This is a story of a young man from North Carolina. He came to Dillon in the mid-1950’s seeking to make his place in life here. When I first met him, he and his beautiful young wife were walking around an old abandoned veneer mill and standing in almost knee high uncut grass and weeds. He was holding a clipboard under his arm and had a pencil behind his ear. His wife was beside him.
I pulled up driving to meet them in a blue Ford Econoline truck. I introduced myself and said I had recently been released from active military service. My wife and I had an office supply store in Dillon and would really appreciate some of their business.
He put on a big friendly smile and said his name was E.C. Carr and introduced his wife as Joann. At that time, I believe he was buying the old Wilson-Smith Veneer Company out of bankruptcy.
E.C. was probably like most everyone else at the end of World War II, not too much money but well educated with a skill that he learned and developed during the war years. He had a sharp mind and a tremendous amount of drive and ambition.
E.C.’s passion was in the art-design and craftsmanship of wood working to achieve absolute perfection.
Through the years his company has grown into one of the major wood furniture manufacturers in the South.
Years ago he bought Schoolfield Industries in Mullins and merged some of their product lines into his, thus making his operation much larger.
E.C. was a kind, hard working and generous man. He always did more than his part in church work. He was an outstanding citizen of Dillon County and participated in numerous civic clubs.
Through the years he has employed many thousand workers from Dillon County and put a lot of food on his workers’ tables.
People of his calibre are what it takes to give gainful employment to the workers and help Dillon County grow.
His family is now in their third generation in Dillon and his factory, which is now managed by his son, Howard Carr, has the third generation in training.
Our company, Herald Office Supply, is proud to have their loyalty. We have supplied their office product needs since we first said, “Hello,” and shook hands – 56 years ago.
E.C. Carr, Jr. was my friend – he was a straight shooting (tell it like it is) good advisor and always a gentleman.
We honor his memory.
Respectfully,
A.B. Jordan, III