Joe Lesesne

Spartanburg, SC

Dr. Joab “Joe” M. Lesesne is being honored for a lifetime of dedicated service to the natural world; for his conservation efforts in the Upstate and beyond; for his dedicated service to Upstate Forever as an advocate, board member and board chair; and for his leadership throughout the state as a voice for common-sense approaches to land and water conservation.

Dr. Lesesne graduated from Erskine College and earned his master’s degree and Ph.D. from the University of South Carolina. He served as president of Wofford College for 28 years (1972-2000). During his tenure, the campus doubled in size, the number of majors increased from 15 to 23, and the college’s endowment grew from $3.5 million to over $100 million.

Dr. Lesesne has served as chairman of the boards of the Spartanburg Area Chamber of Commerce, the Spartanburg County Foundation, and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. His many honors include the Neville Holcombe Distinguished Citizenship Award, the Spartanburg Area Chamber of Commerce (1992); the Daniel Morgan Award, United Way of the Piedmont (1997); the Sergeant William Jasper Award, South Carolina State Chamber of Commerce (1995); and the Order of the Palmetto (2000). He is also a brigadier general and brigade commander of the South Carolina Army National Guard, now holding the rank of major general, retired.