Bobby Hitt
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Bobby Hitt
| image = South Carolina Secretary of Commerce Bobby Hitt.jpg
| office = South Carolina Secretary of Commerce
| term_start = January 2011
| term_end = June 2021
| predecessor = Joe E. Taylor, Jr.
| successor = Harry M. Lightsey III
| office1 =
| term_start1 =
| birth_name = Robert M. Hitt III
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1949|12|27}}
| birth_place = Charleston, South Carolina, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| party =
| spouse =
| residence =
| alma_mater = University of South Carolina
| relatives = Jack Hitt (brother)
}}
Robert "Bobby" M. Hitt III is a government and business leader in the State of South Carolina. A native of Charleston, South Carolina, he was appointed the state's Secretary of Commerce in January 2011.{{cite web|url=http://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/money/business/2014/11/25/hitt-continue-sc-commerce-secretary/70099862/|title=Hitt to continue as SC Commerce Secretary|publisher=}} Hitt began his career as a journalist, following in the footsteps of both his father and grandfather. Over nearly two decades, he built a reputation as a dogged journalist for two of South Carolina's most respected newspapers.{{Cite web |last=Lockaby |first=Marla |date=2013-12-27 |title='A Calling, Not Just a Job' |url=https://upstatebusinessjournal.com/profile/calling-just-job/ |access-date=2023-08-15 |website=UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL |language=en-US}} Prior to leading the state's economic development agency, Hitt served as an executive at the BMW plant in Spartanburg County, South Carolina.{{Cite web |url=http://www.automobilemag.com/news/bobby-hitt-bmw-manager-of-media-public-relations/ |title=Bobby Hitt - BMW Manager of Media and Public Relations - Automobile Magazine |access-date=2018-01-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180108235144/http://www.automobilemag.com/news/bobby-hitt-bmw-manager-of-media-public-relations/ |archive-date=2018-01-08 |url-status=live }}
Personal life
=Family=
Hitt was born on December 27, 1949, to Ann Leonard Hitt and Robert M. "Red" Hitt, Jr. of Charleston.{{cite web|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/greenvilleonline/obituary.aspx?n=ann-leonard-hitt&pid=175414847&fhid=6051|title=Ann Leonard Hitt's Obituary on The Greenville News|website=The Greenville News|access-date=2017-12-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171205143605/http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/greenvilleonline/obituary.aspx?n=ann-leonard-hitt&pid=175414847&fhid=6051|archive-date=2017-12-05|url-status=live}} His youngest brother is the author and journalist Jack Hitt. A third-generation newspaper man, Hitt's father served as the editor of The Charleston Evening Post, which later merged with the Charleston News and Courier to form The Post and Courier.{{cite web|url=https://upstatebusinessjournal.com/profile/calling-just-job/|title='A Calling, Not Just a Job' - Upstate Business Journal|date=26 December 2013|publisher=|access-date=20 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150419003459/http://upstatebusinessjournal.com/profile/calling-just-job/|archive-date=19 April 2015|url-status=live}} And, his grandfather, Robert Hitt, Sr. was editor of The Bamberg Herald.{{Cite web |url=https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/GPO-CRECB-1968-pt13/pdf/GPO-CRECB-1968-pt13-4-2.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2018-01-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180108233512/https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/GPO-CRECB-1968-pt13/pdf/GPO-CRECB-1968-pt13-4-2.pdf |archive-date=2018-01-08 |url-status=live }} Today, Hitt is married to Gwen, and they have two sons, Lucas and Robert Paul.{{cite web|url=http://www.jour.sc.edu/news/newsann/12Spring/hitt.html|title=SJMC: Bobby Hitt|website=www.jour.sc.edu}}
=Education=
Hitt graduated from the University of South Carolina with a B.A. in Journalism in 1973.{{citation needed|date=February 2018}} In 1987, as a recipient of the Neiman Fellowship for Journalists, Hitt studied for a year at Harvard University, focusing on the impact of social, political and economic change on the South.{{cite web|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1987/05/05/Twelve-American-journalists-will-study-for-a-year-at/8056547185600/|title=Twelve American journalists will study for a year at...|publisher=|access-date=2017-10-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171205194548/https://www.upi.com/Archives/1987/05/05/Twelve-American-journalists-will-study-for-a-year-at/8056547185600/|archive-date=2017-12-05|url-status=live}}
Career
=Journalism=
Hitt worked for 17 years at The State and the Columbia Record. He served as managing editor of the Columbia Record from 1980 to 1987 and served in the same role for The State from 1988 to 1991.
