Thomas Edmond Garrison, Jr., was born January 21, 1922, and was reared on the Garrison Farm in Anderson County. After graduating from Clemson in 1942, Ed served in the US Army Air Force as a bomber pilot in the South Pacific.

Returning to South Carolina after the war, Ed added a dairy to the family farm which grew to be the 2nd largest Holstein herd in Anderson County. On a blind date in 1954, he met Juanita Bartlett and they were married May 8, 1955. While farming and providing for his wife and their 6 children, Ed began a 30 year career of serving the upstate in the South Carolina legislature.

Over the years he contributed greatly to the state by serving as the chairman of the Senate Agriculture, Education, and other committees. His involvement with organizations include: Soil and Water Conservation; S.C. Farm Bureau; Pendleton Farmer's Society; Anderson County Fair; S.C. Young Farmer's Association; county, state, and national dairy groups; Vocational Agriculture; Welcome Baptist Church; Shrine Organization; Order of the Elk's; and various historical and educational groups.

His many honors include Clemson Alumni Distinguished Service Award, Order of the Palmetto, Man of the Year in Agriculture by Progressive Farmer Magazine and others.

Link: T. Ed Garrison Areana