A. Clarkson Obituary

A. Crawford Clarkson, Jr. COLUMBIA, SC - Andrew Crawford Clarkson, Jr. of Columbia, SC died on September 27, 2013. He was the son of Andrew Crawford Clarkson, Sr. of Columbia, SC and Jennie Louise Taber of Fort Motte, SC. Born in Columbia December 17, 1919, he was educated in the Columbia city schools graduating in 1937 from Columbia High School. In 1941 he was graduated in absentia from the University of South Carolina having received a commission as Ensign USNR. In 1949 he married Sarah Fairbanks Bull of Georgetown, SC. Crawford Clarkson's life was animated by an abiding love for country, his native state, and his family. He was a lively conversationalist, a tireless encourager of his children, lover of travel, and treasured his Scottish heritage. An accomplished businessman, his steady wisdom and consummate professionalism made him a behind the scenes trusted advisor to politicians, governors, university presidents, church leaders, business colleagues, clients, and his own children. A passion for sailing, developed as a Sea Scout on Lake Murray, was reflected in Mr. Clarkson's service as a naval officer during World War II and the Korean conflict. He served aboard the high speed destroyer minesweeper USS Stansbury (DMS 8) July 1941 to July 1943, and then aboard the USS Howard (DMS 7) as executive officer and navigator. Tasked with keeping supply lanes open despite threats from German U-boats, Mr. Clarkson's convoy duty ranged the North Atlantic, the Caribbean and later the Pacific. He also saw action during the landings at the Naval Battle at Casablanca, French Morocco in November 1942. During the Howard's Leyte Gulf operations in the Philippines, Mr. Clarkson saw his first kamikazes. After World War II ended, Mr. Clarkson returned to Columbia and joined his father, holder of CPA SC certificate #1, at A.C. Clarkson and Company, CPAs. He was awarded C.P.A. certification in 1948. In 1952 Mr. Clarkson was recalled by the Navy during the Korean Emergency and ordered as Executive Officer of the USS Cony (DDE 508). Upon returning to Columbia, Mr. Clarkson entered USC School of Law - attending class and working as an accountant by day while studying law at night. He was graduated in 1955 and admitted to the S.C. Bar and the Federal Bar including ultimately the United States Supreme Court. In 1979 Mr. Clarkson retired from the Navy as Captain USNR. From 1958 to 1966 Mr. Clarkson was a member and executive secretary of the S.C. Legislative Tax Study Commission - authoring most of the tax legislation enacted during this period. In 1960 Mr. Clarkson moved A.C. Clarkson and Company to partnership form as Clarkson, Harden, and Gantt, CPAs. This firm grew to nine partners and over seventy employees engaged in all facets of accounting practice. In 1985 Clarkson Harden and Gantt was acquired by Arthur Young and Company. Mr. Clarkson retired from the accounting practice in 1987 and was appointed as a commissioner of the S.C. Tax Commission (now the S.C. Department of Revenue). He served South Carolina in this position for eight years, the last two years as Chairman. For this service Governor Carroll Campbell awarded Mr. Clarkson the Order of the Palmetto. Upon leaving the Tax Commission Mr. Clarkson was associated with the accounting firm Bauknight Pietras and Stormer, P.A. Mr. Clarkson's deep family roots in South Carolina led to a sustained interest in the wellbeing of her citizens as seen in his active involvement in many civic, cultural, religious, and political organizations. He was honored to have been a member of the diaconate at First Presbyterian Church and subsequently a member of the vestry at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral; President of the local council of Boy Scouts of America (Eagle and Silver Beaver); Campaign Chairman of the United Way; founding board member of Patriots Point Naval Museum in Charleston; founding member of the Columbia Sailing Club; treasurer and fundraiser for Congressman Floyd Spence; chairman of Governor Carroll Campbell's committee that successfully negotiated a treaty with the Catawba Nation; treasurer of the SC Society of the Cincinnati; member of the Correctional Development Foundation from which came the pretrial intervention procedure in effect today. Mr. Clarkson was especially concerned in promoting the good of the University of South Carolina. He was instrumental in the formation of the USC Educational Foundation, led the way, at the direction of Coach Paul Dietzel, in acquiring a major bequest resulting in the expansion of the football stadium giving to it its new name Williams-Brice Stadium, and, finally, was pivotal, along with Dean James Kane, and Jerry Beasley, in inspiring the vision for formation of the Master of International Business program at USC. In addition, Mr. Clarkson was a member of the American Bar Association; the South Carolina Bar; the American Institute of CPAs; South Carolina Association of CPAs (Award for Distinguished Public Service); the Federation of Tax Administrators (board of trustees); the Columbia Rotary Club (president, 1958-1959); the Columbia Chamber of Commerce (director, 1959-1961); South Carolina Chamber of Commerce (board of directors) which awarded him the Sgt. William Jasper Freedom Award; the United States Chamber of Commerce (Taxation Committee, 1963-1965); Columbia City Ballet (trustee); Forest Lake Club; Quadrille Club; Cotillion Club; Carolina Yacht Club; Winyah Indigo Society; Society of Colonial Wars of South Carolina; Forum Club (president), and member of St. Andrew's Society of South Carolina. Besides his parents, Mr. Clarkson was predeceased by his sister Jennie Clarkson Dreher of Columbia and grandson Peter Crawford Roney. Mr. Clarkson is survived by Sarah Fairbanks Bull Clarkson, his wife of sixty-four years and by his six children: Jennie Taber Clarkson Olbrych (husband John and their children John Crawford, Ruslan, Christiana, Oksana, Maxim, and Susan) of Charleston, Sarah Bull Clarkson (husband John Herre and their children Margaret and Caroline) of Norfolk, Va., Susan Cornish Clarkson Keller (husband Kent) of Charleston, Margaret Crawford Clarkson (husband Peter Roney and their daughter Margaret Crawford) of Arlington, Va., Andrew Crawford Clarkson III (wife Caroline) of Columbia, and Thomas Boston Clarkson of Atlanta, Georgia. He is also survived by nieces Ann Crawford Dreher and Jane Dreher Emerson both of Columbia. The family deeply appreciates the caregivers from Solutions at Home of Still Hopes and most especially Ms. Donna Turner, and all who cared for Crawford with love and professionalism. Friends are invited to call at the Clarkson family home, 4339 Chicora Street, Monday evening between 5:00 and 7:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, October 1, Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Columbia, 1100 Sumter Street, with burial in the churchyard. The family will receive friends in Satterlee Hall following the burial. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Trinity Foundation, 1100 Sumter Street, Columbia SC 29201, or Indian Waters Council BSA, P.O. Box 144, Columbia SC 29202. Honorary pallbearers will be members of the St. Andrews Society of the City of Columbia. Please sign the guestbook at www.shivesfuneralhome.com. Visit our guestbook at www.legacy.com/obituaries/ charleston