D. Leslie Tindal ran unopposed in three of his five general elections for South Carolina commissioner of agriculture.
The farmers he served said Tuesday that there was little reason for anyone to run against him.
"He was always straight and he always did what he said," said W.D. Harrington, a retired farmer who worked alongside Tindal throughout the latter's 20 years in state office. "He worked hard for the farmers of South Carolina. Some politicians would've said things differently than he did, but he said things in such a way that you knew it was from the heart."
Tindal, 89, died Tuesday, June 27, 2017, at his home.
Born May 4, 1928, in Pinewood, he was a son of the late David Leslie Tindal Sr. and Lela Norris Tindal. He graduated from Furman University and began farming in 1949. He was first elected as a Democrat commissioner of agriculture in 1982, defeating incumbent Republican G. Bryan Patrick with 51.4 percent of the vote. He was unopposed in 1986, again as a Democrat, and switched to the Republican Party in 1990, running unopposed that year as well. He was opposed for re-election in 1994, but won with 61.74 percent of the vote, and he ran unopposed in his final contest in 1998.
When Tindal assumed state office in 1983, he accepted a position that had only been created five years earlier. The commissioner of agriculture was tasked at the time with ensuring the accuracy of weighing and measuring devices; regulating storage facilities; ensuring the quality of motor fuels and some food products; and twice a month publishing a newsletter to help subscribers buy and sell farm-related items.
He was also to serve as the voice for the South Carolina farmer. Tindal, who farmed cotton, soybeans and wheat on 3,000 acres in Clarendon and Sumter counties, obviously knew the business.
When declining to run in 2002, Tindal told The Manning Times that he wanted to spend more time with his wife, children and grandchildren.
"He was an outstanding farmer, as well as a great spokesman for agriculture in South Carolina," said County Council Chairman Dwight Stewart. "He led the Department of Agriculture with a steady hand and was well-respected throughout the state and the southeast."
According to information obtained from the Clarendon County Archives and History Center, Tindal was instrumental in the founding of the Pee Dee Farmer's Market and also with bringing the kiwi fruit to the state.
"You could always depend on Les," Harrington said. "I considered him a personal friend as well as a friend of all farmers."
Roger Flowers was in business with Tindal for several years.
"We were best friends," he said "We went to all the Clemson games together for near about 20 years. Les was a man of character and he judged people based on their character. He was a great individual and very inspirational in my life, but most close friends are, I guess."
At the state level, Tindal served as president of South Carolina Crop Improvement; South Carolina Cattlemen; South Carolina Seedmen; and the South Carolina Soybean Association.
Prior to his time in state office, Tindal worked at the county level as Clarendon County commissioner of agriculture from January 1965 through December 1972. He was named the Black River Electric Cooperative Man of the Year in 1973, just one year after being named by Ford Motor Co. as one of the Top 15 Farmers in America. For the latter, he was awarded the Ford Farm Efficiency Award in the field of management. He was named the 1971 Man of the Year in Service to South Carolina by Progressive Farmer. Locally, he also served as a president of the Clarendon County Farm Bureau.
Tindal was also active on the national level, working as the president of the national Association of State Departments of Agriculture, along with serving other times as the chairman of that organization's Agriculture Research Task Force. He also served on a national level as secretary and president of the American Soybean Association and as a member of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Policy Advisory Committee.
He also served for 10 years on the Board of Trustees at Clemson University, which named him a lifetime trustee emeritus when he was elected to state office in 1982.
"Les Tindal was an outstanding resident of Clarendon County," said former Sen. John C. Land III. "He made many, many contributions to this county as well as to the state of South Carolina. He was a wonderful friend of mine over the years. I was so pleased with his election to state office with the Department of Agriculture. He did a wonderful job for the farmer. He was a farmer himself, and the fact that he understood what the farmers went through made him an outstanding commissioner of agriculture."
Clarendon County GOP Chairman Moye Graham said Tindal was always ready to give political advice.
"When you got Mr. Les on the phone, you better be prepared to spend some time," said Graham. "He always gave me advice, whether I accepted it or not. I had a lot of respect for him and his wife."
Graham said he considered Tindal the "father of the modern Clarendon County GOP," saying Tindal was the first in a group of former Democrats who "stood up against the status quo back in the day, alongside Strom Thurmond and Gov. (James B.) Edwards."
"He didn't leave the Democrat Party; it left him," said Graham. "He was a man of honor. He deeply loved his family, God and America. He was a strict conservative in every way. He helped put the South Carolina GOP in the position it's in today."
Earl Capps, a former political blogger and Republican campaigner, called Tindal a "passionate advocate for South Carolina agriculture."
"He understood its importance in delivering quality food to homes across the country, as well as good jobs across South Carolina," said Capps. "In addition to his passion, his depth of knowledge about the state's agricultural sector was amazing. We have lost an amazing public servant."
Stewart agreed.
"He realized how important agriculture and forestry were to South Carolina's economy, and especially to rural areas like Clarendon County," he said.
Flower said that Tindal was the "best commissioner of agriculture this state ever had."
"Because he was a farmer himself, he was a very good commissioner: He always had the farmers' thoughts and problems and concerns, just as a farmer would have them himself," said Flowers. "He was always a devout spokesman for agriculture, both at home in Clarendon County and for the state of South Carolina."
In a file story, Tindal said that he almost backed out of his fifth campaign in 1998. He was 70 at the time.
"When I decided to run in 1998, I told people that it would probably be my last," Tindal said. "I felt really good about making that decision to go ahead and retire and spend time with my wife, May, and my family, as well as campaigning for other Republicans."
Tindal remained active in local and state GOP politics.
"He was always ready to work," said Graham. "He is one of the main stalwarts of the party, and he will be missed."
Tindal was preceded in death by his wife, May.
Survivors include three daughters, Betsy T. Ducworth (John) and Ginger Tindal Rhodes, both of Summerton, and Amelia T. Handgun (John Raven) of Charleston; a son, David L. Tindal III (Nancy) of Pinewood; eight grandchildren, John W. Ducworth III, Elizabeth D. Thompson, Tindal D. Handegan, Jack D. Handegan III, Thomas L. Rhodes III, Austin T. Rhodes, Rebecca T. Thompson and David L. Tindal IV; seven great-grandchildren, May, William, Lee, Quinn, Braxton, Virginia and David; and a sister, Henrietta T. “Hennie” Rickenbaker of Summerton.
A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, June 30, 2017, at Calvary Baptist Church, with the Rev. Bennie Barwick officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
