Under a cloudless, chilly, deep blue sky, Henry McMaster was sworn in Jan. 9 as governor of South Carolina.

The ceremony was held on the south steps of the Statehouse in Columbia.

McMaster became the 117th governor after he was appointed by Gov. Nikki Haley, as lieutenant governor. He was elected governor in November.

The state’s new Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette and the state’s 6 Constitutional officers were sworn in, too.

The ceremony included a flyover by four F-16 fighter jets from McEntire Joint National Guard Base in Eastover. Several of the Constitutional officers live in Lexington County.

Also attending were former Govs. Nikki Haley, Mark Sanford, Jim Hodges, David Beasley and Dick Riley.

Outgoing Lt. Gov. Kevin Bryant swore in Evette.

At McMaster’s inauguration, he said:

• The state is successful as it competes economically.

South Carolina is the leading exporter in the country of tires and completed automobiles, he said.

• The state must be bold to compete.

“We are winning and we will keep winning,” McMaster said.

He spoke of the Clemson University football team’s National Championship victory over Alabama, adding “we will not fumble.”

• His administration will be bold on economic development, education, the environment and tax reform.

“Continued economic prosperity,” he said, “requires reforming our state’s marginal income and corporate tax rates to keep South Carolina competitive for jobs, investment and talent.”

• Surpluses should be returned to the state’s taxpayers.

• The state now has to go outside of its boundaries to get skilled workers. He will advocate for 4-year higher education and 2-year associate degrees and certificate programs that train workers.

• He will commit to building rural schools to overcome a perception the state is weak in education.

He said discipline must be enforced in schools and teachers relieved of the burden of excessive paperwork.

• He will oppose “all efforts from any quarter to endanger the future of our pristine coastline, our beaches, our sea islands, our marshes and our watersheds.”

• He will work to protect the state’s water supply.

“Words cannot express the pride and joy I have to be the governor of the great state of South Carolina,” he said. “My family and I thank you.”