The Orangeburg County Chamber of Commerce took some time out of the holiday rush Thursday night to bask in the community work of various individuals and groups at the organization’s 2008 annual banquet held at the Cinema.

In celebration of the spirit of local cooperation and partnership, the chamber and about 300 attendees recognized Orangeburg County’s ability to make the banquet’s 2008 theme-- ”Great People, Great Day in Orangeburg County” -- a reality.

Consistent with its theme, the chamber presented Charles Page Thompson Jr. -- owner and chief executive officer of Orange Cut Rate Drug, Grove Park Pharmacy and Home Medical Equipment and Orange Nursing Home Services -- the Orangeburg 2008 Small Business/Person of the Year award.

The award recognized Thompson’s success in entrepreneurship, support of the Orangeburg County community and innovative sales approach.

Thompson, expressing his “shock” at receiving the award, said the recognition belongs to pharmacy customers and the Orangeburg community.

Upon receipt of the award, Thompson said he had an inkling something was different.

“I knew something was wrong when Cheri (his wife) wanted to bring me to this function tonight. She takes one of the dogs usually,” he said, referring to the couple’s love of animals. They have 13 rescued dogs and four rescued cats, and together they run The Healing Species Compassion Education and Outreach Program for school children in our community.

“Anything having to do with the community of Orangeburg and any kind of role or small part I can play in the betterment of this community is always quite a reward.”

To qualify for the recognition, the candidate must have overcome adversity and withstood the cyclical nature of the business world. Community impact, innovation, sales, service and chamber involvement are also used in selection criteria.

As the “2008 Small Business Person of the Year” winner, Thompson will receive recognition throughout the year.

Community Resource Bank sponsored the recognition.

Thompson said though the last 37 years have been full of “a lot of hard work,” customer needs have always come first.

“I appreciate the fact the Orangeburg community is so community orientated that folks shop at home. The Orangeburg community understands the importance of the chamber and the importance of shopping at home and the effect it has on our local economy,” he said. “Without that kind of support and dedication from the community, small businesses would not have a chance to flourish.”

Orange Cut Rate drug was founded by Thompson’s father, the late Charles Thompson, in the 1940s. Thompson Jr. took over the business in the 1970s.

Thompson, an Orangeburg native, received his B.S. in Pharmacy from the University of South Carolina.

In addition to Orangeburg pharmacies, Thompson is also owner and CEO of Branchville Pharmacy.

Beyond the pharmaceutical business, Thompson was one of the developing partners of The Village, a professional and medical office park on St. Matthews Road, as well as several similar real estate developments in the county, in Summerville and North Charleston.

Currently, he is a member of The Downtown Orangeburg Revitalization Association and serves as chairman of The Downtown Economic Restructuring Committee, as well as a member of The Regional Medical Center Foundation Board.

Thompson has also served as chairman of the board of directors of Community Resource Bank and as a member of the board of directors of Community Bankshares Inc.

Over the years, he has actively served on many charitable boards and civic committees.

Thompson and his wife have three grown daughters and two young adopted sons.

2008 Leadership Orangeburg County class

Highlighting the 2008 Leadership Orangeburg County class this year was not the class itself but longtime class chairman Earl Whalen.

Whalen Thursday officially retired from the position he has held since 2002. He has been program chairman since 2003.

Whalen thanked Orangeburg County, where he has worked since 1992, for giving him the time to help facilitate the leadership program.

“It is all about exposing individuals to the great things in Orangeburg County,” Whalen said, noting he will most miss the friendships he has formed. “Every class comes together you get to see ... people from private industry to public employees ... these are people from all walks of life.”

He is a 1999 graduate of Leadership Orangeburg County and a 2008 graduate of the South Carolina Economic Developers School.

An Orangeburg native, Whalen graduated from the University of South Carolina in 1986 with a bachelor of science degree in geography with intensive minor course work in geology.

In 1992, Whalen became executive director of the Orangeburg County Board of Elections and Voter Registration. It was a position he held until 2006.

Currently, Whalen serves as Orangeburg County deputy administrator of the division of public services. He assumed the post in 1999.

Whalen’s responsibilities are the management and administration of approximately 165 employees of various departments.

He served in 2006 as president of the South Carolina Association of Registration and Election officials.

Recent awards include the 2008 Orangeburg County Community of Character honoree for the trait of citizenship and the 2004 Orangeburg County Chamber of Commerce Chairman’s Award of Excellence.

Earl and his wife Lillian have three children: Kristen, 18, Walker, 6, and Tanner, 4.

Also, the 25-member 2008 Leadership Orangeburg County graduating class was honored. The class received certificates.

This past year the class was able to tour the Cox Industries plant, the Orangeburg-Calhoun Detention Center, Orangeburg County Magistrate’s Building, city of Orangeburg Law Complex, the Orangeburg County Department of Commerce, the Department of Public Safety range and the state capitol in Columbia.

The class was also able to learn about a variety of sectors from health care, to education, to economic development and legislative procedures.

The Leadership Program was sponsored by Claflin University.

Other chamber business

Other evening business included the handing over the gavel to the 2009 chairman and presentation of new directors, officers and vice presidents.

Tribute was also paid to members who have served over the years.

Mikee Johnson, president of Cox Wood Industries will be the 2009 chairman-elect.

The presenting sponsor for the banquet was South Carolina Federal Credit Union.

T&D Staff Writer Gene Zaleski and be reached at gzaleski@timesanddemocrat.com and 803-533-5551.

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