"I knew Strom's wife, Nancy Moore, before they were married. ... I remember the time that Strom catered to Nancy's greatest wish and bought her a convertible. At that time, my late husband and I owned a restaurant in Columbia called The Bounty, and we were all gathered for a family dinner, waiting for the senator's arrival. Strom barely knew how to drive, as he was always driven. With a mixture of horror and laughter, we watched Strom trying to park the car. It took about five minutes. After dinner, I will never forget the sight of Strom and Nancy and their four children, top down, everyone screaming except Strom, as he tried to navigate out of the parking lot. He took down several fence posts, and I think he might have left a few fender dents."

"Gov. J. Strom Thurmond appointed me to fill out my late father's term as magistrate in Sumter County in October of 1949. I was the first woman magistrate at that time. The next year was an election year, and three men ran for the position. I got approval from my husband, H. Knute Delk, who was working toward his doctoral degree at Columbia University. I asked Gov. Strom if I should run again. His response was: 'If a pretty lady can't beat three men, then this country is in bad shape.' I was re-elected and served as county magistrate until 1951. I resigned when Jimmy Byrnes was governor. We moved to another part of the state, as my husband had accepted a high-school principal's job. We knew Strom and his wife, Jean Crouch, well, as she and my husband were both from Barnwell County. Even though my husband played football at USC and Strom was a Clemson graduate, Jean always invited us over to the Governor's Mansion for sandwiches on 'Big Thursday.' Strom was 20 years older than me, and he has lived a good, full life. I am flying the U.S. flag that Sen. Thurmond had sent to me from the capital for my 70th birthday."

- Lila B. Delk, Garden City Beach

"Strom Thurmond was instrumental in getting President Bush to send a letter of congratulations to my mother-in-law Jeanette Leach. She turned 100 Sept. 15, 2002. God bless him!"

- Janet L. Leach, Murrells Inlet

"I felt very lucky the day I opened the letter inviting me to work one month in the Washington office of my U.S. senator.

"Sen. Thurmond's office was very helpful in arranging accommodations and transportation from the airport.

"Prior to my arriving in Washington, the appointment had already changed my life. It helped me get elected president of the student body at Socastee in 1980. I left Myrtle Beach for Washington as president. What a feeling!

"There are many memories. He asked me to call former S.C. Gov. James Edwards so he could discuss the appointment of [Department of] Energy secretary by President Reagan.

"One Saturday just me, the senator and his limo driver were in the office. I was talking to former Sen. Hubert Humphrey's driver, who was now working for Thurmond. The driver told me I would never forget every thing I did up there, which is true. The senator let his driver go home; he had things to do, and would stay a while yet in the office. It is just the two of us.

"That's when he asked me to call Edwards. I had to speak to two or three people before I actually spoke to the governor. I didn't know the secretarial way to intercom him, so I simply put the governor on hold and walked right into the plaque-covered office of the senator and said, 'Senator, the governor is on the line.' What a memory.

"I was hoping he'd give me a ride to my guest house four blocks behind the Supreme Court. That was not to be, but I did walk down the stairs with him.

"We headed to the limo together. I carried his briefcase, and he carried a box of stuff. Opening the door to the vehicle, we put the items in the back seat, and I watched as he settled into the car. He asked me if I knew how to get the headlights on. I fiddled around, but he figured it out first, as I squatted beside him on the road.

"I remember visiting his house, watching little Strom jump on the aerobic trampoline in the basement. Before that, the pages and interns were sitting in his living room, when he walks in.

"What a big guy he was with the trench coat - big enough for all the kids to jump on him like fleas.

"He could still walk with them hanging on!

"I took our newly manufactured school flag with me to Washington to be photographed with the senator. I presented that flag, along with the American flag flown over the Capitol, to my school.

"I hope Socastee High School still has that flag."

- Patrick L. Hill

"I first saw him when I was working at a Florence paper. He reminded me of a Western movie star. He was something else. Won't be another one like him."

- Tim Bullard, Conway

"My parents built a home in Windjammer Village, Little River, in 1980. It's a small, gated community on the Waterway near Calabash. They decided to move there because it has a boat ramp and boat storage.

Soon after they moved into their home, my dad learned that the Corps of Engineers had refused to allow the property owners association to build a fishing dock next to the boat ramp. Not once, but many times.

"My dad called Strom Thurmond's office, explained the situation and, suddenly, the Corps of Engineers had no problem with allowing a dock permit. Since then, Windjammer Village has enjoyed their fishing dock for over 20 years.

