The Peace Center is a performing arts center located in Greenville, South Carolina . It is composed of a concert hall, theater, and amphitheatre. Located adjacent to Falls Park , the center hosts over 300 events each year, including classical music , Broadway shows , pop stars , and magic shows including David Copperfield .
31-484: Under consideration since at least the 1970s, a new Greenville performing arts center was being designed and was of utmost importance for then-mayor Bill Workman . The Peace Center is named after the local Peace family who donated $ 10 million towards its development. The center was opened in 1990 and is built on the former site of three dilapidated factories – one that produced wagons for the Confederate Army ,
62-444: A Beaufort economic summit in an industry recruitment context, Workman said, "If someone is looking at your community, they want to see how you treat yourselves, then they can see how you will treat them." In the 1995 campaign for mayor, challenger Knox White criticized Workman's twelve years on the job as making him less effective, and pledged that he would introduce a term limit for the office. White defeated Workman 3,569–2,234 in
93-569: A special election to fill the vacancy in the Charleston-centered 1st congressional district caused by the death of longtime Democrat L. Mendel Rivers . Edwards narrowly lost to one of Rivers's staffers, Mendel Jackson Davis , but gained enough name recognition from his strong showing that he was elected to the South Carolina Senate as a Republican from white-majority Charleston County. Two years later, he entered
124-583: A "Vision Award" from the Appalachian Regional Commission . In the latter 1970s, while working for Governor Edwards, he had a key role in getting the Upstate region added to the multi-state Appalachia area, with annual funding from the commission going toward economic stimulants such as a network of state technical colleges. Workman also held top leadership positions in the state's Appalachian Health Council from 1972 to 1975. The award
155-850: A close friendship with his Democratic predecessor, John C. West , whom he had earlier accused of undermining the Haynsworth nomination. In 1994, the state legislature renamed a portion of the Mark Clark Expressway that crosses the Wando River the James B. Edwards Bridge . In 2010, the new MUSC dental building and the dental school was renamed the James B. Edwards College of Dental Medicine. Edwards died at his home in Mount Pleasant on December 26, 2014, from complications from
186-545: A textile plant built in the 1880s, and a former home of Duke's Mayonnaise . There are three resident companies: Greenville Symphony Orchestra , Carolina Ballet Theatre, and the International Ballet. In January 2004, the Peace Center hosted a debate among Democratic presidential candidates. In May 2011, it was the site of the first Republican debate for the 2012 presidential election . In February 2016, it
217-480: A variety of positions associated with dentistry in the community. In 1970, Edwards became chairman of the Republican Party of South Carolina's 1st congressional district . As a supporter of Republican gubernatorial nominee U.S. Representative Albert Watson of South Carolina's 2nd congressional district , Edwards claimed that Watson's Democratic opponent, John C. West , worked covertly in 1969 against
248-477: Is given for "exemplary service and leadership" and covered regional planning and development contributions throughout Workman's career. Workman moved to South Carolina's Lowcountry region in 2006, where he was Bluffton 's town manager for three years. He had a part in laying off a Bluffton police officer in 2009 and was named in a subsequent age discrimination lawsuit. Judge Bruce Howe Hendricks cited statements made by Workman in recommending non-dismissal of
279-553: Is no doubt Greenville is now one of the Southeast region's premier cities for business. Bill Workman played a leading role in this evolution and has made many noteworthy contributions to Greenville and upstate South Carolina." Workman retired from Piedmont in February 2004 after 10 years of service, with Mike Forrester replacing him as vice president of the energy company's South Carolina operations. In March 2004, Workman received
310-657: The Order of the Palmetto , by him in 1978. From 1978 to 1994, Workman was employed by Fluor Daniel in industrial relations and project development. Workman served for two years on the Greenville City Council before being elected as the city's mayor in 1983. As mayor-elect in June 1983, he told city officials, "The primary thing we have to focus on is economic development." Early in his first term, Workman and
