| HIST |
of Pinewood, South Carolina
D. Leslie Tindal Jr.
D. Leslie Tindal, Jr. PINEWOOD - David Leslie Tindal, Jr. 89, husband of the late May Davis Tindal, died Tuesday, June 27, 2017, at his home. Born May 4, 1928, in Pinewood, to the late David Leslie Tindal, Sr. and the late Lela Norris Tindal, he attended Pinewood public schools and Furman University and began his career in farming in 1949, planting row crops and later growing certified seed. He served as South Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture from 1982 to 2002. He was a lifelong member of Calvary Baptist Church and was also a member of Pinewood Baptist Church. He is survived by three daughters, Betsy T. Ducworth (John) of Summerton, Amelia T. Handegan (John Roven) of Charleston, and Ginger Tindal Rhodes of Summerton; one son, David L. Tindal III (Nancy) of Pinewood; eight grandchildren: John W. Ducworth III (Julie), Elizabeth D. Thompson (Mark), Tindal D. Handegan, Jack D. Handegan III (Chelsea), Thomas L. Rhodes III (Caroline), Austin T. Rhodes (Meredith), Rebecca T. Thompson (Rob) and David L. Tindal IV (Danielle); seven great grandchildren: May, William, Lee, Quinn, Braxton, Virginia and David; a sister, Henrietta T. "Hennie" Rickenbaker of Summerton; and numerous nieces and nephews. Commissioner Tindal was recognized for his lifetime of hard work and dedication to the farmers of South Carolina. As a farmer in Clarendon and Sumter Counties, he was involved with numerous agricultural organizations and traveled the world developing agricultural and business contacts. Later, those relationships helped him in serving the state's agriculture and agribusiness sector. A devoted advocate of research for agricultural development, he brought new crops to South Carolina and encouraged new technologies to help the state's farmers be more efficient and profitable. As Commissioner, he supported farmers and provided agricultural recovery efforts following droughts, floods, and other natural disasters, particularly the devastation to agriculture by Hurricane Hugo in 1989. Under his leadership, the SC Department of Agriculture developed the Small Farms Program, SC Quality Program, Serving SC Quality Program, SCDA Equine Program, Ag in the Classroom, and opened the Pee Dee State Farmers Market. Commissioner Tindal served and held leadership positions in many organizations, including the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, American Soybean Association, South Carolina Foundation Seed Board, South Carolina Crop Improvement, South Carolina Cattlemen, South Carolina Seedsmen, South Carolina Soybean Association, and Clarendon County Farm Bureau. He served on the Board of Trustees of Clemson University for ten years and upon his election as Commissioner of Agriculture was named a Lifetime Trustee Emeritus. He served on the Black River Cooperative Board of Directors for 55 years until 2015. He faithfully attended Calvary Baptist Church and served the church in numerous capacities. A founding parent of Clarendon Hall, he was a long-time member on the school's Board of Trustees and at the time of his death was serving as a trustee of the Clarendon Hall Land Trust. A two time recipient of the Order of the Palmetto, Commissioner Tindal also received many honors and awards throughout the years for his dedication to and leadership in the many agricultural and civic organizations to which he belonged. In 2003, the South Carolina House of Representatives recognized Commissioner Tindal for his outstanding and valuable service as Commissioner of Agriculture thanking him for twenty years of service to the farmers and citizens of South Carolina. One of his greatest pleasures was traveling throughout this state he held so dear. He knew every small town, every community, and every crossroad, and he touched the lives of many at each stop he made. A true Southern gentleman, Commissioner Tindal delighted in being with family and friends on his farm or at the lake and enjoyed discussions on farming, politics, current events, family history, Clemson University, and Clemson Tiger football. In all aspects of his life, "he plowed deep and straight and didn't cut corners, so God made him a farmer." Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, June 30, 2017, at Calvary Baptist Church with Rev. Bennie Barwick officiating. Burial will follow at Calvary Baptist Church Graveyard. Grandsons will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be nephews Billy Davis, Bob Davis, Skip Davis, Fritz Davis, Francis Davis, Bill Davis, Connor Davis, David Cahill, Rick Rickenbaker, Burchell Rickenbaker and long-time employees, Vernell Durant and Leroy Moore. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, June 29, 2017, at the residence, 1322 Les Tindal Road, Pinewood. The family wishes to express appreciation for the kindness and care provided by Tina Medina, Debbie Gutierrez, Dr. Robert S. Eagerton Jr. and staff, and Embrace Hospice. Memorials may be made to Calvary Baptist Church Trust, 1463 Les Tindal Road, Pinewood, SC 29125 or Clarendon Hall School Scholarship Fund (501-C-3), P.O. Box 609, Summerton, SC 29148 or Connie Maxwell Children's Home Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 1178, Greenwood, SC 29648. Stephens Funeral Home & Crematory, 304 N. Church Street, Manning, is in charge of arrangements, (803) 435-2179. www.stephensfuneralhome.org.