"Calling Strom Thurmond's office was like magic!"

- Liz Crotty

"In July 1968, I was assigned to Fort Hood, [Texas], after returning from Vietnam. Since there was a uniform shortage, I wore civilian clothes and was assigned to the barracks.

"After a few days, I went over to special service and applied for a lifeguard job, as I was a former water safety instructor in civilian life. They put me out at Lake Belton, where I was in charge of eight other guards and had my own trailer on the lake, in which I lived.

"After a few weeks, I decided to apply for an early out to go back to college but kept getting turned down.

"I contacted my uncle, John Nye, and he, in turn, contacted our local congressman, John McMillian, in Florence, but still was turned down. Finally, he called Sen. Strom Thurmond's office. Early one morning, I received a telephone call, and it was Sen. Thurmond. He told me that he was informed the reason I could not get out of service was that my presence was essential to the unit's mission, and the mission was currently 'Garden Plot,' which was riot control in big cities at that time. I then explained to Sen. Thurmond that I was a lifeguard with no uniform other than a bathing suit.

"He and I hung up and, two hours later, here comes a major and sergeant and, six hours later, I was on my way home to Cherry Grove Beach. This process of discharge normally takes three to four days.

"A few years later, I had the opportunity to see and talk with Sen Thurmond at a stump meeting at Galivants Ferry. He remembered me, and I thanked him profusely.

"He truly was a great man for the state and country."

- Johnnie Vereen, Pawleys Island

"It was 1962, and I was asked to join the staff of Sen. Thurmond. I had just finished a course in business school and [was] a little scared of leaving my small town at the age of 19. I made my decision to go and, in two days, I was on a train with $50 in my pocket and a one-way ticket to Washington, D.C. The senator's office had reserved a room for me in the Carroll Arms, right across the street from the Old Senate Office Building. Some of the other ladies in his office were looking for someone to share an apartment. I was not old enough to sign the lease, and he said he would be responsible. Wow! I settled in nicely and began a one-year tenure of one of the most interesting times in my life. Many happy stories, but this is one I remember most.

"A friend of Sen. Thurmond's had called and asked if someone from the office could go to the airport and stay with his young son on an hour wait for his next flight.

"I volunteered and was given the keys to his big, black Cadillac and was on my way. Boy, I thought I was something - remember, this [is] 1962. I found the airport and the child.

"Everything worked out, and I found my way back. Just one of my experiences.

"I am now the age the senator was when I was there. How time flies. My sincere condolences to his family. He was a fine statesman and a gentleman."

- Pat Z. Bethea

"On Oct. 4, my daughter, Kian, and I had the opportunity to take a picture with Sen. Thurmond as he arrived at the Richard B. Russell Senate Building for work. He and Kian sat next to each other in wheelchairs (she has cerebral palsy) holding hands while I put my arm around his shoulder. I asked jokingly if it was OK for me to hug him since I had heard he liked younger women. He said "yes."

- LaVonia B. Jackson, Myrtle Beach

"Every visit to Washington had to include a visit to Strom's office. Both the reception room and his office were very large, with high ceilings. In both rooms, every inch, from the floor to the ceiling, was covered with photographs and certificates. He kept a full-time photographer and would pose for a photo with everyone who came to visit. These would later go in the mail, personally signed and individualized by the senator. Every recipient, of course, became a lifelong supporter. He would give each visitor a gift as if it was immensely expensive and important. To my knowledge, none of them ever cost more than a nickel.

"However, to this day, I often examine and admire my 2-inch-long tin box with a 'Vote for Strom' sticker on the bottom.

On several occasions, we joined Strom and Nancy in the Senate dining room for lunch. Strom would order for himself and, without pausing, would also order for Nancy. Every senator present, including Fritz Hollings, would come over to pay respects to Strom.

I will let my husband of 15 years, George, tell the last story:

"My wife, Kitty, and I were ushered to our seats in the National Cathedral in Washington. It was in September 2000, and the occasion was the wedding of Strom and Nancy Thurmond's daughter, Julie.

The wedding was extremely important to Strom because he had lost his oldest daughter in a car accident, and this would be the only time he would act as an escort to the altar. Julie held him by one arm and Strom Jr., held the other arm, with son Paul next to Julie. The aisle must have been 200 yards long, but Strom made it all the way, erect and proud. There was not a dry eye in the cathedral.

