CONTACT: LISA GARRETT, EXT. 2315

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 4/19/2001

PENDLETON --- South Carolina Secretary of State James M. Miles will address the graduating class of 2001 at Tri-County Technical College's 38th annual commencement.

Approximately 339 graduates will be recognized at the annual spring commencement scheduled for Monday, May 14, at 8 p.m. at Littlejohn Coliseum. In addition to families and guests of the graduates, alumni and friends of the College are invited to attend the ceremony.

In 1990 Mr. Miles was elected as South Carolina's first Republican Secretary of State since Reconstruction. He was re-elected in 1998 with more votes than any Republican Constitutional Officer in S.C. history. While in office, he has pushed an aggressive agenda of reforms targeting government ethics, investor protection, and telemarketing abuses. As a result, South Carolina now has the Ethics Act and one of the toughest Charity Fraud Laws in the country. He continues to work at increasing consumer awareness of fraud and trademark violations, and to prosecute offenders.

During his tenure he has received numerous awards, including the S.C. Association of Taxpayers' "Friend of the Taxpayer" Award in 1993 and was named "Watchdog for the Taxpayer" by the State Treasurer in 1998. Under his leadership, the Office of Secretary of State was recognized for "Most Money Saved by a Small Agency" in 1993. Secretary Miles also received The Order of the Palmetto, one of the highest honors that can be bestowed on a citizen of South Carolina.

Mr. Miles received a bachelor of arts degree from Duke University in 1964 and a juris doctor from the University of North Carolina in 1969. He was admitted to the North Carolina Bar in 1969, and the South Carolina Bar in 1971. In 1974, he was admitted and qualified as an attorney before the United States Supreme Court. In his spare time, Secretary Miles serves as a Supreme Court certified mediator.

After practicing law in Greenville for more than 20 years, he entered public service as a Greenville City Councilman in 1989. He and his wife, Betty, have five sons and six grandchildren. They reside at the Isle of Palms and are members of Sullivan's Island Baptist Church.
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