Edward Colgate Dennis, Jr. was born in Darlington, South Carolina on July 15, 1910. His mother was Blanche Corinne Moorer, and his father was Edward Colgate Dennis — a distinguished Circuit Judge of South Carolina’s 4th Judicial District and a Laureate of this committee.
Ed Dennis went to Wofford College, where he was an honor student and President of Kappa Alpha Fraternity, and after graduation, entered USC School of Law where he graduated in 1934.
After graduation from law school, Ed went home to practice law in Darlington and was soon elected City Judge and served the people of Darlington in this capacity until he entered the military service in 1942, becoming a Lieutenant, J.G., in the Navy, and serving until the war ended in 1945. Ed served in the House of Representatives from 1946 to 1952 on the Interstate Cooperation, Military Affairs Judiciary Committee and other committees, and helped to draft the South Carolina Divorce Law in 1949. He was a member of Trinity Methodist Church in Darlington, and served on the Board of Stewards and as a Sunday School Teacher for many years. He was also a member of Kiwanis, the Board of Directors of C&S Bank, and President of Darlington Country Club.
Ed Dennis is survived by his wife, Jane McKinnon Dennis, his son, Edward C. Dennis III (Chip) and his wife, Ann, and their children: Edward C. Dennis, IV (Pete), Elizabeth McIver Dennis (Bess) and by his daughter, Mrs. Robert H. Chapman III (Lacy) and her husband Rob, and their children: Dennis Hill Chapman and Jane Harrison Chapman.
Ed Dennis was a lawyer, legislator, judge, World War II veteran, teacher — a man of prominence, ability, integrity and nobility. He was a true South Carolina gentleman.