About the Townes Award
Since 1993, GSSM has presented the Townes Award to honor individuals, businesses, or institutions that have transformed South Carolina. Past winners have hailed from academic, business and political sectors.
Dr. Charles H. Townes (1915-2015) was a native South Carolinian, Furman graduate and Nobel Laureate in physics. In 1964, Dr. Townes received the Nobel Prize for his work in quantum electronics leading to the invention of the laser. This discovery transformed not only science, but also everyday life. The laser now is a ubiquitous part of the modern landscape in everything from supermarket bar code scanners to Blu-rayTM players, as well as surgery, laser printers and weapons guidance.
Past Townes Award Recipients
1993 - The Honorable Carroll A. Campbell Jr. and Mr. Charles W. Coker
1994 - Dr. John R. Carpenter and Dr. Doris R. Helms
1995 - Professor Elizabeth M. Martin
1996 - Dr. Walter D. Smith
1997 - Mr. Fred Sheheen
1998 - Dr. Peggy W. Cain
1999 - Mr. Roger Milliken and Dr. Ruth Patrick
2000 - Mr. Rudy Mancke and Dr. John Michener
2001 - Dr. Larry A. Jackson
2002 - The Honorable Richard W. Riley
2003 - Major General Charles F. Bolden Jr.
2004 - South Carolina's Three Research Universities: Clemson, MUSC, USC
2005 - The Honorable Ernest F. Hollings
2006 - Mr. Don Herriott
2007 - The Honorable Robert W. Harrell, Jr.
2008 - Mr. Steve Swanson
2009 - Mr. Harris E. DeLoach
2010 - Ms. Darla Moore
2011 - The Honorable Hugh K. Leatherman
2012 - Mr. M. Edward Sellers
2013 - University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville
2014 - Mr. Jim Barker
2015 - The Honorable Lindsey Graham
2016 - Milliken & Company
2017 - The Hon. Nikki R. Haley, the SC Dept. of Commerce and Team SC
2019 - The Students & Graduates of GSSM
2021 - Lou and Bill Kennedy
2022 – The People of Sonoco Products Company
2023 – The Honorable Jay Lucas
2024 - SCbio