341-550: The U.S. Naval Reserve after the war. Edwards received a bachelor's degree in 1950 at the College of Charleston where he was a brother of Pi Kappa Phi fraternity . He received a D.M.D. in 1955 from the University of Louisville , and did a dental internship at the University of Pennsylvania . Returning to Charleston , Edwards established a dentistry practice in 1960 that specialized in oral surgery . He subsequently held
SECTION 10
#1732783129555372-537: The governor's race as a long-shot candidate. Edwards upset General William Westmoreland in the Republican primary and defeated Democratic Congressman William Jennings Bryan Dorn of South Carolina's 3rd congressional district in the general election. Dorn had become the Democratic nominee after the winner of the runoff election, Charles D. "Pug" Ravenel , was disqualified on residency grounds. Edwards
403-533: The Army Reserve, later retiring as a lieutenant colonel. Workman was a news reporter in Charleston ( News and Courier ) and then Greenville ( The Greenville News ) in the late 1960s. Greenville Technical College hired him in 1971 as dean of health services. Workman was an executive assistant for South Carolina governor James B. Edwards from 1975 to 1978, and was given the state's highest honor,
434-604: The Greenville area's chamber of commerce decided to recruit corporate headquarters to the area. The chamber had a plan in place by late 1983, and French tire manufacturer Michelin decided to move its North America headquarters to Greenville in 1984, taking advantage of its location between Atlanta and Charlotte. Tens of other companies also moved to Greenville in following years, including pulp and paper business Bowater in 1992. Workman ran unsuccessfully to represent South Carolina's 4th congressional district in 1986 . During
465-472: The campaign, he was endorsed by Reagan administration HUD Secretary Samuel Pierce , who "stressed Workman's experience with former [governor Edwards] ... and the Greenville City Council." Workman lost to Liz J. Patterson in a close 49–51% election, and attributed the outcome to home support for his challenger in Spartanburg County and Reagan's veto of a textile bill important to parts of
496-589: The city acted as developer for the 45,000-square-foot (4,200 m ) West End Market project, which later brought an arts and entertainment district. A city councilman credited Workman with getting corporate support for public–private partnerships including the Peace Center performing arts center. He oversaw construction of the $ 2.7 million Greenville Municipal Stadium after getting local banks to buy city revenue bonds, continued Main Street redevelopment, and
527-449: The district. In an unusual situation, the candidates' fathers had been opponents in 1962 for a U.S. Senate seat. It was the state's most costly race of 1986, in which Workman's campaign spent over $ 590 million. As mayor, Workman is credited with helping to build cultural ties to Greenville and establish a sistership with Bergamo , Italy ; he visited the northern Italian city in 1989 to discuss various exchanges. Under his leadership,
558-673: The federal suit, which ended with a cash settlement from the town in 2012 without admission of liability. Workman and his first wife, Marcia, were married in 1966 and had two sons; the couple divorced in January 1996. With his 1996 marriage to second wife Patti, Workman gained three stepdaughters. In 2014, he was honored in the state capital as a "South Carolina Economic Ambassador" for Colleton County . Workman died on May 12, 2019, in Walterboro. James B. Edwards James Burrows Edwards (June 24, 1927 – December 26, 2014)
589-404: The latter 1970s, after which he was honored with the Order of the Palmetto . Workman was a member of the Greenville city council for two years before his election as mayor. During his three terms as mayor, Workman coordinated redevelopment of the city's Main Street, helped build international cultural ties, oversaw construction of a baseball stadium, helped bring multiple corporate headquarters to
620-589: The nomination of South Carolina's Clement Haynsworth to the United States Supreme Court . The Nixon nominee failed in the U.S. Senate, 55 to 45, on grounds of alleged bias against organized labor and a lack of supports for civil rights . Edwards predicted that as governor West would install "an ultra-liberal, minority-dominated state government," citing West's political ties to Hubert H. Humphrey and longtime NAACP executive director Roy Wilkins . Edwards first ran for office in 1971, in
