268 pages. 20 Black and White photographs.   ISBN 10: 0-87844-116-6 ISBN 13: 978-0-87844-116-7 Hardcover, $4.95

James Strom Thurmond, the second of six Thurmond children, was born December 5, 1902. Strom was born in a house the Thurmonds' owned in Edgefield, South Carolina. The most important thing Strom and his siblings learned as children was self-confidence. While attending Clemson Agricultural College (now Clemson University) he was on the track team. Part of the training for the team regularly involved distance runs of five to ten miles. On one occasion, Strom and five of his companions decided to run eighteen miles to the neighboring city of Anderson. Since they could not use the spiked-soled running shoes common in those days to run on the paved road they used tennis shoes instead.  Strom’s shoes were new and not broken in. Some five miles into the run, Strom realized his shoes were rubbing his feet badly but refused to quit. He completed the entire eighteen-mile run, but as a result of the problem with his shoes, he lost all his toenails and had to receive medical treatment for weeks. When asked why he didn’t stop, Strom replied, “If I’d stopped when my feet began to hurt, we wouldn’t have set a record.” This kind of perseverance in the face of adversity is a trait Strom has exhibited throughout his life......Joe Ellers, Clemson, SC. This biography of Senator Thurmond explores the colorful career of this individual whose ideas and actions have helped to shape Southern politics. Joe Ellers has been fortunate to work with and for the senator. In this book, Ellers presents a positive public evolution of Strom Thurmond and the South.

About the author:

Joseph C Ellers founded a political consulting firm and began working in and managing political campaigns. In 1975, he held his first public service job when he headed up the Investigative Council for the City of Clemson, SC. While continuing his education, Ellers stayed active in campaign management and also served as the Administrative Aide to State Representative Edward W. Simpson, Jr. in 1976. In 1981, Ellers was selected as the Administrator for the Town of Central, SC where he served for almost three years. He served on the Criminal Justice Advisory Board of Tri-County Technical College.