service to the community and the church. She is celebrated not only as a trailblazing educator but also as a symbol of courage, faith, and perseverance who opened doors for generations to come.