USC Upstate honored William J. Burroughs Dec. 15 for his efforts to improve the quality and availability of higher education for the past 37 years.

Burroughs is a founding member of the Spartanburg County Commission for Higher Education and served as secretary-treasurer of the organization since 1967. The Commission was founded to serve as the advisory board to USC Upstate.

“Bill Burroughs made it possible for me to go to college and earn my degree in Spartanburg,” said Jim Smith, USC Upstate alumni and chairman of the Spartanburg County Commission for Higher Education. “There are countless other college graduates who also are forever indebted to him as well.”

During the December event, Burroughs announced he will not seek reappointment to the commission board when his term expires in March 2005. USC Upstate and the Commission also honored him in 1976 by naming the university’s child development center the William J. Burroughs Child Development Center.

“For nearly four decades, William Burroughs has committed his life to others through serving higher education needs,” said Dr. John C. Stockwell, chancellor of USC Upstate. “The University is truly grateful to him for his deeds.”

Burroughs, a resident of Spartanburg since 1952, retired as assistant vice president of C&S Bank in 1973. He has been involved in Spartanburg and South Carolina civic and church organizations for 50 years. He is past charter chairman of the Spartanburg United Way, past member of the Spartanburg Lions Club, past Grand Master in the Mason’s Spartan Lodge #70 A.F.M., and a Shriner.

He has been a member of Trinity United Methodist Church since 1952, where he served as Sunday School teacher and Administrative Board Member. Additionally, he is past president of the Spartanburg District and South Carolina United Methodist Church Conference United Methodist Men, past treasurer of the Southeastern Jurisdictional United Methodist Men and past South Carolina United Methodist Conference Lay Leader.

Burroughs has been married to the former Margaret Watts of Columbia for the past 60 years. They have five children, 12 grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

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