South Carolina loves tradition, and perhaps no tradition has been more proudly followed than sending the much-loved Thurmond back to the United States Senate for a record eight terms. When Senator Thurmond retires from the Senate in January 2003, he will have served his state since 1954 on Capitol Hill. But perhaps even more noteworthy is that Senator Thurmond has served almost all of those years as a senior - very senior - citizen.

Strom Thurmond's life has been a full one. Following his graduation from Clemson in 1923 with a Bachelor of Science degree, Thurmond joined the ranks in education as a teacher and coach, working at several schools through the 1920s. Thurmond's ability to lead started to become apparent when he served as Superintendent of Education in Edgefield County from 1929-1933.

Thurmond was admitted to the South Carolina Bar in 1930, having studied law under his father, Judge J. William Thurmond. He was then elected to the South Carolina state senate, representing Edgefield County, and served from 1933-38. From 1938-46, he served as Circuit Judge � with a four-year leave of absence for military service during World War II. (Second photo shows Senator Thurmond with President Eisenhower in Jan. 1955.)

His years during World War II were years when he distinguished himself as a soldier and an American, serving in the First US Army in the American, European, and Pacific Theaters. He landed in Normandy on D-Day with the 82nd Airborne Division, and was awarded a remarkable five Battle Stars. For his distinguished service, he was awarded a total of 18 decorations.

The war hero came home to South Carolina, and was elected Governor, serving from 1947-1951. In 1948, Thurmond became a candidate for President of the United States, carried 4 states, and received 39 electoral votes as the States Rights Democratic candidate (third largest independent electoral vote in US history).

Following his term as governor, Thurmond returned to his law practice, and spent three years as a private citizen in Aiken.

In 1954, Thurmond's long run in the US Senate began, with an unlikely election to the office as a write-in candidate, a feat that, to date, has never been repeated. Except for a brief exit from the Senate to run in the Democratic Primary as a candidate for president in 1956, Thurmond has served in the US Senate non-stop, being re-elected in 1956, 1960, 1966, 1972, 1978, 1984, 1990, and 1996. (Third photo on right shows Governor Thurmond following the successful 1947 governor's race.)

Along the way in his long career in the US Senate, Thurmond has been a member of both the Democratic and Republican parties � he has been a delegate to six Democratic and six Republican National Conventions. He left the Democratic Party in 1964, primarily over civil rights issues. Yet Thurmond adapted to the changing times, becoming the first South Carolina lawmaker to hire black staffers.

Always known as a man who enjoyed the company of women, Thurmond married twice. His first wife, Jean, died in 1960, after thirteen years of marriage and no children. He married Nancy Moore, a former Miss South Carolina and 44 years his junior, in 1968. They separated in 1991, after having four children together.

On December 5, 1996, Thurmond became the oldest serving member of the US Senate.

On May 25, 1997, he became the longest serving member of the US Senate.

In September 1998, Thurmond cast his 15,000th vote.

Congratulations to the "Gentleman from South Carolina" on reaching his 100th birthday and serving his state so long and so well.

(Bottom photo is a 1903 baby picture of "Senator-to-be" Strom Thurmond.)

(Photos provided by the Strom Thurmond Institute of Government and Public Affairs.)

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