Mr. Roy Pearce (1919-2004), President of Clemson University’s class of 1941, maintained that his professional success was directly related to his effectiveness as a communicator. Most noteworthy was his involvement in a family business that became one of the largest businesses in South Carolina. However, his legacy lives on through the creation of the Class of 1941 Studio for Student Communication.
After graduating from Clemson in 1941, Pearce went on to stay very active in the Clemson community. He used his communication skills to serve as President of the Clemson Alumni Association and Clemson Foundation Board. He received the Distinguished Service Award, an honorary doctorate and the Clemson President’s Award. In 1991, he received Clemson’s highest honor: the Clemson Medallion.
Outside of Clemson, Pearce served as vice-chairman of the South Carolina State Development Board, President of the Rotary Club and Director of the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce. Pearce attributed his success in these roles to his ability to communicate effectively.
Pearce held a firm belief that all students should have an opportunity to become effective communicators. He envisioned a center whose mission was to prepare students for the communication challenges they would face as professionals in their chosen disciplines. In 1989, in recognition Clemson’s contribution to his development as a communicator, the Pearces established the endowment for the Roy and Marnie Pearce Center for Professional Communication at Clemson University.