=Industry=
In 1991, Hitt left journalism to join Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP as the director of planning and development. In that role, he assisted in the effort to recruit BMW to the State of South Carolina. On June 22, 1992, BMW announced that it had selected Spartanburg County, S.C. for the site of its first North American manufacturing plant.{{cite web|url=http://www.goupstate.com/news/20170622/bmw-celebrates-25-years-in-spartanburg-county|title=BMW celebrates 25 years in Spartanburg County|first=Bob|last=Montgomery|publisher=|access-date=2017-10-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171208232942/http://www.goupstate.com/news/20170622/bmw-celebrates-25-years-in-spartanburg-county|archive-date=2017-12-08|url-status=live}} Subsequently, the German automaker hired Hitt to manage public affairs for the plant. He served as manager of corporate affairs for BMW until 2010.{{cite web|url=http://www.jour.sc.edu/news/newsann/12Spring/hitt.htm |title=Information and Communications - College of Information and Communications - University of South Carolina|website=www.jour.sc.edu}}
=Secretary of Commerce=
In January 2011, South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley appointed Hitt state Secretary of Commerce. Throughout his tenure, the S.C. Department of Commerce has recruited approximately $30 billion in capital investment and 105,000 new jobs. Additionally, the state has secured significant investments from international brands, including BMW, Boeing, Bridgestone, Continental AG, Giti Tire, LPL Financial Holdings, Mercedes-Benz Vans, Michelin, Samsung, Toray and Volvo Cars.{{cite web|url=https://www.sccommerce.com/about/leadership-and-directors/robert-m-hitt|title=Robert M. Hitt III - South Carolina Department of Commerce|website=www.sccommerce.com|access-date=2017-10-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170930095944/https://www.sccommerce.com/about/leadership-and-directors/robert-m-hitt|archive-date=2017-09-30|url-status=dead}}
Additionally, the state of South Carolina has achieved an export sales record in each year of Hitt's tenure. In 2016, the state exported more than $31 billion in products for the first time, leading the nation in the export sales of completed passenger vehicles and tires.
=Honors=
Throughout his career, Hitt has received several awards and accolades, including:
- Order of the Palmetto, the State of South Carolina's highest civilian honor {{Cite web |url=https://www.postandcourier.com/politics/gov-haley-hands-out-order-of-the-palmetto-to-her/article_4ca650de-df2f-11e6-ba8d-8f41fd10dbcb.html |title=Gov. Haley hands out Order of the Palmetto to her staff, agency heads | Palmetto Politics | postandcourier.com |access-date=2017-12-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190104072854/https://www.postandcourier.com/politics/gov-haley-hands-out-order-of-the-palmetto-to-her/article_4ca650de-df2f-11e6-ba8d-8f41fd10dbcb.html |archive-date=2019-01-04 |url-status=live }}
- Distinguished Journalism Alumni of the Year Award in 2006 from the University of South Carolina
- Third Annual Welling Collaboration Award from Ten at the Top {{Cite web |url=https://tenatthetop.org/becky-campbell-carol-burdette-receive-regional-awards-celebrating-successes-brunch/ |title=Becky Campbell and Carol Burdette Receive Regional Awards at Celebrating Successes Brunch - Ten at the TopTen at the Top |date=21 November 2017 |access-date=2018-01-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180108233351/https://tenatthetop.org/becky-campbell-carol-burdette-receive-regional-awards-celebrating-successes-brunch/ |archive-date=2018-01-08 |url-status=live }}
- Roger Milliken Defender of Manufacturing Award from the South Carolina Manufacturers' Alliance {{cite web|url=http://www.postandcourier.com/business/alliance-to-honor-commerce-secretary-hitt-s-work-boosted-s/article_fdca6616-007b-59a6-8678-7f25ec7545fe.html|title=Alliance to honor Commerce secretary Hitt's work boosted S.C. manufacturing|first=David|last=Wren|publisher=|access-date=2017-10-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180705220158/https://www.postandcourier.com/business/alliance-to-honor-commerce-secretary-hitt-s-work-boosted-s/article_fdca6616-007b-59a6-8678-7f25ec7545fe.html|archive-date=2018-07-05|url-status=live}}
- Spirit of the Upstate Award from the Upstate S.C. Alliance {{cite web|url=http://www.upstatealliance.com/Upstate-SC-Blog/August-2017/Spirit-of-the-Upstate,-Local-Economic-Developer-of.aspx/|title=Upstate Alliance - Spirit of the Upstate, Local Economic Developer of the Year Recognized|website=www.upstatealliance.com|access-date=2017-10-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180208073845/http://www.upstatealliance.com/Upstate-SC-Blog/August-2017/Spirit-of-the-Upstate,-Local-Economic-Developer-of.aspx|archive-date=2018-02-08|url-status=dead}}
- Public Servant of the Year from the Columbia Chamber of Commerce {{cite web|url=https://www.columbiachamber.com/columbia-chamber-honors-local-leaders-at-annual-gala/|title=Columbia Chamber Honors Local Leaders at Annual Gala - Columbia Chamber of Commerce|date=30 August 2017|publisher=}}
- Distinguished German American of the Year from the German-American Heritage Foundation {{cite web|url=https://gahmusa.org/31st-gala//|title=31st Annual Award and Fundraising Gala » German-American Heritage Foundation|website=gahmusa.org|access-date=2017-10-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170914162102/http://gahmusa.org/31st-gala/|archive-date=2017-09-14|url-status=dead}}