Mrs. Betty Poe, lifelong Greenville resident and current Chairman of the Greenville County Republican Party, was presented the Roger Milliken Award, the highest award given by the South Carolina Republican Party, during the annual Silver Elephant Banquet in Columbia, Saturday night, May 19, 2012.
The surprise award was presented by South Carolina Republican Party Chairman Chad Connelly following an address by Florida U. S. Senator Marco Rubio before an audience of more than one thousand leading Republicans.
After receiving the award, Mrs. Poe said that “the Republican Party is my life.” She lost her beloved husband Billy Poe to cancer almost a decade ago and since that time the Republican Party has been her life. She has worked for the betterment of the party virtually every waking hour of every day.
She is past president of the Greenville County Republican Women’s Club that grew to the largest in the state under her leadership. She is immediate past president of the South Carolina Federation of Republican Women and last year was elected Third Vice President of the National Federation of Republican Women.
She was elected by delegates to the Fourth Congressional District Republican Convention to represent the District as one of only two delegates to the Republican National Convention in Florida later this summer.
She is determined to raise the ethical standards of Republican office holders and improve the public image of Republican lawmakers.
Mrs. Poe has raised thousands of dollars and knocked on hundreds of doors to help deserving Republican candidates. She lives by the highest moral and ethical standards and sets an example for Republican candidates and elected officials to emulate. She is kind and soft spoken, but can stand up to any challenge when the occasion arises.
Her only diversion from the Republican Party is spent continuing her beloved Billy’s loyalty to all things Clemson. The names Billy and Betty Poe are well-known and highly respected in and around Death Valley.
All who know “Miss Betty,” as she is fondly called by her closest friends, agree that no one deserves the highest honor the Republican Party can bestow more than she.
She avoids publicity and shuns recognition. Much of what she accomplishes is behind the scenes and unknown to the beneficiaries. I’ll be in trouble for publicizing presentation of this important award, but it had to be done.
Congratulations Miss. Betty!
