Charles Traynor “Bud” Ferillo, Jr. Papers

Charles Traynor “Bud” Ferillo’s life has been consumed by politics since his high school years. He served as a key staff member to South Carolina State Senator Isadore Lourie, Speaker Rex Carter, and Lieutenant Governor Mike Daniel and worked on several campaigns including Charles “Pug” Ravenel’s run for governor in 1974. He is still active in politics today and one of the issues that he focuses on is education. In 2005, he produced and directed the documentary “Corridor of Shame” where he looked at the conditions of schools in certain counties of South Carolina.

Ferillo was born on November 2, 1945 in Charleston, South Carolina. He graduated from Bishop England High School in 1962, where he was active in the theater department. While in high school, Ferillo was the chairman of the Students for Kennedy and the Youth for Johnson groups of Charleston County. In 1963 he was president of the Young Democratic Volunteers of South Carolina. He attended the University of South Carolina from 1964 to 1967 and was president of the USC Young Democrats Club and the International Relations Club.

In 1967, Ferillo was drafted into the U.S. Army. He completed basic training at Ft. Jackson in Columbia and Advanced Infantry Training at Ft. Polk in Leesville, LA. He completed Non-Commissioned Officers School at Ft. Benning in Columbus, GA. He earned the rank of Sergeant E-5 and saw action in South Vietnam in 1968 and 1969. He earned the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Vietnam Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, and two Combat Unit Badges. He was honorable discharged in 1973.

Upon his return from Vietnam, he enrolled at the College of Charleston. In 1972, he graduated with a B.S. in Government. While in college, Ferillo was the Assistant Director of the Charleston County Youth Development Program. From June to December 1973, he worked for State Senator Isadore Lourie as a Legislative Aide. After that, he became a Legislative Assistant to Rex Carter, Speaker of the House. In 1974, he was appointed Executive Director of the Office of House Research and Personnel. In 1982, Lieutenant Governor Mike Daniel appointed Ferillo Deputy Lieutenant Governor; Ferillo served in that position until 1987. He also served as an adviser to Governor Dick Riley, Charles “Pug” Ravenel, and Joe Riley, Jr.

In 1987, Ferillo founded Ferillo & Associates, Inc., a public relations and advertising firm based in Columbia. His firm has coordinated numerous state and local political campaigns. In 2005, Ferillo directed and produced the documentary “Corridor of Shame: The Neglect of South Carolina’s Rural Schools,” which focuses on the education equity case of Abbeville v. State of South Carolina. The plaintiffs in this case were 36 school districts arguing that the state did not provide adequate teacher quality and facilities and that the legislature did not provide adequate education to all students. This trial lasted for 102 days and on December 9, 2005, it was ruled that the state had not met its constitutional responsibility to provide a “minimally adequate” education for students through grade three. However, the Court also ruled against the plaintiffs on the claims of providing inadequate teacher quality and facilities. In 2007 these school districts voted to appeal their case to the SC Supreme Court and a decision is pending as of 2008. For his work on “Corridor of Shame” Ferillo was given the Harvey Gantt Triumph Award on January 17, 2010.