Alumnus donates 544 acres of Black River property

CHARLESTON, SC – April 18, 2011 – Lee Faircloth, a 1967 graduate, has donated 544 acres of Black River property in Georgetown County to The Citadel School of Science and Mathematics.

An undeveloped and virtually untouched tract of the Lowcountry, the preserved river land is a pristine Black River watershed on more than a mile of fresh tidal waterfront. The land is home to wild turkeys, black bears, coyotes, deer, alligators as well as host of birds and plant life.

“This is an extraordinary gift and we’re grateful to Lee for his generosity,” said Charles Groetsch, dean of the school of Science and Mathematics. “Among the vast possibilities for education and research that we are exploring is the idea for an environmental field station.”

Faircloth, who lives in Charlotte, N.C., graduated from The Citadel with a degree in mathematics. He will retain a parcel of land that adjoins the gifted property.

Every year my appreciation of The Citadel grows. I cherish the principles, the values, the discipline, and the lifelong friends I made at The Citadel,” said Faircloth. “My wife Jane and I decided to give something substantial back to the institution to enhance the educational capabilities of The Citadel for years and years to come.”

With a myriad of wildlife and plant life in an ecosystem that has a great bearing on the local environment, the property will be an asset for environmental science research and education.

“We hope that the research conducted will improve the level of understanding of the entire Lowcountry environment,” said Faircloth, “and that The Citadel will assume a position of leadership in coastal environmental science.