City Of Gaffney Mayor Lyman Dawkins To Provide Keynote Address At Limestone Black History Month Event

Gaffney Mayor and Limestone University graduate Lyman Dawkins, III will deliver the keynote address for the university's Black History Month observance on Wednesday, Feb. 26. The event will take place at 1:30 p.m. in the Hines and Riggins Center. The event is free and open to the public.

In addition to Dawkins' comments, the Limestone University and Community Chorus will perform in celebration of Black History Month.

Dawkins, who also serves as the principal of Gaffney Middle School, has dedicated his career to education and community leadership. He has held multiple roles, including adjunct professor, middle school principal, elementary principal, assistant principal, and teacher.

A proud Limestone University graduate with honors, Dawkins is also an alum of the prestigious Call Me MiSTER program. He holds a Master of Education from Anderson University and an Educational Specialist Degree in Administration and Supervision from Converse University. Currently, he is pursuing a Doctorate in Education Improvement Science at Clemson University.

Throughout his career, Dawkins has received numerous accolades for his dedication to education and leadership. He was named Cherokee County School District First Year Teacher of the Year, Granard Middle School Teacher of the Year, and earned the Best Principal Golden Peach Award. In 2024, he was honored with the Inez Tenenbaum Leadership Award. In 2020, he was named one of Cherokee County’s Top 20 Under 40.

In August 2024, Dawkins made history as the first African American elected mayor of Gaffney, marking a significant milestone for the city. Prior to becoming mayor, he served seven years on the Cherokee County Council as the District One Representative.