Funeral Home
Stephens Funeral Home & Crematory
304 N. Church St.
Manning, SC 29102
(803) 435-2179
Published in The State on June 29, 2017
Funeral procession for Les Tindal
The cortege of former South Carolina Agriculture Commissioner Les Tindal passes among farm buildings and corn fields on its way to the Calvary Baptist Church near Pinewood on Friday morning.
JIM HILLEY / THE SUMTER ITEM
Posted Sunday, July 2, 2017 6:00 am
Pinewood farmer was a beloved agricultural icon
Posted Friday, June 30, 2017 6:00 am
Les Tindal, who was South Carolina Secretary of Agriculture from 1982 to 2000, died Tuesday at age 89.
A graduate of Furman University, he was a trustee for Clemson University from 1973 to 1982 and on the Board of Directors of Black River Electric Cooperative for many years.
Rowland Alston, Chair of the BREC Board of Directors and a former Clemson Extension agent, said Tindal was well respected among his colleagues.
"I have never seen anyone develop and exhibit more enthusiasm for the agriculture industry as Tindal did," Alston said. "He constantly traveled the state, gave up a lot of his free time on weekends to go to all kinds of events, whether it was a frog jumping contest in Springfield, a peach festival in Pelion or a tomato festival in Charleston, he was constantly on the go."
"He gave unselfishly of his time to the state," said Summerton Mayor Pro Tem Ellen Ardis. "He was very knowledgeable, kind and generous."
Black River Cooperative CEO Charlie Allen said Tindal always had an upbeat attitude.
"He was one of those people who spoke to everyone, was interested in everyone and could remember people's names very well," he said.
Alston said Tindal will be remembered as a voice for agriculture.
"What impressed me was that agriculture always had representation with Tindal, and you could always count on him speaking up," Alston said.
At BREC, Tindal had a hand in bringing the company out of debt with frugal governance that always kept the interests of the members in mind, Alston said.
"He made sure we didn't waste any money," he said. "I believe I would rather him hold my wallet than hold it myself because he was very frugal."
Allen said he always kept BRECs members' interests at the forefront.
"He was a leader in focusing on keeping the costs at the co-op low and keeping our rates reasonable," Allen said. "He seemed to have a real concern for what was best for the members."
He also had a concern for the employees, Allen said.
"He understood the commitment that we have from employees to work during storms when a lot of people were able to stay at home," he said.
Alston praised Tindal's leadership on the Clemson University Board of Trustees, where he served until he was elected agriculture commissioner.
"Clemson being an ag school and a land grant school, a lot of times the faculty and the administration may not have a strong agricultural science background," Alston said. "With Les on the board, agriculture had a strong voice. He was an active farmer and he understood the common problems farmers in the state were experiencing, and he would push the administration at Clemson to address these problems."
Alston said Tindal was an icon in agriculture.
"I think he is the last of the true great leaders I saw coming up as a boy," he said. "He is the last leader from that greatest generation in agriculture that I know of."
Tindal raised swine and beef cattle, Alston said, but he focused mostly on corn, wheat and soybeans. His father farmed near Pinewood, and his son David L. Tindal III and grandson David Tindal IV are maintaining the tradition, he said.
According to a Clemson University press release, Tindal served two terms as president of the American Soybean Association, was director of the American Soybean Institute, was a member of the USDA Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee and helped organize and served as president of the South Carolina Soybean Association.
He was named Man of the Year for service to South Carolina agriculture by Progressive Farmer, was recognized as one of the 15 Top Farmers in America by Ford Motor Co., according to the press release.
Tindal was born May 4, 1928, in Pinewood to David Leslie Tindal Sr. and Lela Norris Tindal, according to an obituary at www.stephensfuneralhome.org.
Tindal was married to May Davis Tindal, and they had four children.
- By Jim Hilley [1, 2, 3, 5, 9, 10] |
1928 - 2017 (89 years)
