Personal Information

• Attorney
• Residing at 249 Congaree Park Drive, in West Columbia
• Born August 7, 1945 in Asheville, North Carolina
• Son of Harry Earl and Verna Leona (Parker) Setzler
• University of South Carolina, B.A., 1968, J.D., 1971
• August 16, 1969 married Ada Jane Taylor, 4 children, Tara Nikole, Jamie Leona, Sabra Taylor, and Amber Jane
• Member, Advisory Group for Southern Regional Education Board
• Outstanding Leadership Award, Governor's School for the Arts, 1990
• Legislative Award for South Carolinians with Disabilities by South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Association, 1991
• Outstanding Senator for Continued Support of Public Education, South Carolina School Boards Association, 1991
• Award for Support for Education, Palmetto State Teachers Association, 1991
• Outstanding Leadership and Contributions to Education Award by South Carolina Council of Elementary School Principals, 1990-91
• Future Farmers of America Honorary Chapter Degree, 1992
• Appreciation Award by Columbia College Board of Visitors, 1988-92
• School Health Service Award, 1992
• Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters, University of Charleston, 1992
• Legislator of the Year Award by Independent Colleges and Universities of South Carolina, Inc., 1993
• Commendation by South Carolina Counseling Association, 1994-95
• Outstanding Service Award by South Carolina Agricultural Education Programs, 1994
• Commendation by South Carolina Council of Parents and Teachers, 1994
• Richard W. Riley Award for Exceptional Leadership and Commitment by South Carolina Consortium for Gifted Educators, 1995
• Carl Perkins Humanitarian of the Year Award for South Carolina, 1995
• Legislator of the Year, South Carolina Association of School Librarians, 1995
• Honorary Doctorate of Education, Columbia College, 1997
• Public Servant of the Year by South Carolina Chamber of Commerce, 1998
• Award in Appreciation of Unrelenting Efforts on Behalf of the Parents and Young Children of South Carolina by Department of Education Parenting/Family Literacy Initiatives, 1999
• Honored by Future Farmers of America, 1999
• W. J. Castine Partner in Progress Award for Exemplary Service to South Carolina Elementary and Middle Schools, 1999
• Distinguished Service Award for Contributions to Higher Education and Student Financial Assistance Programs, 1999
• Award for Exceptional Leadership and Commitment to Technical Education, 1999
• Award of Appreciation for support by South Carolina FFA Association, 2000
• Award of Appreciation by Lexington County Peach Festival and Community of Gilbert , 2000
• Commendation from Southern Regional Education Board for ten years of outstanding service, 2000
• Commendation from Lexington County School District Four Board of Trustees for contributions to public education, 2000
• Honorary American FFA Degree by National FFA Organization, 2000
• Friend of Reading Recovery Award for outstanding contributions, 2000
• Outstanding Policy Leader from South Carolina State Board of Education, 2000
• Award for Exemplary Service to Public Education by South Carolina Association of Teacher Educators, 2001
• Outstanding Service Award, South Carolina Education Association-Retired, 2002
• Friend of the Taxpayer Award, South Carolina Association of Taxpayers, 2002
• Honored by the American Institute of Architects, South Carolina Chapter, 2004
• Recognition by South Carolina School Nurses, 2002
• Legislator of the Year, South Carolilna Association of the Deaf, 2005
• Outstanding Contributions to Public Education, Governor's Workforce Education Task Force & Superintendent of Education, 2005
• Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws, University of South Carolina, 2008
• West Metro Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year, 2011
• Future of Education's Golden Apple Award, South Carolina Chapter National Coalition for Public School Options, 2011
• Friend of Conservation Award. Lexington Soil and Water Conservation District, 2011
• Greater Lexington Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center, The Chairman's Award, 2012
• Citizens for Sound Conservation Peas and Carrots Award, 2012
• State Retirees Association of South Carolina, Legislator of the Year, 2012