Laurens County Hall of Heroes welcomes 20 veterans and first responders in class of 2026

Spanning more than eight decades of service, from World War II battlefields to present-day dispatch centers, 20 Laurens County veterans and first responders took their place in the Laurens County Veterans and First Responders Hall of Heroes on Sunday, Nov. 1.

The 2026 class includes 10 veterans who served from World War II through Operation Enduring Freedom and 10 first responders whose careers stretch from the late 1930s to today. Among them are dispatchers, deputies, firefighters and EMTs who served communities from Joanna to Fountain Inn.

The Hall of Heroes is a volunteer organization founded by veterans to recognize the service and sacrifice of veterans, first responders and their families in Laurens County and beyond. Chairman Morris L. Madden said the ceremony is about making sure the community does not forget the people who answered the call.

“Every name we read today belongs to someone who put others first, whether that was overseas in uniform or at 2 a.m. on a county road,” Madden said. “Many of these men and women never asked for recognition, and some of them aren’t here to receive it. That’s exactly why we do this. Laurens County owes them a debt, and this is one way we can say thank you and make sure their stories are remembered.”

The ceremony blended tribute and storytelling. Chip Swanson shared “Vietnam Bible: A Soldier’s Story,” the account of Carl Bernard “Buddy” Swanson Jr., while a segment on the South Carolina Law Enforcement Hall of Fame, presented by Eric Morse, honored Police Chief Robin Morse. Col. David Fowler of the U.S. Army and South Carolina National Guard delivered the veterans keynote, and 1st Sgt. Josh Cannon of the South Carolina Highway Patrol gave the first responders keynote.

Several of this year’s honorees have deep roots in the organization itself. Sgt. Markell G. Madden, who served in Operation Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom, serves as the Hall of Heroes secretary, and Capt. Bobby E. “Rob” O’Bryant, a Marine Corps veteran of Operation Desert Storm, serves on the board and offered the opening prayer.

The first responder class reflects long careers close to home. Dispatcher Callie Burnside served the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office for 40 years, Capt. Charles Boyce served from 1985 until this year, and Lt. Robert I. Plaxico spent four decades with the sheriff’s office while also leading the Joanna Fire Department. Chief Albert Carl Dial led the Laurens Fire Department from 1937 to 1961, while Dispatcher Sonya S. Barrett, who began her career in 1996, continues to serve today.

The 2026 veteran inductees are:

Cpl. Charles G. Buice, U.S. Army, World War II and Korean War
Tech. Sgt. Bruce Wayne Chalk, U.S. Air Force, Vietnam and Cold War era
Cpl. Michael G. Grazioso, U.S. Marine Corps, Operation Desert Storm
Seaman Ralph L. Gunnels Sr., U.S. Navy, Cold War era
Sgt. Markell G. Madden, U.S. Army, Operation Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom
Capt. Robert T. “Bob” McLean, U.S. Army, Cold War era
Pfc. Frank L. McMahan Jr., U.S. Army, World War II
Capt. Bobby E. “Rob” O’Bryant, U.S. Marine Corps, Operation Desert Storm
Sgt. Jerome D. Parson, U.S. Army, Vietnam
Lt. Col. James M. “Jimmy” Young, U.S. Army, Operation Enduring Freedom

The 2026 first responder inductees are:

Dispatcher Sonya S. Barrett, Laurens Police Department and Laurens County Sheriff’s Office, 1996 to present
Capt. Charles Boyce, Laurens County Sheriff’s Office and Gray Court and Fountain Inn police departments, 1985 to 2026
Dispatcher Callie Burnside, Laurens County Sheriff’s Office, 1979 to 2019
Chief Albert Carl Dial, Laurens Fire Department, 1937 to 1961
Chief Deputy Arthur “Red” Holt, Laurens County Sheriff’s Office, Joanna, 1950s to 1970s
Chief Bill Hughes, Laurens Fire Department, 1985 to 2022
EMT Isaiah E. Kappenman, Laurens County Emergency Medical Services, 2013 to 2021
EMT Denise Matthews, Laurens County Emergency Medical Services, 2003 to 2014
Deputy Ryan Floyd Pitts, Laurens County Sheriff’s Office, Joanna, 1939 to 1963
Lt. Robert I. Plaxico, Laurens County Sheriff’s Office and chief of the Joanna Fire Department, 1975 to 2015

The Hall of Heroes is led by Madden as chairman, with Vice Chairman Jim Moore, Treasurer Jeremy Dale Hudson and Secretary Markell Madden, along with board members Rob O’Bryant, Alton Wilson, Troy Aldridge, Joe Koon and Don Evans. Nearly all bring their own backgrounds in the military, law enforcement, fire service or emergency medical services.

The ceremony was supported by state Sen. Danny Verdin and his wife, Kim, along with more than 20 local businesses that served as honorary table sponsors, including Arthur State Bank, Firmin Ford, Founders Federal Credit Union, Piedmont Rural Telephone Company, United Community Bank and the Laurens County Water and Sewer Commission.

More information about the Laurens County Hall of Heroes is available by emailing [email protected].