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Board of Directors

Founder: Helga Zepp-LaRouche

Board Members: Fred Huenefeld, Theo Mitchell, Harley Schlanger, John Sigerson

Theo Mitchell

Former Senator Mitchell represented District 7 of South Carolina in the State Senate He was elected Vice-Chairman of the Greenville County Legislative Delegation in 1984 and in November 1, 1986, was elected Chairman by a unanimous vote of the 17-member Delegation, the largest in the State, serving until 1989.

Prior to Senator Mitchell's election to the Senate, he served five (5) unopposed terms in the S.C. House of Representatives representing District 23. During his tenure, he introduced and successfully fought for the passage of legislation pertaining to the consumer, elderly, and the low income. Senator Mitchell also spearheaded legislation for a stronger educational system In South Carolina with equal state funding for all school districts. Senator Mitchell also led the for homestead exemption for the elderly.

Senator Mitchell is a former chairman of the S.C. Legislative Black Caucus and a former chairman of the S.C. House of Representatives Task Force on Structure and Authority of State Agencies. He is a former Vice-Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee and a former member of the Health Care Planning and Oversight Committee. He served on the Advisory Committes on Intergovernmental Relations and was serving on other committees as a legislator. He was Chairman of Region 5 of the National Black Caucus of State Legislators, and a member of the Executive Committee.

Senator Mitchell is an attorney in the law firm of Theo W. Mitchell and Associates, a firm which has set many precedents in the field of Civil, Human Rights and Criminal law. He is a graduate of Sterling High School, Fisk University and the Howard University Law School.

In 1969, he returned to Greenville to work with the Legal Services Agency of Greenville, Inc., where as an attorney he undertook numerous projects for the poor and needy, the consumer, and senior citizens of the county.

His community involvement placed him in the leadership of the committee which founded the Greenville Urban League, Inc., and he served as its first President. Senator Mitchell served on the city's first Human Relations Committee and on the City's Housing Authority which built the first housing for the elderly, Scott Towers. He was a member of the County's Recreation Commission which developed Sterling, Westside and Butler Springs Parks. Senator Mitchell has served on numerous boards and committees, including the S.C. Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights for eight years. Both Senator Mitchell and his wife Greta are Life Members of the NAACP.

Senator Mitchell is an active member of Allen Temple A.M.E. Church and is a member of the board of trustees and sings on the Male Chorus. Senator Mitchell was the 1989 “Outstanding Senator in Education by the S.C. School Boards Association.” The 1989 “Senator of the Year” and Leadership Award recipient for the S.C. Probation, Parole and Pardon Services. The 1989 Freedom, Justice and Equality Award recipient from the Greenville Branch, NAACP. The 1988 “General Assembly Member of the Year,” and recipient of the Leadership Award from the Transportation Association of South Carolina for Public Transportation. The 1989 naming of the new Fountain Plaza at the Central Transfer Center of the Greenville Transit Authority in his honor for his work in public transportation. He has been recognized by the S.C. Taxpayers Association.

On June 12, 1990, Senator Theo W. Mitchell won the Democratic nomination for Governor of South Carolina with opposition and was defeated in his bid for Governor by the incumbent.

Senator Mitchell was born and reared in Greenville, South Carolina where he live with his wife, the former Greta Knight of Pueblo, Colorado. They are the parents of three daughters, and four grandchildren.

Contact Theo Mitchell