Francis Marion University honored W.R. “Cody” Simpson, III (’13, ’17) as the Benjamin Wall Ingram III Young Alumnus Award on Thursday, February 28th, at the university’s annual Alumni Awards Gala at the Francis Marion University Performing Arts Center.
Simpson grew up on his family’s farm in the Home Branch Community of Clarendon County and is a 2009 graduate of Clarendon Hall School.
Simpson graduated from Francis Marion with a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s degree in business administration. Simpson is the Special Assistant to South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster.
At FMU, Simpson was elected to two terms as student body president and was elected governor of South Carolina Student Legislature. He also received the FMU Legacy Award, the Neal D. Thigpen Award in South Carolina Government and Politics, the Pride of the Patriots Award, the E. Fleming Mason Memorial Internship, and the Jones/ Mogy Kappa Alpha Order Memorial Scholarship.
Simpson was employed in a number of roles at FMU following graduation. He worked with the Office of the President, FMU Education Foundation, the Office of Student Affairs, and in the Office of Admissions.
Simpson is a Second Lieutenant in the South Carolina State Guard, former Commissioner on the Pee Dee Region Forestry Commission, former Co-Chair of the 2015-2016 Leadership Florence Class, and founding advisor for the Junior Leadership Florence County 4-H Program.
