Congregation Beth Israel honors Barry Nocks

Long-time Greenville community leader and steward Barry Nocks was honored with the Leading from the Heart Award from Congregation Beth Israel this week.

As part of the honor, numerous current city and state leaders spoke about Nocks’ tireless efforts in making the Greenville community better over the decades, and December 4, 2022 was proclaimed Barry C. Nocks.

A member of Congregation Beth Israel since 1974, Nocks has served as the President of the Congregation, chaired the Rabbi search committee, served as High Holiday Cantor for 30 years and regularly reads Haftarah.

In the Greenville community, Nocks has served as a professor of city and regional planning at Clemson University for more than 40 years, focusing on improving cities and enhancing quality of life for people and encouraging students to make a difference in their communities.

He has served on local planning commissions and boards, and contributed to a number of local plans and projects. Most recently, he worked on the Greenville 2040 plan, which addressed affordable housing, environmental sustainability, and transportation access. In 2001, he directed Greenville’s Reedy River Master Plan project, which has led to significant development and activity along the river. He also has been active with Ten at the Top, the Community Foundation of Greenville, the American Youth Foundation Leadership Camp and many more.

He and his wife, Elaine, have one son, Matt, a daughter-in-law, Melissa, and three grandchildren, Lila Grace, Cece and Charlie.