Five chosen by the Alumni Association for its highest award
Earlier this year, the Clemson Alumni Association recognized five recipients with the Distinguished Service Award, the highest honor the association reserves for those who graduated from the University. Selection is based on three primary criteria: personal and professional accomplishments, dedication and service to Clemson, and devotion to public service.
Illustrations by Brian Lutz
James Timothy Hance Sr. ’84
Columbia, South Carolina
Accomplished architect. Clemson ambassador.
James Timothy Hance Sr. is admired by
his friends and associates as an accomplished architect and leading ambassador for Clemson.
He is a member of the American Institute of Architects. He is the owner and president of J. Timothy Hance, Architect, P.A., the architectural firm he founded in Columbia in 1994. For Clemson, Tim chaired the University’s Board of Visitors, on which he has served since 2015. He previously was secretary and then chairman of the board’s legislative committee. He works closely with the University’s Office of Governmental Affairs in organizing annual Clemson Day at the State House events and has regularly traveled to Washington, D.C., to interact with congressional members on Clemson’s behalf.
He has been active with the Clemson Architectural Foundation since 2011, serving as secretary, treasurer and trustee. The foundation provides financial assistance to programs and students in the School of Architecture through endowments and scholarships.
Anthony Lee “Tony” Harbin ’88
Anderson, South Carolina
Elite lawyer. Passionate advocate.
Anthony Lee “Tony” Harbin is a passionate advocate for his clients and for Clemson.
The Greenville, South Carolina, native has lived and practiced law in Anderson since 1996. He worked at various law firms in the state before forming Harbin & Burnett in 2014.
Tony has held leadership roles in numerous statewide organizations, including multiple offices in the South Carolina Association for Justice (SCAJ), which promotes fairness under the law for all South Carolinians. He has served on the SCAJ board of governors since 2005 and was the association’s 2014–2015 president.
While serving on Clemson’s Board of Visitors from 2012–2015, Tony volunteered at Tigertown Bound receptions for prospective students and their families. He also participated in Clemson Day at the State House events and continues to promote strong relationships between Clemson and state leaders. He has welcomed Clemson interns into his law offices and is a major donor to IPTAY to further the success of student-athletes.
Bryant Aubrey Harrell ’89
Atlanta
Exceptional professional. Proud Tiger.
Bryant Aubrey Harrell is known for his commitment to helping others and his effectiveness as a Clemson volunteer.
Aubrey has more than 34 years of experience in various industries, including aerospace, real estate, entertainment, food and beverage, and alternative investments. In 2024, he was appointed by the governor of Georgia to the State Board of Accountancy, which regulates certified public accountants in the Peach State.
Aubrey is a past member of the Clemson University Foundation board of directors and a current member of the School of Accountancy Advisory Board. In 2015, he established the Bryant Aubrey Harrell ’89 Diversity and Inclusion Excellence Fund to support retaining students from historically marginalized populations.
In further service to his alma mater, he took the lead role in revitalizing the Clemson Career Workshop, a program to attract academically talented, underrepresented high school students to the University. He is the founding and current chair of the program’s advisory board.
Lewis F. Holmes III ’73
Evans, Georgia
Successful businessman. Devoted alumnus.
Lewis F. Holmes III has devoted his life to serving others, promoting agriculture and supporting his alma mater.
He is the owner and operator of Lewis F. Holmes Farms in his hometown of Johnston, South Carolina. He received the United States Department of Agriculture Soil Conservation Award for the Southeast in 2004.
Lewis is a longtime supporter of the Clemson Alumni Association and of IPTAY, for which he had been Edgefield County chairman for more than 35 years. He is a member of the Anna Calhoun Clemson Cumulative Giving Society, the 1889 Society and the 110 Society, and he has served on the University’s Board of Visitors.
Lewis and his family were initial contributors to the West Zone initiatives for the Clemson Football program, resulting in the naming of the head coach’s office in his father’s memory. They also established a perpetual scholarship in Clemson’s School of Architecture in memory of his late brother, Preston Brooks Holmes ’77.
David Carr Lockwood III ’84
Columbia, South Carolina
Global leader. Impactful volunteer.
David Carr Lockwood III is one of the most recognizable leaders of the commercial real estate industry in the world.
He is the executive vice president and chief operating officer of Colliers International South Carolina Inc., which has four offices across the state and affiliations worldwide. After joining Colliers | South Carolina as a broker in 1986, he advanced through increasingly significant roles before assuming his current position in 2016.
Among his many civic activities, David represented the 2nd Congressional District on the South Carolina Real Estate Commission from 2013–2022 and was its vice chairman in 2020–2021.
For Clemson, David was a member of the Board of Visitors and chaired its Student Engagement Committee. He is a former chairman of the Student Affairs Advisory Board. As a student, he received the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award for excellence of character and service to humanity.
