Robinson Appointed to SC Education Oversight Committee

"There is no more pressing need in our State than the continued improvement of our public education programs," stated Robinson. "There is a direct correlation between the success of public education and our future economic development."

Robinson has been appointed to serve as the business representative of the President Pro Tempore of the SC Senate. He fills the unexpired term of Harry Lightsey, who resigned from the committee in early February 2005. Founder and Past President of the Charleston Education Network, a private, non-profit advocacy organization, Robinson is an attorney with Nexsen Pruet, LLC, specializing in real estate. He has served as President of the Southeastern Wildlife Exposition and the Clemson University Advancement Foundation. He has served on the South Carolina Tourism Council and the Governor's Quality of Life Task Force.

Robinson received his Bachelor of Science degree from Clemson University and his Juris Doctorate from the University of SC. He served as Assistant Dean of the USC Law School in 1973. In 1984, Robinson started Robinson Wall & Hastie, P.A., a firm that merged in 1991 with Nexsen, Pruet, LLC. He has been recognized in Best Lawyers in America, Chambers USA, and Who's Who in America. He was awarded the Order of the Palmetto by Governor David Beasley.

Robinson and his wife Vicki have three children, son, Neil, III (Trey), and daughters Hunter (Forstchen) and Taylor Elizabeth.

Senator Hayes, a Rock Hill attorney, has been appointed to serve as the representative from the Senate Education Committee. He fills the term vacated by Senator Warren Giese, who resigned from the committee in 2004. Senator Hayes is a graduate of the United States Military Academy in West Point. He received his Juris Doctorate from the University of South Carolina and has served in the SC Senate since September 1991. Prior to that, he served in the SC House from 1985 to 1991.

The EOC is an independent, non-partisan group made up of 18 educators, business persons, and elected officials who are appointed by the legislature and governor to monitor and review the implementation of the 1998 South Carolina Education Accountability Act, the Education Improvement Act, and the K-12 system.

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