SMC Mourns Loss of Former President, Trustee in 2021

SMC Mourns Loss of Former President, Trustee in 2021

By Jeremy Handel

This article appeared originally in the fall 2021 issue of Frontiers Magazine


The Spartanburg Methodist College family lost two of its prominent leaders this year with the passing of former President Dr. Charles Teague and Board of Trustees member John Patrick “Pat” Henry, Sr.

Dr. Charles Teague



Dr. Teague served as the president of SMC for 12 years. During his tenure, the College experienced a surge in enrollment, expanding the opportunity for students from all backgrounds and economic means to get a college education. He also oversaw the construction of two new residence halls and the Phyllis Buchheit Board Room building.

Dr. Teague grew up in Asheville, N.C., where he attended Lee Edward High School and served as president of his senior class. He went on to attend Brevard College, High Point College, and Emory University, earning his Doctorate of Divinity. Following graduation, he returned to college life, serving in chaplain, faculty, and administrative roles at High Point and Brevard before being named President of SMC in 1997. Following his retirement, Dr. Teague served as interim President of Brevard College for a brief time in 2011.

Dr. Teague was a passionate member of Central United Methodist Church and enjoyed golfing, fishing, woodworking, and painting.

John Patrick “Pat” Henry, Sr.



Pat Henry was a long-time Trustee and was serving as vice chairman and chair of the academic affairs committee at the time of his passing. A 1964 graduate of SMC, then known as Spartanburg Junior College, Henry served on the Board of Trustees for 21 years. His work on the academic affairs committee was instrumental in the recent addition of the bachelor’s degree programs.

Henry grew up in Conway, S.C., and attended Conway High School, where he said he “wasn’t much of a student.” He credited SMC’s values and family atmosphere for turning his academic life around. Henry continued on to earn his bachelor’s degree from Wofford College and his law degree from the University of South Carolina, where he was a member of the national legal honor society, the Wig and Robe, and served as research editor of the South Carolina Law Review.

Henry returned to his hometown, where he established a long and rewarding career in law. He was a leader in his field, serving as president of the Horry County Bar Association and the South Carolina Commission on Lawyer Conduct.

SMC will dearly miss the support and leadership of Dr. Charles Teague and Pat Henry.

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