Alester Furman
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Alester Furman
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Alester Garden Furman Jr.: An influential South Carolina businessman and educational trustee
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Alester Garden Furman Jr., a descendant of a prominent South Carolina family, played a pivotal role in Greenville's community and economy. Born into a lineage that dates back to 1755, Alester was deeply connected to the state's religious and educational history, with his great-great-grandfather, Richard Furman, being a renowned Baptist educator. His educational journey, which began at Furman University—a testament to his family’s legacy—was rerouted due to financial challenges posed by World War I. This led him to join his father in the real estate and insurance business, significantly impacting Greenville’s development, particularly in the textile industry, a key driver of regional economic growth.
However, Alester's tenure, particularly during the 1960s as a member of the Board of Trustees at Furman University, revealed his complex and controversial views on racial integration. In 1963, when the university deliberated on desegregation and opening admissions to all qualified applicants regardless of race, Alester was the sole dissenting voice. He cited his religious beliefs to justify maintaining the university's segregationist policy, arguing that admitting only qualified white applicants was in the best interest of Furman’s reputation. Furman Jr. expressed the view that “men are not created equal,” advocating for the education of African Americans separately to maintain “proper [racial] relationships” and to prevent “miscegenation in any form.” Alester Furman Jr.'s legacy is a nuanced one. While he contributed significantly to Greenville’s development and the textile industry, his legacy is also marked by his segregationist stance, reflecting the complex nature of historical figures.
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April 26, 1895
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December 3, 1980
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the Board of Trustees at Furman University
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Richard Furman
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