As a lifelong citizen of Dillon County, who was born and reared in Newtown, the most heavily black populated section of the county, the curious and historical part of my mind has often pondered the thought of who were the most important people in the founding and development of Dillon County, especially the city of Dillon.
Every nation, state, county, and city can trace its beginning and progression to perhaps an elite group of people who played an important role in its origin and evolution.
At various stages of the process, people who were visionary, adventurous, and often time valiant dared to do or go where no one else had ever gone.
Without such people who were possessed with ambition and an unquenchable desire to achieve what ordinary folk said could not be done, we would certainly still be living in the dark ages.  Without such people, America would not have been discovered by the Europeans, the light bulb would not have been invented, man would have never stepped on the moon, and there would be no internet.  So, we owe a lot to these industrious and idealistic individuals that we now regard and revere as icons and pioneers.
Before compiling this piece, I did a random survey and made some inquiries with a few people who I felt would give me their unbiased opinion, of who they thought was the four most important people in the founding and development of Dillon, both the county and the city.
For the most part, with only a few exceptions, everyone agreed upon the people whose faces appear on Dillon County’s Mount Rushmore under the heading of today’s column.
We will present them in the order of their historical tenure as a foundational person in the founding and development of Dillon.
Before we present why these were selected, bear in mind that there have been many outstanding and notable citizens of Dillon County down through the years that greatly contributed to the development and well being of both this county and city that we call Dillon.
Our exclusion of them is not an attempt to neither disregard nor downplay their significant role.  However, since Mount Rushmore can only have four faces, as the one in South Dakota does, the following (like Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Teddy Roosevelt) were selected to constitute the faces that appear on Dillon’s Mount Rushmore.

James W. Dillon
Without debate or controversy, you cannot have any type of historical monument or presentation about Dillon that does not start with the man that is the founder of the city.  Had it not been for his vision and foresight of a railroad station stopping in the area of what once was a part of Marion County, Dillon would have never been born.  In all historical accuracy, Little Rock is older than and was a more thriving and settled community than what we now refer to as Dillon.  However, thanks to Mr. James W. Dillon’s vision and venturesome nature, the little community that we now know as Dillon far surpassed its neighbor who was only about five miles away to the north.  James W. Dillon is to Dillon what Romulus is to Rome and Simon Bolivar is to Bolivia.
As these nations bear the legendary and historical names of these men, respectively, who is honored as their founding fathers, Dillon bears the name of its founding father.

Arthur B. Jordan
In the opinion of many learned professionals in the fields of history, sociology, political science, and even philosophy, there are few enterprises that are as vital to the general well being of a city or citizenry as a local newspaper.
These individuals believe that one of the things that has made America great has been the freedom of the press that has been practiced by its many newspapers.
Newspapers like the Washington Post, New York Times, Chicago Tribune, Atlanta Journal, USA Today, and countless others have kept the people informed, the politicians accountable, and the nation free from subversion and tyranny.
The statement that declares, “the pen is more powerful than the sword” was primarily written as a testament to the power of the press and newspapers.
When Mr. Arthur B. Jordan ventured to start a local newspaper that would serve the citizens of both the city and county of Dillon, it had to be a bold undertaking for most enterprises like an upstart newspaper, especially in a small, rural community, fail or falter within the first three to five years.
The Dillon Herald is still standing and striving after all these years (122), since it started as Dillon’s oldest, most historical, and perhaps most necessary enterprise.
Thanks to Mr. Jordan’s vision and courage, we have a local paper that is informative, inclusive, and one you can trust.
Added to that is the fact that it has served as the flagship enterprise that has given birth to others in our locale and beyond providing jobs for several people.
I am told by people I meet in various parts of the nation, even as far away as South Africa, that they read my column in The Dillon Herald on the internet.
None of this would be possible had it not been for Mr. Arthur B. Jordan, one of Dillon’s most important historical fathers.

Alan Schafer
If Mr. James W. Dillon were the founder and Mr. Arthur B. Jordan was the one who gave Dillon a newspaper that helped to establish it as a community, with a degree of culture where information, announcements, and noteworthy news could be disseminated, Mr. Alan Schafer was unquestionably our greatest entrepreneur and philanthropist.
Through his flagship business, South of the Border, he gave jobs to many African Americans, college students, and high school students (who were old enough) who otherwise would have been unemployed.
At one point in time, from the early sixties through the early seventies, South of the Border was recognized as South Carolina’s number one tourist attraction.
Certainly, more than any other citizen of Dillon, Mr. Alan Schafer helped to put us on the map.  When I am fulfilling speaking engagements in various parts of the United States, especially along the Atlantic coast or what has come to be known as the I-95 Corridor (from Miami to Maine), I am occasionally asked about the location of my hometown in South Carolina.
When I tell them that it is right off of I-95, about seven miles from South of the Border, without fail, they almost always know of South of the Border and its iconic signs and strategic location.
I can never remember meeting Mr. Alan Schafer personally, but I came up during a time when he was easily the most iconic, influential, and according to the testimony of many, the most generous benefactor that our locale ever produced.  In light of these truths and so many other outstanding things that Mr. Alan Schafer did (that are unmentioned here) to promote the general well being of both the city and county of Dillon, everyone in my inquiry and survey placed him at the very top of the list.

Eugene Carmichael
The selection of Mr. Eugene Carmichael as the final face to be included on Dillon’s Mount Rushmore was the most contested and controversial due to the fact that there were others that some felt were more deserving of this posthumous honor.   I had to consult with some additional people and give the matter some more consideration.  However, at the end of the day, Mr. Carmichael’s contributions to Dillon County, as both an entrepreneur and politician, sealed the decision and certified his election.  There were, of course, others who came in a close second or third.  However, it was due to Mr. Carmichael’s bold and very risky initiative to spearhead (along with others) the establishment of Carpostan, that provided some well paying jobs for many people in our locale from 1970 – 2006, that contributed to his selection.  Mr. Gene Carmichael was also one of the most beloved, respected, and effective politicians that represented Dillon County in Columbia as a senator for quite a few years.
Some who knew him well says that he was a very compassionate man who would give you the shirt off his back if you really needed it.  Three things that truly impressed me about Mr. Carmichael were his humility, accessibility, and love for dogs.  He had a soft spot for stray dogs and would often take them in and provide both a home and food for them at his own expense.  Anyone who loved dogs like that is all right with me; after all they are man’s best friends.
We have given you some information that revealed why each of the people included on Dillon’s Mount Rushmore were selected.  I hope that these selections that may not agree with your approval will be considered and respected by all.
The story and history of Dillon County is too rich and abundant to be contained in the brief bio of a few people regardless of their significant roles.   This and the writings of others in regard to the history of Dillon County is just a beginning of the saga that is yet to be completed.