GSSM to Honor Harris DeLoach of Sonoco Products Company

January 27, 2009

HARTSVILLE, SC – January 27, 2009 – On Wednesday, March 11, 2009, Harris DeLoach, chairman, president & CEO of Sonoco Products Company, will become the 17th recipient of the Charles H. Townes Award. Dr. Townes, a Greenville native and Nobel Laureate in physics who currently resides in California, is planning to attend the event. The Townes Award recognizes leadership and innovation in the fields of science, math, business, technology and education. Past recipients have included Steve Swanson of Automated Trading Desk (2008); the Honorable Bobby Harrell (2007); and Don Herriott of Roche Carolina/Global (2006).

The Townes Award Dinner will be held at the downtown Columbia Marriott with a 6 p.m. cocktail reception and a seated dinner at 7 p.m. In addition to honoring DeLoach, the dinner will feature keynote speaker Jim Suciu, president of global sales and marketing for GE Energy. At the same time, the Governor’s School will celebrate its 20th Anniversary. Tickets are $125 each and are available online or by calling 803.252.9152.