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Bennettsville native receives Order of the Palmetto

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Staff report
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SC Gov. Henry McMaster, right, presents the Order of the Palmetto award to Dr. Dowd, pictured center right next to his wife, Mrs. Kim Dowd, and Rep. G. Murrell Smith, Jr., Speaker of the SC House of Representatives, left, in the Office of the Governor on Feb. 11, 2026. (Courtesy photo).

SC Gov. Henry McMaster, right, presents the Order of the Palmetto award to Dr. Dowd, pictured center right next to his wife, Mrs. Kim Dowd, and Rep. G. Murrell Smith, Jr., Speaker of the SC House of Representatives, left, in the Office of the Governor on Feb. 11, 2026. (Courtesy photo).

BENNETTSVILLE — The Citadel Foundation recently announced its President and CEO, John P. “Jay” Dowd III, Ph.D., has been awarded the prestigious Order of the Palmetto — South Carolina’s highest civilian honor. This recognition reflects Dowd’s unwavering dedication, visionary leadership, and lifelong commitment to strengthening our communities through the power of higher education, they said.

The Order of the Palmetto Award was established in 1971 by Governor John C. West to recognize South Carolinians who demonstrate extraordinary lifetime achievement, service, and contributions of national or statewide significance.

Governor Henry McMaster conferred the award upon Dowd in recognition of his extensive service to the residents of South Carolina, celebrating in particular his career-long service and dedication to advancing public and private institutions of higher education in the Carolinas.

A native of Bennettsville, Dowd currently resides in Bradley, South Carolina. He completed his Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Winthrop University in 1989 and the Master of Education degree in 1993 from the University of South Carolina, where he returned to earn the Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Administration degree with a cognate in Public Administration in 2015.

Dowd has devoted his entire three-decade career to serving institutions of higher education in the Carolinas. Before arriving at The Citadel Foundation in 2013, he served in leadership-level advancement and development positions at numerous notable colleges in the region, including Methodist College in Fayetteville, Columbia College, and Francis Marion University.

He has received proclamations and letters of commendation from several of these colleges for his exceptional service to the institutions.

The award was initially presented to Dowd on the Governor’s behalf by members of The Citadel Foundation Board of Directors in the presence of Jay’s family, colleagues, and staff as part of the celebrations held during The Citadel Foundation’s annual Leaders in Philanthropy weekend last fall. In February 2026, Governor McMaster officially presented the award in-person during a private ceremony held in the governor’s office.

“The Citadel Foundation proudly congratulates Dr. Dowd for his service to the college and his decades-long commitment to advancing higher education in the state of South Carolina,” they said.

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