Cyril Thomas "Tommy" Wyche (1926 – January 23, 2015) was a lawyer, conservationist, and a leader in the transformation of downtown Greenville, South Carolina. Tommy Wyche commemorative plaque

Early life

Wyche was born in Greenville, graduated from

Yale University Yale University is a Private university, private research university in New Haven, Connecticut. Established in 1701 as the Collegiate School, it is the List of Colonial Colleges, third-oldest institution of higher education in the United Sta ...

in 1946, and received his law degree from the

University of Virginia The University of Virginia (UVA) is a public research university in Charlottesville, Virginia. Founded in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson, the university is ranked among the top academic institutions in the United States, with College admission ...

in 1949.

Conservationism

In 1973 Wyche founded Naturaland Trust, a vehicle for his successful attempt to protect the South Carolina Blue Ridge Mountains. He was a principal author of the South Carolina Heritage Trust Act, the South Carolina Conservation Easement Act, and the South Carolina Mountain Protection Act. His efforts resulted in the protection of over 100,000 acres, including Jocassee Gorges, the watersheds of Table Rock and Poinsett Reservoir, and the land between them, which Wyche named Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area and which include Jones Gap and

Caesars Head State Park Caesars Head State Park is a park in northern Greenville County, South Carolina, that borders Transylvania County, North Carolina, and is reached via US 276. The eponymous rock formation, one of the highest points in Greenville County, is a granit ...

s. An avid outdoor photographer, Wyche published six books that featured his work, including ''South Carolina's Mountain Wilderness: The Blue Ridge Escarpment'' (Englewood, CO: Westcliffe, 1994).

City development

Wyche also had the foresight to promote the rejuvenation of downtown Greenville, which during his early career was in serious economic decline. Working with Mayor Max Heller and business leader Buck Mickel, Wyche helped bring a

Hyatt Hyatt Hotels Corporation, commonly known as Hyatt Hotels & Resorts, is an American multinational hospitality company headquartered in the Riverside Plaza area of Chicago that manages and franchises luxury and business hotels, resorts, and vaca ...

Regency Hotel to Greenville in the early 1980s, thus jump-starting Main Street redevelopment. Wyche was also a prime mover in the development of the

Peace Center The Peace Center is a performing arts center located in Greenville, South Carolina. It is composed of a concert hall, theater, and amphitheatre. Located adjacent to Falls Park, the center hosts over 300 events each year, including classical mus ...

, Heritage Green, the

Bi-Lo Center Bon Secours Wellness Arena (formerly the BI-LO Center; The Well) is a multi-purpose arena in Greenville, South Carolina. The arena serves as the home of the Greenville Swamp Rabbits of the ECHL. History The Bon Secours Wellness Arena was bu ...

(now the Bon Secours Wellness Arena), and the Governor's School for the Arts and Humanities. Wyche, a longtime supporter of the

Greenville Symphony Orchestra The Greenville Symphony Orchestra, often referred to simply as the Greenville Symphony, is an American symphony orchestra based in Greenville, South Carolina. Its home is located in the heart of downtown Greenville next to the Peace Center. Ov ...

, was also a pianist and occasional composer. After Wyche's death

Edvard Tchivzhel Edvard Tchivzhel (Russian: Эдвард Чивжель) (pronounced CHIV-gel) (b. January 29, 1944) is a Russian-born conductor and music director of the David Beasley David Muldrow Beasley (born February 26, 1957) is an American politician and the Executive Director of the United Nations World Food Programme. A member of the Republican Party, he served one term as the 113th Governor of South Carolina from 19 ...

presented Wyche with 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 ...

. In 2012, a carillon created by van Bergen Bells was dedicated to Wyche in honor of his contributions to the city of Greenville. After Wyche's death in 2015, his longtime colleague

Frank Holleman Frank Sharp Holleman, III is an attorney and politician from South Carolina who was the Democratic Party's nominee for South Carolina Superintendent of Education in 2010 and is a former United States Deputy Secretary of Education. Holleman was ...

called him "the single most important conservationist in the Upstate, one of the most important people in the state in conservation, and one of a handful of people who made the center of Greenville what it is today."Tonya Maxwell, "Wyche recalled for conservation efforts," ''Greenville News'', January 27, 2015, 7A. Wyche was survived by three children, five grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and two half brothers. "Tommy Wyche's lifetime of dedication celebrated."

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wyche, C. Thomas 1926 births 2015 deaths People from Greenville, South Carolina