Local Business Leader Passes Away
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO) – The business community in the Midlands is at a loss.
A spokesperson for the Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce says its President and CEO Ike McLeese has died. He was 69-years-old.
Earlier this month, McLeese said he would be stepping down at the end of the year. He had plans to take on a new position with the chamber being a consultant for military affairs.
The announcement came one month after McLeese suffered a heart attack and went on medical leave.
Plenty of local officials are offering their condolences to the McLeese family, including Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin. He issued this statement shortly after the news of McLeese’s passing broke.
“Ike McLeese was a trusted advisor, a professional mentor and a dear personal friend and his
passing has come as a great shock to us all.
“Led by his firm belief that our business community should serve the public as well as private
interest, he transformed the Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce into a true force for
progressive change and laid the foundation for all we hope to achieve for years to come. He
helped lead this city and region into a new age of economic and cultural renaissance and, along
the way, enriched the lives of everyone who knew him.
“I will miss so many things about him: his laughter, his fearlessness, his commitment to Fort
Jackson and our men and women in uniform and his deep and abiding love of baseball.
“His service to our community was truly without equal and his loss will be felt for generations to
come. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Sue, the entire McLeese family and all those
who mourn this remarkable man.”
Governor Nikki Haley released the following statement on the passing of Ike McLeese:
“Ike McLeese was a Columbia institution. I’ll never forget his kindness when our family moved our business to West Columbia – he was a man who never stopped trying to add to the Midlands business community, and his vision and leadership will be sorely missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with the McLeese family today.”
House Assistant Democratic Leader and Sixth District Congressman James E. Clyburn released the following statement on the passing of Ike McLeese, the former president and CEO of the Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce:
“Ike and I got to know each other when we both worked for Governor West’s administration. He was a big man with a big personality, and I was proud to call him a friend. He loved Columbia, and poured his heart and soul into making it a great place for businesses and for residents. He will be best remembered for spearheading the effort to protect and ultimately grow Fort Jackson, McEntire Air National Guard Base, and Shaw Air Force Base as the federal government went through two base realignments. His leadership and spirit will be sorely missed.”
