Gary Simrill is a South Carolina native, born in Rock Hill. He received his undergraduate
degree from Winthrop University and has since received four honorary doctorates from
Winthrop, College of Charleston, The Citadel and MUSC. Gary is married to Mary Ruth,
and they have three children, Mallory, Sarah Kate and Dozier.
Gary served in The South Carolina House of Representatives for 30 years, retiring as Chairman of the Ways and Means committee and serving three terms as Majority Leader prior to becoming chairman. He led the Higher Education Budget Committee instituting tuition mitigation and providing capital funding for campus infrastructure. Simrill authored the Infrastructure and Economic Development Reform Act of 2017 which has increased road funding by over $1,000,000,000 in infrastructure improvements to date. Simrill also served as Vice Chair of the Joint Bond Review Committee, member of State Fiscal Accountability Authority, Agency Head Salary Commission, South Carolina Transportation Infrastructure Bank Board and Port Oversight. He recently received the Order of the Palmetto from Governor Henry McMaster and has been named Public Servant of the Year from the S.C. Chamber of Commerce.
His leadership awards are many, including from the Riley Institute at Furman University, Maritime Association, Behavioral Health Services, The American Legion, Clemson University, South Carolina Public Libraries and the South Carolina Advocates for Agriculture. He was also inducted in the Society of the Maltese Cross by the S.C. Firefighters Association and received the Lawrimore-Craven leadership award for tourism promotion.
Locally, Simrill has served on the United Way of York County Board, Piedmont Medical Board, and the Camp Canaan Board. Currently, he serves on the boards of South State Bank, South Carolina Infrastructure Bank, Pathways, and the John C. West Forum, as well as the SBDC Advisory Council.
