The Sergeant T. C. DeVore scholarship was established in 2013 by the DeVore family to honor Mr. DeVore for his devotion to family, military career, and his business success after World War II.  He believed in the value of education and was an ardent supporter of both The Citadel and the University of Georgia.

 

Early Life

Mr. DeVore was born and lived in the small town of Ninety-Six, South Carolina.  After completing high school he enrolled in The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina.  While at The Citadel, the United States entered the World War II when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor.  All Citadel cadets enlisted for military service on the same day, but were allowed to finish their current classes before reporting for active duty.  Freshmen and sophomores entered as enlisted men, and juniors and seniors as officers.  Mr. DeVore was a sophomore and was therefore inducted as an enlisted man.

 

Military Service

Mr. DeVore enlisted in the Army on December 14, 1942 and was assigned to the 2nd Armored Division.  He entered the war on Normandy Beach three days after the initial landing.  He then fought with his division across France and ultimately into Germany.  He participated in five major campaigns in Europe: Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes, and Central Europe.  His unit was at or near the "Tip of the Spear" during the Battle of the Bulge.

 

He was awarded the Silver Star for gallantry on May 8, 1945 for his actions during a German air attack.  Under his direction, an inflamed truck loaded with gasoline and munitions was driven into a pond to extinguish the fire.  More importantly his actions removed the gasoline and munitions from the vicinity of his and other troops.  He was among the first in combat to see and fire at a German jet fighter.

 

Post World War II

After returning from the Army, Mr. DeVore made the decision to forgo his last two years of study at The Citadel and instead to go into the business world.  Like so many others, he saw opportunity and having survived the war the risk of opening a business seemed like an insignificant one.  After a brief career in plumbing sales in South Carolina, he relocated to Athens, Georgia to start his own business.  He partnered with Cecil Johnson to form DeVore and Johnson, a successful business now run by his two sons.  Mr. DeVore ultimately lived in Athens for fifty-seven years before passing away in 2006.

 

During his active business years he was also a successful real estate investor and developer, and served on the Boards of Directors for SunTrust Banks, Athens Federal Savings, Story Chemical Corporation, Athens General Hospital Authority, and the Cedar Creek Development Corporation.  He also worked within the community outside of business and served on the board of the Athens YMCA, the Salvation Army, Athens-Clarke Community Chest, Athens Little League, the Athens Touchdown Club, and other civic and charitable organizations.  He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Athens.

 

T. C. DeVore Scholarship

In addition to general foundation criteria, applicants for the scholarship must be attending either The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina, or The Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia.  The scholarship provides for four annual payments of $1,000 each so long as the student remains active and in good standing with the college.