Photo By Maj. Jamie Delk | Retired Maj. Gen. Stanhope S. Spears, previous adjutant general of South Carolina...... read more read more
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COLUMBIA, S.C. - He was a strong presence on the third floor of the South Carolina National Guard Headquarters building for 16 years serving as the adjutant general. Now, his image is a permanent fixture, hanging on the walls of history alongside those who previously led the South Carolina National Guard since 1792.
In a ceremony, held March 4, the official portrait of former adjutant general retired Maj. Gen. Stanhope S. Spears, who held the office from 1995 to 2011, was unveiled. Spears, along with his wife of 49 years, Dot, their son, Alester, and grandson, Ford, smiled as the red velvet cloth covering the oil painting by award winning artist Michael Del Priore was lifted.
In his opening remarks, Maj. Gen. Robert E. Livingston, Jr., the adjutant general for South Carolina, shared the relevance of occasion to the audience of more than 300 friends and Guard members in attendance.
Livingston said Spears took the “citizen-soldier” from a strategic reserve force back in the 1990s to an operational force in response to the attacks of 9/11. He said due to Spears, the South Carolina National Guard is a well-run, well-oiled machine.
“We have troops who, after 11 years of war, are ready to go and take care of our nation due to his great leadership,” said Livingston.
Spears, a veteran of more than 50 years of military service, said the thing he missed the most during retirement was seeing the Guard members and their families every day. He added while there were so many enjoyable memories as the adjutant general, witnessing terrorism in Washington, D.C., was something he’d never forget.
“Many people don’t know this, but I was actually less than three-quarters of a mile from the Pentagon when the terrorists attacked on 9/11,” said Spears. “I saw the tragic events unfold in front of me, as the people in D.C. gathered around while bodies were pulled from the rubble and ambulances hauled people away.”
Spears offered his gratitude and appreciation to everyone and said it was an honor to serve as the adjutant general and receive the outstanding support he and his wife Dot had over the years.
“Without the support of the people of South Carolina, we wouldn’t have a Guard,” said Spears.
After the formal ceremony, visitors were able to view the portrait, which for the first time for the adjutant general portraits was done oil on canvas. The preceding portraits hanging in the headquarters building are pastel under glass. The well-respected artist, Del Priore, was also in attendance for the unveiling.
“A portrait ensures the service and memory of someone who has done so much is remembered for hundreds of years,” said Del Priore. “It is always an honor to immortalize someone like Spears who served in a distinctive position and is a legacy to his profession."
| Date Taken: | 03.04.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 03.04.2012 17:00 |
| Story ID: | 84707 |
| Location: | COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 247 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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