Museum Inducts Lander into Hall of Fame

Greg Wilson/Anderson County

The Anderson County Museum inducted a long-time educator into the Hall of Fame on Tuesday at a ceremony where friends and family members remembered the accomplishments of the late William Tertius Lander, Jr.

Lander, who died in 1968, was born into a family of South Carolina educators and grew into an important voice for public education in the state.

A Williamston native, Lander is the grandson of the grandson of the Rev. Samuel Lander, founder of the Williamston Female College (which later became Lander University.

He studied at Wofford College and earned his master's degree from Clemson University. He also completed graduate work

at Emory University and the University of South Carolina.

During World War II, Lander served in the Counterintelligence Corps of the United States Army in the Pacific, and men under his command were directly responsible

for the capture of the Japanese Naval Commander Admiral Shimada, who planned and oversaw the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Maj. Lander was awarded the Bronze Star for his service.

Lander continued to serve his state and nation after the war, including work in the 1950 U.S. Census that worked to redraw congressional districts in the state.

The educator at Williamston Elementary School, where from 1955 to 1961 served as principal, he later served as superintendent of the South Carolina Opportunity School, which served citizens of Anderson County.

He additionally served at Wofford College and as director of Adult Education for Anderson.

He is buried in the Williamston City Cemetery.

Hall of Fame recipients are nominated by the museum Advisory Committee which is appointed by the County Council. Nominees must be deceased for at least ten years before they are eligible to be submitted.