Kermit S. King was born December 20, 1930, in Cameron, SC, to parents Edna Neese and Heber Sifley King. He attended Draughton Business College from 1949 until 1950. He served in the U.S. Army from 1951 to 1953 before entering the University of South Carolina, where he participated in the intercollegiate debate program. He was awarded the Hemphill Trophy as the university’s outstanding debater in 1955. He entered USC School of Law in the Fall of 1955, after only two years in undergraduate school. There, he represented the law school in intercollegiate moot court competition two years, served as president of the student body
and graduated cum laude in 1958.
From 1958 to 1961, he practiced law with Edens and Hammer; then with the Frank Taylor Law Firm until 1966; and later with King and Lourie until 1970. He was a senior partner in private practice with various associates from 1970 until his retirement.
He was licensed to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court, Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, the U.S. District Court, and all SC courts.
Kermit was a member of the SC Bar, served as President of the SC Trial Lawyers Association in 1972, and was a three-time Special Circuit Judge.
In 2012, the USC School of Law Alumni Association awarded him the Platinum Compleat Lawyer Award. He was listed in the “Best Lawyers in America” (first edition in 1983 until retirement).
He was a member of Ebenezer Lutheran Church.
Kermit S. King died on March 19, 2022. He is survived by his spouse, Carolyn Reid King; children, Harriette K. Knox (Robert), Katherine K.
Nicholson (William), Melissa M. Harrill (Paul), and Clayton McCullough (Catherine); grandchildren, Davis Knox, Reid Carter, Wells Carter, Cameron McCullough, and Rodgers McCullough.