Piedmont businessman Jimmy Wilson was recently awarded the Order of the Palmetto. Pictured (l-r) Sid Collins, President & CEO YMCA of Easley, Pickens & Powdersville; Rusty Burns, Anderson County Administrator; Dan T Cooper, Executive Director of External Affairs, Tri-County Technical College; Mike Gambrell, South Carolina State Senator Dist. #4; Jimmy Wilson, Honoree; Don Chapman, SC House of Representatives Dist. #8; Jimmy Davis, Anderson County Council Dist. 6
Following the presentation a reception and time of fellowship was enjoyed by the attendees.
Local Businessman Jimmy Wilson Awarded the Order of the Palmetto
January 17, 2026 marked a memorable day for Jimmy Wilson, a lifelong resident and businessman of Piedmont, as he was celebrated by family and friends with a reception at his farm in Piedmont by being awarded the Order of the Palmetto.
The Order of the Palmetto is the highest civilian honor awarded by the governor of South Carolina. It is awarded to South Carolinians who demonstrate extraordinary lifetime achievement, service and contributions of national or statewide significance.
Mike Gambrell, South Carolina State Senator Dist. #4, was on hand to fill in for Governor Henry McMaster to make the presentation. Also attending and speaking along with Senator Gambrell were Sid Collins, President & CEO YMCA Easley, Pickens and Powdersville, Rusty Burns, Anderson County Administrator, Dan T. Cooper, Executive Director of External Affairs, Tri-County Technical College, Don Chapman, SC House of Representatives Dist. #8, and Jimmy Davis, Anderson County Council Dist. #6.
As a businessman and entrepreneur, Jimmy Wilson has worked to provide leadership in the economic development of Anderson County for over 70 years. His efforts to enrich and enhance the lives of area residents embody the concepts of development and growth in his hometown of Piedmont.
As president of Wilson Inc., he owned, developed and managed Upstate Industrial Park in Piedmont. Upstate Industrial Park was developed in 1992 by Mr. Wilson and was the first industrial park in Anderson County. It encompasses 130 acres and currently houses 21 buildings with 1.2 million square feet of space. The companies located in the park employ over 750 people. The current owners are now expanding the park with three (3) new 20,000 sq. ft. spec. buildings for Anderson County.
Recognizing the benefits of a location in South Carolina and particularly Anderson County, both US and International Companies have chosen to open locations or move their headquarters to the Upstate. Current operating plant headquarters are in Michigan, New Jersey, Georgia, Ohio, California, South Carolina, Germany, the Netherlands and England.
Over the years Mr. Wilson has also worked to bring business to the town of Piedmont. Those include Capital Bank and Trust, Sun Trust Bank, Hardees, Eckerd’s, Riverside Nursing Home, Freds, Dollar General Market, Domino’s, Twice the Ice and others. The Piedmont Center currently houses the Piedmont Post Office and the Dollar General Market.
When asked about bringing business to the Upstate his answer has always been, “Good jobs are what it’s all about and we are blessed to be able to bring jobs to our area.” In 2008, Mr. Wilson was recognized for his aggressiveness to bring new business and jobs by being awarded the SC Ambassador for Economic Development for Anderson County by Governor Mark Sanford for outstanding commitment to economic development.
Prior to opening Upstate Industrial Park, Mr. Wilson was a subcontractor for Duke Power, South Carolina Electric and Gas, Broad River Co-Op, and Laurens Co-Op for twenty-three years. Wilson Inc. employed one hundred people who cleared right-of-ways and installed transmission lines.
Along with his father, James C Wilson, Sr., he opened his first business in Piedmont at the age of 22. Together they grew Wilson’s Purina Feed and Seed into a major supplier to area farmers and businesses in the Upstate. They received numerous regional and national awards from Purina during operation. The business grew to five locations, which included three fertilizer plants prior to being sold to Gold Kist in 1975.
Known in the community as a humble and giving man who is always looking for ways to help, in 2021 he decided to share a gift with the local YMCA of Powdersville. For many years Mr. Wilson worked assembling what would evolve into the largest collection of John Deere tractors in the southeast. Many hours of heart and effort went into assembling this incredible collection of over 100 tractors. With the same spirit and passion, he made the decision to auction this collection to provide the seed money for building a Child Development Center for the community. Under the direction of the YMCA of Powdersville, the Wilson Child Development Center will become a reality for families soon.
On September 16,2025 Mr. Wilson was recognized by the Honorable Jimmy Davis Anderson County Council District 6 and the Anderson County Council with a resolution on the occasion of his 90th Birthday and his lifetime of service to Piedmont, Anderson County and the State of South Carolina.
Jimmy Wilson was born on September 6,1935 to James Coleman and Ruby Mae Gaillard Wilson in the Slabtown Community of Anderson County. Mr. Wilson currently resides in Piedmont on Wilson Farm. He has four children, seven grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren. He is a member Mountain Springs Baptist Church Piedmont and celebrated his 90th birthday in 2025.
