The late Rev. Pinckney was an Alexander colleague

When the Rev. Clementa Pinckney was nine years old he joined a 4-H program; today the late Reverend-Senator Pinckney is a posthumous inductee into the National 4-H Hall of Fame.  And a former legislative colleague, Oconee-Pickens Senator Thomas Alexander, is pleased that Clemson University has drawn attention to the accomplishment.  As a nine-year old 4-Her, Pinckney focused on public speaking and debating.  They became skills that served him well as a member of the cloth and as a state lawmaker.  Not only was the Rev. Pinckney an accomplished orator, so today is his daughter, Eliana, who spoke at the hall of fame ceremony.  The Rev. Pinckney was among the victims in 2015 of a racially-motivated mass shooting at the church he pastored in Charleston.  Since his death state lawmakers put together the 4-H Pinckney Leadership Program for middle and high school students to develop their leadership abilities and awareness in civic engagement.