Otis Rawl came up from small town boy to leading the state’s largest chamber of commerce. In retirement, he served in the same capacity at the Lexington Chamber. As he prepares to retire again in June, we asked him about his life.

Q. What most influenced you while growing up?

A. Being raised in the small town of North, SC, infused values in my character that governs most of my thought processes.

We lived a simple life and only had what we needed. Most of the children in North were raised by the village. I probably had 10 moms and dads that looked after each other’s children.

My wife Melissa and I splurge occasionally, but we pinch pennies. We drive our cars until they can’t run. We drive 7-year-old cars that we will drive a lot longer.

I remember doing simple things that people in small towns and those living in the country held close.

I remember the community getting together to help families butcher.

I remember chopping cotton with my grandfather, helping my grandmother milk the cow and going shopping in Wagner and hoping I would get a piece of hard candy.

The lesson I learned is that you have to do what you have to do. Be frugal. Abide by the golden rule.

I have always tried to live by a statement Ellis Dantzler once said: treat every child as if they were an adult. You never know as they grow up what they may become.

One may become a surgeon and hold your life in his hands. One may become a banker and he holds you and your family’s future in his hands. Be kind and treat all with respect.

Q. How about your education, involvement in sports and early career?

A. I graduated from Lex ington High in 1973 in a class of about 200. At the University of South Carolina, I received a degree in Political Science and have been able to use that degree in my career whether at the SC Dept. of Revenue, the SC Chamber of Commerce or the Lexington Chamber.

I always enjoyed public policy issues and politics. Working with elected officials at all levels has been a real education.

One thing that changed the lives of my family and my siblings was the move from North to Lexington.

I often wonder what our lives would have been if we had not moved.

We moved into a great community with great public schools, a community that offered our family numerous opportunities we may not have had if we lived in a small rural town.

With our dad as a coach, my sisters and I have been involved in sports. We all have been lucky enough to play on a state championship team and benefit from being part of a team.

Christmas involved sports gifts under the tree. Basketballs, basketball goals, footballs, bats, balls, gloves, bikes and, for my sisters, dolls. We played the sport in season at that time. Our yard was the choice of the neighborhood kids.

Q. How did you and your wife meet?

A. I knew Melissa from high school, but we didn’t start dating until I graduated and we connected at Myrtle Beach in 1973.

We dated 5 years until we married in March 1978.

We are almost polar opposites in a lot of ways. She was an only child, and I had 4 siblings. We seldom talk politics. I think sports have been the common thread in our family and relationship.

I first saw Melissa coaching a girls recreation team at the old gym on North Lake Drive. She was wearing black zinger tennis shoes with green socks and a pink terry cloth jumpsuit.

We followed our children as they grew up. Anna played volleyball, basketball and softball. Aaron played baseball and football.

Many times I would take a child one way while she took the other to sports events. We enjoyed Anna and Aaron’s success.

Next: What lies ahead