Personal Information

• Businessman & Retired Elementary School Principal
• Residing in Bowman, R-1
• Born April 21, 1940 in Bowman
• Son of the late John Wesley, Sr. and the late Victoria (Williams) Matthews
• Graduate of South Carolina State College
• Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College, 1970-71
• Lincoln Elec. Institute, Cleveland, Ohio, 1972
• Honorary Ph.D., College of Charleston
• Honorary Ph.D., South Carolina State University
• February 5, 1961 married Geraldine Hillard, 5 children, Cynthia John, Michael Andre, Stephanie Renata, John Wesley III, and Brian DeReef
• Member, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity
• Former Chairman, South Carolina Legislative Black Caucus
• Chairman, Orangeburg County Legislative Delegation
• Southern Regional Education Board
• Governor's Middle Grades Task Force
• Distinguished Alumni Award, South Carolina State University
• Orangeburg County Democrat of the Year
• Minority Business Advocate of the Year, United States Small Business Administration
• Induction in the South Carolina Black Hall of Fame
• South Carolina Primary Health Care Legislator of the Year
• Member, Pineville United Methodist Church