651-447: The open-seating areas. The Brian Setzer Orchestra performed at the Peace Center in 2006 for their Christmas Rocks Tour, and also played some of their hits like "Jump, Jive, and Wail". In 2022, a $ 36 million renovation project was revealed. 34°50′50″N 82°24′4″W / 34.84722°N 82.40111°W / 34.84722; -82.40111 Bill Workman William Douglas Workman III (July 3, 1940 – May 12, 2019)
SECTION 20
#1732783129555682-479: The primary, and then more-than-doubled Workman's duration as mayor after winning the general election. After losing reelection, Workman continued work as a vice president of Piedmont Natural Gas and took leadership roles in various organizations to promote local economic development. In 1997, Workman offered advice in a round table discussion about industrial recruitment in Oak Ridge, Tennessee . In 1998, he
713-471: The region, and negotiated funding partnerships for a performing arts center and a multi-purpose arena. After elected service, he continued work as vice president for a major regional gas utility company, and advised community leadership gatherings in South Carolina and beyond. Workman returned to the state's Lowcountry in 2006 and held leadership roles in various economic development organizations. He
744-560: Was an American businessman and politician who served as the mayor of Greenville, South Carolina from 1983 to 1995. Greenville is the seat of Greenville County , the state's most populous county, at the center of the Upstate South Carolina region. Originally from the southern part of the state, Workman began work in journalism before entering politics. He worked in Governor James B. Edwards ' administration in
775-474: Was an American politician and administrator from South Carolina . He was the first Republican to be elected governor of South Carolina since the post- Civil War Reconstruction era in the 1870s. He later served as the U.S. secretary of energy under Ronald Reagan . Edwards was born in Hawthorne, Florida , and was an officer in the U.S. Maritime Service during World War II. He continued his service in
806-577: Was elected the first Republican governor of the state since Daniel Henry Chamberlain in 1876. 1974 was otherwise a dismal year for Republicans nationally because of the Watergate scandal and lingering opposition to the Vietnam War , both of which may have contributed to the primary defeat of Westmoreland, commander of U.S. forces during the late 1960s. At that time South Carolina governors were not allowed to serve two terms in succession, so Edwards
837-513: Was honored as a South Carolina Economic Ambassador in 2014. Born in Charleston, South Carolina , Workman grew up in Columbia and Walterboro . His father, William Jr., worked for various state newspapers and Newsweek magazine. His mother, Rhea, taught English at Columbia College . Workman graduated from The Citadel in 1961. He served two years with the U.S. Army before continuing in
868-597: Was involved with partnership negotiations for development of the Bon Secours Wellness Arena . In 1989, Workman urged a group of the state's city and county leaders to look beyond their annual budgets, in anticipation of eventual economic downturns and to control the gap between upper and lower class. In 1990, he urged a Union revitalization group (about 45 miles or 72 km to the east) to accept more risk and build water–sewer lines along its new highways in anticipation of future growth. In 1993, at
899-520: Was the keynote speaker at a gathering of business and community leaders in Durham, North Carolina , who sought to revive their downtown commerce and activity. Workman warned against repeating Greenville's mistakes during growth, and emphasized the need for a strategic plan rather than a tactical one to attract businesses. In 2004, U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham acknowledged Workman's accomplishments in attracting new industries to his city and region: "There
930-510: Was the site of the ninth Republican debate for the 2016 presidential election . The TD Stage at the Peace Center (formerly the Peace Center Amphitheater) opened September 12, 2012, hosting Vince Gill. The night started with Mayor Knox White and TD executives hosting a ribbon cutting ceremony. Seating capacity is projected to be 1,400+. Patrons are able to sit along the tiered seat-walls or use blankets or lawn chairs in
961-638: Was unable to seek reelection in 1978. In 1981, U.S. president Ronald Reagan appointed Edwards secretary of energy . He resigned two years later to serve as the President of the Medical University of South Carolina , a post he held for 17 years. In 1997, Edwards was inducted into the South Carolina Hall of Fame. In 2008, he endorsed Mitt Romney for his party's presidential nomination. As governor and thereafter, Edwards developed