Governor Mark Sanford has appointed Ken Willingham, President of Thompson Trucking Company, Inc. in North Charleston as his at-large appointee to the SCDOT Commission. The governor’s appointment was confirmed by the South Carolina Senate on October 28 during the special session of the legislature. Willingham succeeds Tee Hooper from Greenville who was appointed to the Commission by Governor Sanford in 2003.

               Willingham is a native of Newberry, South Carolina, who holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from The Citadel. After earning his degree, he served in the military in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Military Police. Following his military service he held positions in both the trucking and concrete industries before becoming the President of Thompson Trucking.

               In addition to his professional duties, Willingham has served on transportation-related boards and organizations. He recently served for two years on the Charleston Area Transportation Study Policy Committee (CHATS) in 2006 and 2007. In 2008, he served as a member of the Mass Transit and Human Services Transportation Programs Study Committee that was formed by Governor Sanford and completed its work earlier in 2009. He also served as a member of the SCDHEC Coastal Zone Management Appellate Panel beginning in 2001. In addition, Willingham has served on the boards of numerous civic and professional organizations both statewide and in the Mount Pleasant area.

               Governor Sanford said Willingham’s experience will be a great asset for the SCDOT Commission. “Ken brings a wealth of experience to the job – including his work with the Army Corps of Engineers and leadership roles he’s held at Thompson Trucking, Tidewater Concrete and a host of other companies and groups. Moreover, the broad support expressed by legislators for Ken’s nomination was a good indication of how widely his character and abilities are respected across the state, and I’d simply thank him for being willing to serve,” said Sanford.

               In 2008, Governor Sanford awarded Willingham the Order of the Palmetto, South Carolina’s highest civilian honor, for his work and service as Chairman of the South Carolina Trucking Association. He is married to Kay Boyette Willingham. They make their home in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina.

A high-resolution photograph of Commissioner Ken Willingham is available at: http://www.scdot-transfer.org/scdotphotos/WillinghamKen.jpg 

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