ABOUT LOCAL NOTABLES

Nothing speaks better of a place than the people who have lived there. Each of the individuals listed in Local Notables has two things in common: 1) they have accomplished something of note at a national or international level, and 2) at some point in their lives, they have lived in Upstate South Carolina or Western North Carolina within a roughly fifty mile radius of Spartanburg, South Carolina.

LOCAL NOTABLES CRITERIA

The people in the resulting list have all shown excellence at either the national or international level. At first glance it will be apparent that many of the individuals in this catalog are well-known, but while name recognition is important when considering a candidate, a lack of celebrity does not prevent inclusion; there are far too many people whose accomplishments are well-respected within their fields, but who are unknown to outsiders.

Determining levels of achievement is complicated by the fact that it is often difficult to compare achievements in one field with those in another. Sometimes success is defined by meeting numerous short-term criteria; other times the bottomline emerges in a single noteworthy event that has required a lifetime of cultivation.

To help ensure objectivity during the selection process, the following set of guidelines was created. Please note that any time the word "national" has been used, "international" may be also be applied.

• National Recognition. If national recognition was received, what was the nature of that recognition? A single major award for "fifteen minutes of fame" will have less significance than a number of lesser awards which indicate a pattern of excellence.
  
  
• National Influence or Presence. This criterion may be cited when the individual has been recognized as having either influenced the development of one or more national figures, or as having had a broad national influence. National presence is defined as when an individual has developed a company, product or service, patent or concept which is nationally known.

• Comparative Accomplishment. Comparing an individual's accomplishments with those of his or her peers is another means of evaluating an individual's level of achievement. Consistently high performance in peer ratings at the national level is a good indicator of sustained excellence.

• Extraordinary Event. A single extraordinary event or action can warrant inclusion on this list, but it must be widely accepted as being extraordinary.

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