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Gabriel Heyward Mahon, Jr. Wall of Fame. Class of 1904. Background. Born in Williamston, SC on Nov. 11, 1889 Moved to Greenville, SC in 1898 Worked in a retail store from 1900-1907 Worked as a traveling salesman from 1907-1911 Present at dedication of Sirrine Stadium on November 7, 1936
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Gabriel Heyward Mahon, Jr. Wall of Fame Class of 1904
Background • Born in Williamston, SC on Nov. 11, 1889 • Moved to Greenville, SC in 1898 • Worked in a retail store from 1900-1907 • Worked as a traveling salesman from 1907-1911 • Present at dedication of Sirrine Stadium on November 7, 1936 • Died in Greenville on June 11, 1962
School • Graduated from Greenville Senior High in 1904 • Attended The Citadel for two years but dropped out due to lack of tuition funds • Eventually graduated in 1909 • Never attended another college but was a trustee of the Greenville Women’s College from 1921-1936
War • Served in WWI as a captain then a major • Major of the First Battalion of the One Hundred and Eighteenth Infantry, Thirtieth Division, American Expeditionary Forces • Received the Purple Heart and Silver Star medals
Politics • Elected to Congress on November 3, 1936 due to a vacancy caused by the death of John J. McSwain • Served until January 3, 1939 • Ran for reelection in 1938 but was unsuccessful • Moved back to Greenville to continue working in business
Interview with G. Heyward Mahon, Jr.’s nephewHeyward Mahon Sullivan What was his greatest accomplishment? “He was somewhat of a World War I hero. He was a major serving in Europe during WWI, and he was actually shot through the head and a bullet entered one side and came out the other and it left one side of his face paralyzed. But, it didn’t affect his speech. He was quite a bit of an orator. He was a congressman in the late thirties for South Carolina and he was president of Heyward Mahon Company, which was probably the leading men’s clothier in Greenville for many, many years. His father Gabriel Heyward Mahon, was the mayor of Greenville back in the late 1800s, and he was very active in the community of Greenville leadership roles and I think with the Chamber of Commerce, in fact, there is a picture of him, one of the rooms in the Chamber of Commerce building is dedicated to him and there is a portrait of him there.” Click to proceed to interview pt. 2
Interview (cont’d) Who had the greatest influence on his life? “Oh my gosh, my guess would be his father because his father was the mayor and also head of a company called Mahon and Arnold Dept. Store, which I think was Greenville’s largest department store and a he was a very successful business man. And when he left that company became Meyers Arnold, which was a big department store in Greenville some years ago. It’s no longer there. I mean, I would have no way of knowing specifically but I would think his father would have been his greatest influence.” What was your fondest memory of him? “My fondest memory of him, he hired me when I was in 8th grade to work in the student department and I was the youngest employed he ever had cause he was my uncle so I guess he felt a little partial to me, but it was a great experience for me, I worked there for about four or five years when I was in high school.” Click to proceed next slide
Works Cited • www.citadelalumni.org • www.wpclipart.com/armed_services/Silver_Star.png • www.willtheyreturn.com/images/purple_heart.jpg • politicalgraveyard.com/geo/SC/GR.html • http://portal.progressiverocks.com/nahp/artic-en/Gabriel%20H.%20Mahon%2C%20Jr • Greenville Chamber of Commerce
Assignments • Morgan: Research, PowerPoint • Heather: Interview, PowerPoint • Charlotte: Interview, Research