Every one in Summerville knows the Berlin G Myers Parkway, but do you know about Mr Berlin G Myers? He is an excellent example of someone from “The Greatest Generation”. The common characteristics of Greatest Generation members are that they lived through and experienced the hardships of the Great Depression and later either fought in World War II or worked in the industries that contributed to winning the war.
Berlin G Myers – His life
Mr. Myers was born in 1917 in Knightsville, South Carolina, and lived there his entire life. He showed business talent early, selling cold drinks, bread, and cigarettes from a roadside stand. At 21, he founded Berlin G. Myers Lumber in Summerville in 1938. During World War II, he paused his business to serve in the U.S. Army. As an Army sergeant, he landed on Omaha Beach during the Normandy invasion in June 1944.
He later advanced into Paris alongside General Patton’s forces. Mr. Myers earned four Bronze Stars for his distinguished service during World War II. After the war, he returned home and spent his entire business career as a lumberman. He celebrated The 75th Anniversary of his business in 2014.
Berlin G Myers – The Mayor
Mr. Myers also had a distinguished political career. He was elected town alderman in 1965 and elected Mayor of Summerville in 1972 after serving as a temporary mayor when Mayor Allan Luke died in office. He served 10 terms as Summerville’s mayor, making him one of the longest-serving mayors in South Carolina history. Myers chose to step down as Mayor in 2011. Check out more history time here.
While in office, Myers was awarded the Order of the Palmetto and the Order of the Silver Crescent. He was a life deacon at Summerville Baptist Church and was honored by the Exchange Club of Charleston with its “Book of Golden Deeds”. As a dedicated supporter of Clemson University, he was a proud 60-year member of IPTAY. He served as past president of the Summerville Rotary Club and remained an active community leader for decades.
In banking, he became the longest-serving board member of First National Bank of South Carolina.
Our sweet town of Summerville was abundantly blessed that Berlin G Myers called Summerville home.