"The wedding reception was at the Corcoran Gallery of Art. After dining from the massive tables at one end of the hall, everyone crowded to the other end.

"There was a large dance floor and, behind it, a 20-piece orchestra. At a given signal, Nancy brought her husband to the center of the dance floor and left him to make a speech. With a mike ... and a very large audience at hand, Strom was at his best. However, he was a little disoriented and began making his speech to the band. Nancy returned swiftly and turned him toward the audience.

"Making tiny steps as he turned, Strom didn't miss a beat as he spoke about this great nation of ours. He ended his speech with a warning to the groom-to-be:

"'You treat my daughter right, young man, or you'll have to answer to me!'"

- Kathryn "Kitty" Inabinet Vickery and George Vickery

"In March 1982, tornadoes went through our great state. I was living in Cheraw at the time, and I volunteered my services at the high school in Bennettsville, where they had set up shelter for people left homeless by the devastation.

"Sen. Thurmond and his wife and staff came down to view the devastation and to bring hope and prayers for those who lost so much. He told me if there was anything he or his staff could do, to just ask. After talking with Sen. Thurmond, I knew in some way he not only touched my life from his encouragement but also many more who were striving to overcome such loss."

- Pat Mullins, Myrtle Beach

"I had called the senator's office a few weeks prior and advised that I was graduating from the FBI's National Academy at Quantico, [Va.], that morning and that my family and I would like to stop by as part of our tour of a few of the Washington, D.C., sights. I was informed that Friday afternoons are not known to be particularly good times for U.S. Capitol visits because most congressmen are through with their work after lunch Friday. I was impressed by the interest his office took in my particular situation, and I assured them that anything his office could do to make our visit a little more memorable would be greatly appreciated.

"When we walked in the senator's office that afternoon, we were very warmly welcomed with: 'Mr. and Mrs. Frontz, we are so glad that you could make it here this afternoon.' Before we could get over the surprise of being greeted by our name, we were then told, 'The senator has been waiting to meet you.' "In short order, we were taken into Sen. Thurmond's office, where he immediately congratulated me for my attendance at the FBI National Academy and then made it a point to advise my son that he should be proud of a father who has dedicated himself to being a public servant as a career police officer. The gracious senator was also quick to include my wife into the conversation. At his direction, our family posed with him behind his desk and a staff member took the photograph that is attached.

"The senator also arranged for one of his staff members to give us a private tour of the U.S. Capitol on that afternoon. Our family will never forget how Sen. Strom Thurmond made us feel that, because we were S.C. citizens, we were the most important people in the world to him on that day. I no longer had to wonder why he won all of the elections he had to make him the longest-serving congressman in our nation's history!"

- Bill Frontz, captain, Myrtle Beach Police Department

"When I was young, I had a morning paper route. Strom Thurmond was a young lawyer in the 1930s in Edgefield, and he was my customer.

"My memory is that his office was a very modest, two-room house a couple of houses north of the courthouse. I never saw a secretary in the office.

"I was always glad to collect from Mr. Thurmond. He would occasionally give me a quarter and tell me to keep the change. No one else ever did that. Money was close in those days."

- Robert Griffith, Myrtle Beach

"During the 1960s, when I was the pastor of Plymouth Haven Baptist Church in Alexandria, Va., Harry Dent, Sen. Thurmond's administrative assistant, 1957-1969, and his family were members of our church. On one occasion, Harry asked me to come over to Capitol Hill because he wanted to introduce me to Sen. Thurmond. When I went to his office, Harry said: 'Senator, this is my preacher.' Sen. Thurmond walked toward me and, as he got near where I was standing, he flipped open his coat and pulled out one of many ballpoint pens. He extended to me a pen with his name on it. As I took it, he also reached out to shake my hand, saying, 'Reverend, always remember to give them something and press the flesh.'"

- Charles Nunn, Pawleys Island

"In 1996, I volunteered for Strom Thurmond. During that campaign, Sen. Thurmond spent most of one day as the grand marshal of the Loris Bog-Off Festival. My job that day was to follow him around and give everyone he talked to an 'I Love Strom' sticker. We had nearly 800 of them.

"The people in Loris just flocked to him like he was a rock star. He ran completely out of stickers but kept on shaking hands. As the day wore on, he and I got to talking about eating healthy and exercise and always having a positive mental attitude. He walked all over the town, hugged and got his picture taken with the Loris Bog-Off beauty queen and gave a great old fashioned stump speech. ...

