The former Greater Irmo Scholarship Pageant Committee met at Lizard’s Thicket in Irmo on Wednesday, July 24.
The group was founded in 1995 not long after the Greater Irmo Chamber of Commerce was created.
“It was a labor of love,” said Chuck Larsen, 96, longtime President/CEO of the chamber. “We were a great team that complimented and worked together on everything.”
Phyllis and Bill Gibson brought the pageant up to the scholarship levels which increased it’s popularity and potential for qualifying a Miss South Carolina contestant. Phyllis was recently honored for 40 years of service to the Miss SC Pageant. “Irmo led in giving out the most scholarships,” said Phyllis. “And we were one of the leading pageant chapters in the state.”
Miss Kimberly Aiken, who was from Harbison, won the title of Miss America in 1994.
The pageant committee boasted 28 members at one time.
Present for the breakfast were Chuck Larsen, Kirk Luther, Kerry Powers, Ginger Huggins, Jeannette Coulter, Jennifer Cannon, Darrell Brewer, Jerry Coulter, Paul Younginer, Nancy Nelson, Don Gilbert, Linda Ingle, Myra Gilbert, Phyllis Gibson, Scott Jones and Bill Gibson.
“Thanks to the committee we had an impact on all those young ladie’s lives,” Larsen said.
