McCraw retiring from House, heading to farm

ROBERT W. DALTON, Staff Writer
Published March 14, 2006

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Photo: sam holland
Rep. DeWitt McCraw, D-Gaffney, left, looks over legislation with Rep. Greg Delleney, R-Chester, and Rep. Creighton Coleman, D-Winnsboro.
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COLUMBIA -- South Carolina was a different place the first time DeWitt McCraw was elected to the state House of Representatives.

That was 1960, when Cotton was king and Democrats ruled the roost. These days the textile industry is on life support and the Democratic Party is nearly extinct in many areas of the state.

And McCraw has seen all the changes through two tours of duty in the Legislature and 28 years working for the state tax commission sandwiched in between.

He figures 46 years is long enough. When the final gavel falls on the current session in June, the ol' cowboy will head off to his Gaffney farm.

"I'm looking forward to it, too," McCraw, 69, said. "I'm going to spend more time on the farm and watch my grandkids play sports."

McCraw served one term in the House after being elected in 1960. He moved to the tax commission in 1962, and won a special election in December 1990 to return to the House.

McCraw and his seatmate, Rep. Olin Phillips, attended Gaffney High School together and have been lifelong friends. Such good friends, in fact, that when the 1990 reapportionment put McCraw's home in Phillips' district, McCraw refused to run against his buddy.

"He bought a trailer and lived there for two years until the Justice Department allowed us to swap some areas and get his home back in his district," said Phillips, D-Gaffney.

Phillips, who has served in the House since 1979, said he'd have a difficult time adjusting to the idea of McCraw not being there.

"We need more people down here like him," Phillips said. "He always votes his conscience and votes for what's best for his constituents despite the pressure we sometimes get from the outside."

McCraw's wife taught school, so education was always a top priority for him. And he was always a strong supporter of law enforcement.

The part of the job that gives him the most pleasure, though, is constituent service.

"I like people knowing that they can call me if they have a problem with a state agency," McCraw said. "I especially enjoy it when I'm able to help them."

The toughest change for McCraw to accept was the Republican Party taking control of the Legislature. When some Democrats jumped ship to aid in the changeover, he stuck with the party.

"I was in the majority party for half of my time here," he said. "I'll tell you one thing -- it's a lot more fun to be in the majority than the minority."

House Minority Leader Harry Ott, D-St. Matthews, said he appreciates McCraw's loyalty.

"He had plenty of opportunities to do things different, but he's been true to the Democratic Party," Ott said.

Ott said the best thing about McCraw is that when they've been on different sides of an issue and the debate was heated, he was still a friend when it was all said and done.

"He's an all-around good guy and an asset to the state of South Carolina," Ott said. "I'm sorry to see him go, but I wish him well."

Robert W. Dalton can be reached at 562-7274 or bob.dalton@shj.com.