"What really stood out that day were the people who came up to thank him for some favor or help he had given them or a relative. It happened over and over all day long. ...

"When the campaign ended, I decided to write Sen. Thurmond to ask for his advice on seeking public office. The letter he wrote me stressed education, helping others and a faith in God. ...

"There will never be another Strom Thurmond."

- Randal Wallace, Myrtle Beach councilman

"About 10 years ago at a Veterans Day parade in Dillon, a judge introduced my father, then age 70, to Strom and told Strom my father would be his driver. My dad came prepared for Strom with a blanket and a pillow, thinking Strom might be cold and surely wouldn't sit on top of the back seat of our old Cadillac convertible. Strom took one look at my dad and said, 'Son, I have to sit up top so everyone can see me.' My dad never drove so carefully as he did that day. He also never forgot that at age 70, there was someone still around to call him 'son.'"

- Tommy Samaha, Little River

"In 1972, my father was killed in a tractor accident on our farm in Indiantown. My brother was in the Air Force stationed in Vietnam. No one could get in touch with him. For five days, we held up the funeral hoping to hear from him. On the sixth day, I called Strom's office and told the story to his aide. Within five hours, Strom called me back personally and told me my brother would be home within 16 hours. A plane flew him to Charleston Air Force Base. Then he took a private plane to within a mile of our home. The funeral took place the next day."

- Ken Blanton, Conway

"In Williamsburg, Va., in 1964, Sen. Thurmond was an invited speaker at The College of William and Mary's newly constructed Phi Beta Kappa Memorial Hall. Virginia Sen. Harry Flood Byrd and others were on the stage of the 400-plus-seat auditorium. The program topic is lost to memory, but not what follows.

"Several male college students seated in the front row of the audience disagreed with Sen. Thurmond's views. A bag of popcorn appeared, and several young men began to toss popcorn in the senator's direction; some landed on his shoes, some landed on his lap. I was the assistant dean of men at the time - they were male students who were disrupting the program and being disrespectful to a campus guest. The college president signalled to me to take action.

"As I strode toward the stage and the row of popcorn tossers, Strom Thurmond calmly gathered the popcorn that had landed on his lap and, smiling, placed them in his mouth. The audience applauded.

"Sen. Thurmond grinned broadly and nodded to the audience. The popcorn bag disappeared, order was restored and the program continued. Strom Thurmond made new friends that day, and I have the special memory of the senator from South Carolina winking at me while he munched popcorn in Williamsburg, Va."

- Bob Squatriglia, Conway

"I worked my first campaign for Sen. Thurmond in 1970, when I was 12 years old. He knew my whole family. I remember when I saw him in 1995 at the opening of Broadway at the Beach. Once he clued in who you were, he could remember all the way back. He could remember family members from 30 or 40 years ago. That was part of his charm, that he knew everybody and remembered things about them."

- Mary Henry, Myrtle Beach

"My family was one of those thousands of lives touched by Sen. Strom Thurmond. My sister, the late Estelline P. Walker, who served as executive secretary of the S.C. State Library Board, came to know Sen. Thurmond through funding and budget concerns for the libraries of South Carolina for more than 40 years. The first call I received upon my sister's death in 1984 was from Sen. Thurmond. His tribute to my sister's service to the state of South Carolina truly touched my heart, and his compassion and leadership will be forever remembered. We have lost one of the last great Southern Americans.

- Billie Walker Tingle, Asheville, N.C.

"My one opportunity to meet Sen. Thurmond came in the fall of 1996, when as part of his final campaign, he visited the city of Loris during the annual Bog-Off Festival. I remember vividly how he greeted me with a very firm handshake and talked enthusiastically about our city and the fact that he and I both were lawyers. Later in the day, he was in the middle of the festival shaking hands, talking and posing for many pictures. Clearly, he was having a great time, and the people loved him. He was quite amazing for a man almost 94 years old. It became obvious to me on that October day that Strom Thurmond's genuine interest in the everyday person made him South Carolina's greatest politician ever."

- Michael E. Suggs, Loris city councilman

"Throughout 20 years in the Coast Guard and at every time since, a call or letter to Sen. Strom Thurmond was answered promptly, and action followed soon after. He was truly a people's man and will be sorely missed.

- W.C. Mintz, Little River

"In 1957, I needed an assignment in the Air Force Reserves. I wrote him on Monday and got a reply on Friday of the same week. The following week, I received my assignment to Myrtle Beach Air Force Base. This man could make things happen.