Millennium Magazine_5th Ed

11 Millennium - A Marquis Who’s Who Magazine D onny Wilder’s career in journalism began from a place of pain. He had a promising future in football as he played for his high school team, but when he contracted polio, he could no longer. Rather than letting him spiral, Mr. Wilder’s English teachers encouraged him to write about sports for the school newspaper. He enjoyed writing and reporting, and he covered legislature for newspapers. He eventually ended up running for office. Mr. Wilder graduated with a BA from Furman University in 1954 and began his journalism career. Right out of college, he became a sports editor for the Carteret News-Times, and the following year, he became an associate editor at the Evening Herald in Rock Hill, South Carolina. In 1961, he moved to the Herald-Tribune in Sarasota, Florida, where he was an assistant managing editor. In 1963, he became a managing editor at the Daily Star in Shelby, North Carolina. Mr. Wilder arrived at the Chronicle Publishing Company in Clinton, South Carolina, in 1967. Over two decades, he has been an editor, publisher, owner and president. From 1985 to 1993, he was president of Laurens County Communications. With his career in journalism, Mr. Wilder knew many people in the community who thought he would be a great candidate for office. After much encouragement from both Democrats and Republicans, Mr. Wilder became a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives from 1992 until his retirement. Mr. Wilder contributed to organizations when he was not busy reporting, and he was most proud to be president of the South Carolina Press Association in 1974. Mr. Wilder was a member of the Economic Task Force with the State of South Carolina from 1979 to 1983 and was a member and sat on the board of visitors of Presbyterian College. Mr. Wilder has also won awards for public service and holds an honorary degree from Presbyterian. Mr. Wilder retired to The Palms Assisted in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, upon the death of his wife, Genie. He has one son, Robert; two grandchildren, Shay and Elliott; and two great-grandchildren, Marshall and Sophie. DONNY WILDER EDITOR, PUBLISHER, STATE LEGISLATOR (RETIRED) Chronicle Publishing Company Mount Pleasant, SC ADVERTISING, MARKETING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS