Nick Theodore

Theodore was born in Greenville, South Carolina, to Andrew and Lula Theodore, Greek immigrants, the youngest of five children.{{Cite web|url=http://www.neomagazine.com/2018/12/uncle-nick-of-greenville/|title="Uncle Nick" of Greenville – NEO Magazine|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-15}} Growing up he was involved with the St. George Greek Orthodox Cathedral community in Greenville, and the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA). Theodore attended the University of Georgia and graduated in 1952 from Furman University with a Bachelors in Business.{{Cite web|url=https://www.greenville.k12.sc.us/Departments/main.asp?titleid=hoftheodore|title=Hall of Fame - Nick Theodore|website=www.greenville.k12.sc.us|language=en|access-date=2020-04-15}} He spent a total of 24 years serving in the South Carolina state legislature before being elected in 1986 to the office of lieutenant governor having beaten Republican Congressman Thomas F. Hartnett to the position. He served two full terms in that post under Republican Governor Carroll Campbell.

Ironically, it was fellow Greenville resident Campbell who, in 1978, had defeated Theodore in an election to the United States House of Representatives from South Carolina's 4th congressional district, one of famed political strategist Lee Atwater's first major triumphs. Despite this history, and the differences in their political philosophies and party affiliations, Campbell and Theodore worked together quite effectively during their two terms in office, and remained friendly with each other.

On April 13, 1993, Theodore witnessed the car accident that killed Nancy Thurmond, the daughter of longtime South Carolina Senator Strom Thurmond, from less than twenty feet away. Theodore had attended Nancy's 22nd birthday party only two weeks earlier.{{cite news |url=https://www.thestate.com/latest-news/article209778159.html |title= Drunk driver in Five Points killed Strom Thurmond's 'little girl' 25 years ago |date=April 29, 2018 |newspaper=The State |first=Cody |last=Dulaney |access-date=July 6, 2022 }}

At the conclusion of Campbell's two terms in office, Theodore ran for governor in 1994, defeating Charleston mayor Joseph P. Riley Jr. to secure the Democratic nomination. Theodore lost to Campbell's protégé David Beasley, however, in the general election. Four years later in 1998 he tried to regain his former post as lieutenant governor but lost in the general election to incumbent Bob Peeler (R).

In 2002, Theodore came out of a quasi-retirement to accept an interim appointment to the South Carolina Public Service Commission, ending in 2004.{{Cite web|url=https://psc.sc.gov/about-us-0/past-commissioners/nick-theodore|title=Nick Theodore {{!}} Public Service Commission|website=psc.sc.gov|access-date=2020-04-15}} In 2006, his son, Drew Theodore, became the Democratic nominee for the statewide office of Comptroller General.

• Trials and Triumphs: South Carolina's Evolution, 1962-2014: Political Memoirs and Personal Memories of Nick Theodore{{Cite book|last=Theodore, Nick A. (Nicholas Andrew), 1928-|title=Trials and triumphs : South Carolina's evolution, 1962-2014 : political memoirs and personal memories of Nick Theodore|date=2014|publisher=Faith Printing Company|others=Partridge, Dave.|isbn=978-0-578-14068-1|location=Taylors, SC|oclc=880141324}} (Faith Printing Company, Taylors, SC: 2014).

• [https://archives.library.sc.edu/repositories/6/resources/828 Nick A. Theodore Papers] at South Carolina Political Collections at the University of South Carolina

{{reflist}}

{{s-start}}

{{s-ppo}}

{{s-bef|before=Michael Daniel}}

{{s-ttl|title=Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina|years=1986, 1990}}

{{s-aft|after=Liz Patterson}}

|-

{{s-bef|before=Theo Mitchell}}

{{s-ttl|title=Democratic nominee for Governor of South Carolina|years=1994}}

{{s-aft|after=Jim Hodges}}

|-

{{s-bef|before=Liz Patterson}}

{{s-ttl|title=Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina|years=1998}}

{{s-aft|after=Phil Leventis}}

|-

{{s-off}}

{{s-bef|before=Michael Daniel}}

{{s-ttl|title=Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina|years=1987–1995}}

{{s-aft|after=Bob Peeler}}

{{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Theodore, Nick}}

Category:1928 births

Category:American people of Greek descent

Category:Furman University alumni

Category:Lieutenant governors of South Carolina

Category:Living people

Category:Democratic Party members of the South Carolina House of Representatives

Category:Politicians from Greenville, South Carolina

Category:Democratic Party South Carolina state senators

Category:20th-century members of the South Carolina General Assembly