Joseph Halsted McGee Jr. (born April 6, 1929) is an American former politician in the state of South Carolina. He served in the South Carolina House of Representatives from 1963 to 1968, representing Charleston County, South Carolina. He is a lawyer and judge.[1] McGee helped shape Charleston's Four Corners of Law.[2] His son-in-law is comedian Stephen Colbert.
Joseph H. McGee Jr. | |
|---|---|
| Member of the South Carolina House of Representatives from the Charleston County district | |
| In office 1963–1968 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Joseph Halsted McGee Jr. April 6, 1929 Charleston, South Carolina, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Evelyn Moore (m. 1960) |
| Children |
|
| Alma mater | Washington and Lee University |
| Occupation | Lawyer |
Early life edit
McGee was born on April 6, 1929 in Charleston, South Carolina.[3][4] He was brought up in the city as an only child, by his father, Joseph McGee, a trust officer at a local bank, and Madeleine McGee (née Stoney), a housewife.[4] McGee recalled his house had no central heating; instead they burnt coal in two rooms and had "a Franklin-type oil-burning stove" in the middle of the dining room. He attended a private one-room school for two years, and elementary at the Craft School.[4] McGee was childhood friends with J. Palmer Gaillard Jr., who went onto become mayor of Charleston from 1959 to 1975.[4][5]
McGee served in the United States Navy and from July 1953 to July of 1955, he was aboard of the USS Wasp (CV-18).[4]
Career edit
In the late fifties he became a lawyer at the firm of Moore and Muzon, until 1964. From 1963 to 1968, McGee served as a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives from the Charleston County district, for three two-year terms. From 1971 to 1975 he served one term at the Charleston city council.[4][6] Of his state tenure, McGee has said: "I never ever regretted the service, but I never ever regretted the decision to get out when I did. I ran because as a young lawyer it was an opportunity for me to get better known, but the participation in the legislative process was an education, and it was a great pleasure. I enjoyed it. I saw things I didn’t like and I saw things I didn’t approve of. But by and large we had good state government."[4] From 1980 to 1981, he served as the president Charleston County Bar Association.[7]
Personal life edit
McGee married Evelyn 'Patti' Moore in 1960, and had two daughters, Madeleine and Evelyn. They remained married until her death, on November 11, 2022, after a long illness.[8] McGee and his family are parishioners of Charleston's Second Presbyterian Church.[9]
Awards and honors edit
In 2021, McGee received the Order of the Palmetto, the highest civilian honor awarded by the governor of South Carolina.[10][11] In 2024, a renovation of the park at Wragg Square, in front of Charleston's Second Presbyterian Church, was made in honor of McGee and his wife. The park also features a plaque conveying their love of the community.[12][13][14]
References edit
- ^ General Assembly, South Carolina (1967). "South Carolina Legislative Manual". google.ca. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
- ^ "Editorial: Honoring a man who did much to make Charleston what it is today". Charleston Post and Courier. May 29, 2020. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
- ^ "Celebrating A Charleston Preservation Leader". McDaniel Consulting. April 12, 2019. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Interview with Joseph H. McGee". Lowcountry Digital Library. June 24, 2003. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
- ^ "Former Charleston mayor writes book on life, city service". Star News. December 18, 2004. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
- ^ "Narrative: A Father's Advice on Respect". South Carolina Public Radio. June 13, 2017. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
- ^ "Past Presidents". Charleston County Bar Association. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
- ^ "Evelyn McGee Obituary (1935–2022)". The Post and Courier. November 15, 2022. Archived from the original on March 28, 2023. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
- ^ Quon, Madeline (April 8, 2024). "McGee and Colbert families chip in to renovate Wragg Square in downtown Charleston". Charleston Post and Courier. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
- ^ "Editorial: Honoring a man who did much to make Charleston what it is today". Charleston Post and Courier. May 29, 2020. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
- ^ "Charleston's Patti and Peter McGee, longtime CCF donors, embody what it means to invest in community". Coastal Community Foundation. January 5, 2021. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
- ^ Quon, Madeline (April 8, 2024). "McGee and Colbert families chip in to renovate Wragg Square in downtown Charleston". Charleston Post and Courier. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
- ^ "Wragg Square Renovation - 2024". Charleston Parks Conservancy. February 15, 2024. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
- ^ "Wragg Square Renovation Unveiled: A Living Tribute to Community Resilience and Heritage". Charleston Regional Business Journal. April 1, 2024. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
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