June 8, 2012 | Leave a Comment





The first picture is from 1956, my grandfather Frank Beam was graduating from Wofford College, in Spartanburg, SC. He is standing with his 2 siblings (Sam and Claudia). He was the first in his family to attend college (which was a big feat when his grandfather was a Civil War veteran and living in a time when growing up in rural South Carolina typically meant dropping out of school to farm or work in the mill).

54 years later, I graduated from Wofford College as well, and stood with my 2 younger siblings after the ceremony for this picture (My grandfather was also able to make the trip back to Wofford to share this day with me–see attached picture). I continue to be proud to follow in my grandfather’s footsteps, and am lucky to have shared in this experience with him!