From Staff Reports 

TRAVELERS REST, S.C. – A Travelers Rest historian and longtime advocate for the city nicknamed “The Gateway to the Foothills” was given South Carolina's top honor at a presentation ceremony held here Nov. 6.

Dorothy "Dot" Bishop, who most recently has served as the immediate past president for the Travelers Rest Historical Society, “was awarded the Order of the Palmetto, the state of South Carolina’s highest civilian honor,” according to the The Travelers Rest Tribune. 

“The award was presented by S.C. Dist. 17 Rep. Mike Burns, who was instrumental in the nomination process.Bishop was given the award just prior to the start of the committee meetings of Travelers Rest City Council.”

The Order of the Palmetto — established by Gov. John C. West in 1971 —is presented in recognition of a lifetime of extraordinary achievement, service and contributions on a national or statewide scale.

"’A lot of people have recognized your accomplishments over the years,’ Rep. Burns said to Bishop prior to presenting the award, adding that state level representatives responsible for the award's administration’ [thought] she deserved the highest civilian honor in the state, the Order of the Palmetto," the Tribune reported.

“Dating back to 2008 when Bishop was serving on the town's Bicentennial Committee, she became an original board member and first president of the Travelers Rest Historical Society, where she continues to work and volunteer. 

“Later in 2008, Bishop received the Citizen of the Year award at the annual banquet of the (then) Travelers Rest Area Business Association, recognized by her peers for her accomplishments and contributions, most notably with the Society.

“In 2010, Bishop worked with others, including Lamar McCarrell, to form Travelers Rest's first Spirit of  '45 event, which was held at city hall for about 100 attendees. The event grew into the model Spirit of '45 event for the entire state.

“In April 2014, Bishop was instrumental in getting the John Plyler plaque installed along the Swamp Rabbit Trail across from the high school. She also served as membership chair for the Travelers Rest Lions Club in 2014 and 2015,” the Tribune noted.

“In 2015, Bishop was involved with the South Carolina Humanities Council ‘Museum on Main Street Project, which included a ‘Hometown Teams: How Sports Shape America’ exhibit that traveled to six locations across the state.

“Most recently, Bishop has been instrumental in the restoration of the historic Spring Park Inn property, which is being protected from development and transformed into a museum and park in downtown Travelers Rest, just behind the gazebo.”

"Our whole town is the most wonderful place in the world," Bishop said, according to the Tribune. "To represent Travelers Rest is a true, true honor."

Also attending the ceremony were Sen. Dwight Loftis (Dist. 6), Rep. Patrick B. Haddon (Dist. 19), former Greenville County Councilman Joe Dill, Greenville County Councilman Steve Shaw (a past Order of the Palmetto award winner and someone influential in Bishop's nomination process), and Travelers Rest Mayor Brandy Amidon.