2008 Inductee

Jeff Gladwell

Jeff Gladwell, who served as Chairman of the St. Andrew’s Parks and Playground Commission for 17 years, was inducted into the agency’s Hall of Fame at the annual St. Andrew’s awards dinner on Dec. 13.

Gladwell was appointed to the St. Andrew’s Parks and Playground Commission in 1987 and became Chairman in 1991. During his tenure with the Commission, Gladwell oversaw numerous projects which enabled St. Andrew’s to continually provide quality recreation services and facilities, including the development of Volunteer Park, the implementation of the agency’s successful long term strategic plan and the purchase of a health club which became St. Andrew’s Family Fitness Plus.

“Jeff’s philosophy was always ‘it’s not worth doing if it’s not worth doing right,’” current St. Andrew’s Commission Chairman Mike Eykyn said. “Everyone involved with St. Andrew’s the last two decades has been positively affected by Jeff’s remarkable achievements on every level of our operations.

“His leadership and outstanding service to the community made our agency a model for parks and recreation excellence around the country.”

St. Andrew’s won numerous local, state and national parks and recreation industry awards under Gladwell’s leadership, including the 2001 and 2004 South Carolina Recreation and Parks Association’s Agency of the Year award, the 2004 National Parks and Recreation Association’s Outstanding Commission of the Year honor, the 2005 Sports Illustrated Good Sports Community of the Year and the 2004 and 2007 National Alliance for Youth Sports Excellence in Youth Sports award.

In addition, Gladwell was recognized as the 2004 SCRPA Citizen/Lay Volunteer of the Year. Gladwell stepped down as Chairman of the St. Andrew’s Parks and Playground Commission earlier this year. He currently continues to serve as a Commissioner, and will retire shortly once a new Commissioner is appointed by Governor Mark Sanford via the Charleston County Council.
The St. Andrew’s Parks and Playground Hall of Fame recognizes individuals who have made an outstanding and lasting contribution during service as a St. Andrew’s employee, volunteer, parent, Commissioner or participant. Past inductees include Carolyn Drose, Darius Rucker, Tim Linker and Robert Drose.