State Museum Foundation Gains Three New Members

COLUMBIA, SC – May 22, 2009 – Polly Howser, Katie Rama and William F. Billy Cave recently were elected to the board of directors of the South Carolina State Museum Foundation, the private support and fundraising arm of the South Carolina State Museum. 

Also a member of the museum’s board of trustees, the S.C. State Museum Commission, Cave is the managing principal of Reliance Trust Company in Atlanta.  He has been in banking since 1960, spending 30 of those years in New York.

Cave is an experienced volunteer and gives his time to a variety of local boards and commissions.  He is a board member for the Pawley’s Island Festival of Music and Art; Georgetown County Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission; a former member of the citizens advisory committee of the Hollings Cancer Center; and he serves on the Board of Visitors for Coastal Carolina University’s Wall School of Business.

 In addition, Cave is past chairman of the Georgetown County Cultural Council and a past member of Tidelands Hospice. He also is the president of the Georgetown area USC Alumni Association and a former board member of Children’s Specialized Hospital in Westfield, N.J.

One of the things I’m most proud of is working with Hugh McColl to start the Buddy Kemp Caring House in Charlotte, said Cave.  It’s a free cancer support program.  I feel that I’ve had a fortunate life and I want to give back to the extent I can.

 A native of Walterboro, Cave attended Furman University and received a degree in political science from the University of South Carolina.  He also was graduated from the South Carolina School of Banking, and also studied at Dartmouth College and Harvard University.

 Cave now lives at DeBordieu Colony outside of Georgetown with his wife Nancy and the family dogs Pongo and Lady.

 New board member Polly Howser has dedicated many years of service to improving the quality of life in South Carolina through a variety of service organizations.  Born and raised in Harriman, Tennessee she has called Columbia home since 1966.  She has served as president of the Junior League and been a member of the United Way board of directors. 

 Her work on the board of directors of the Columbia Garden Club and the Founding Committee for Columbia Green have helped make Columbia a greener, more attractive place to live, while her service with the Historic Columbia Foundation board of directors has aided the preservation and promotion of historic structures in the city.

 A graduate of Duke University, Howser always has been interested in education and has been a member of the interview committee for prospective Duke students.  As the Columbia chairman for the Carolina Challenge Committee for Duke University, she is instrumental in raising scholarship money for South Carolina students planning to attend the university.  Howser was chair of the Hammond School board of trustees from 1990-1993 and served on the search committee for a new headmaster from 1988-1989.

 Familiar with the challenges facing museums through her work with the Edventure Fundraising Committee, Howser’s work as a trainer for non-profit boards in the areas of future planning and effective organization will make her an invaluable asset to the State Museum board.

 Howser is married to attorney R. Davis Howser and has three children and four grandchildren.

 The Foundation also is pleased to add Katie Rama to the board.  She brings a wealth of volunteer and business experience from her home in the Lowcountry.  Rama was graduated from Clemson University, went on to receive her MBA from the University of South Carolina and has made Charleston her home for many years.

 She has served on many committees in diverse organizations in Charleston including the Junior League, the South Carolina Aquarium, the Charleston Garden Festival, Spoleto and the American Heart Association. 

 Rama has been instrumental in raising funds for breast cancer research through her work for the Charleston Komen Affiliate and her position as chair of the 2001 Race for the Cure in Charleston.  She also has served on the state board and local committees for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

 Her community involvement has extended to education through her past work as PTA president of Christ our King Stella Maris School and her service on the school board.

 Rama has three children and is married to John Rama, president of Sonitrol Security Systems.

We are thrilled to have these distinguished people added to our board, and we know the Foundation will benefit from their talents, said Foundation Executive Director Adrienne Huffman.