ST. GEORGE — James Olin Horne II has been an inspiration to his family for the past 37 years, but now his above-and-beyond achievements as an autistic individual have captured national attention.

Horne has lead a comfortable, productive life within Carolina Autism Supportive Living Systems' residential living facility in Charleston for the past three years. He has also held his own full-time job as a grounds maintenance worker at the Medical University of South Carolina for the past five years.

There was no wonder why CASLS Executive Director Phil Blevins nominated Olin to receive the Wendy F. Miller "Outstanding Individual with Autism of the Year" Award through the Autism Society of America.

Olin, the son of St. George couple Duncan and Audrey Horne, went on to win the coveted award and a $1,000 cash prize which were presented to the 37-year-old during the society's recent conference in Nashville, Tenn.

"Olin has had the wonderful capacity that I say all of need and that is to accept what you can't change and make the best of it. We were thrilled for him. We felt like he deserved it, but that it was also a shared thing among all the people who have helped him," said Audrey Horne, a past president of the society from 1997-2001.

"God moves in wonderful ways through other people. All the people who helped us made a wonderful contribution not only to Olin's life, but ... everywhere else. Olin's just a wonderful person. He's very independent, and that part is good," she said, noting that her son's friendliness has helped him to do well in his environment and among his peers.

"Olin's receipt of this award indicates what a person with a severe disability can do with the proper support, that a person can live and work in the community. He has some support from a job coach and the staff at CASLS," said the 75-year-old retired school teacher who went on to work for the late former state governor and senator Olin Johnston.

Audrey now serves as a member of the S.C. Adult Protection Coordinating Council. Her husband, 80, a former St. George mayor and retired owner of the St. George Insurance Company, is equally proud of their son, who proudly walked out amid a standing ovation from 2,000 people to receive his award.

"I declare I'm just thrilled to death. It just brought tears to my eyes," Duncan said.

The couple are the parents of two other children, Louise, 41, and Watson, 34. Diagnosed with autism at the age of 3, Olin was cared for at home up until age 5. His interaction with his family didn't cease, however, and his parents were determined to give him a healthy outlook on life.

"Autism is almost like a death in the family. You grieve for what might have been, but then you have to get past that and look at what you can do. Olin's almost nonverbal, but knows how to function in everyday life. He's a happy person. He's very content," Audrey said.

He will be even more content with his parents' plans to take him to see his protective younger brother and his family in Elon, N.C. for the Labor Day holiday.

"He gets along with all his nieces and nephews," his mother said, smiling.

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