Mrs. Rita Heape organized our first local chapter, number 105, at Greenville Senior High School on May 26, 1947. Shortly after that, Dillion High School chartered the second local chapter in our state, and Columbia High School became our third local chapter.  

In the spring of 1948, we had our first state meeting at Columbia High School. Following that event, Hemingway High School and Walterboro Senior High School, now known as Colleton County High School, chartered local chapters.

 

With five active local chapters in our state, South Carolina FBLA applied for and received our charter from Future Business Leaders of America on February 20, 1949, becoming the 5th state chapter.

​

For our first 28 years, we were run by an independent Board of Directors, and the following individuals served as our State Advisers:

• Mrs. Rita Heape of Greenville Senior High School in Greenville (1949/50 - 1950/51)

• Mrs. Jewelle Hollis of Olympia High School in Columbia (1951/52 - 1956/57)

• Mrs. Swannanoa Gardner of James F. Byrnes High School in Spartanburg  (1957/58)

• Miss Nelle Boatwright of North Greenville College in Tigerville (1958/59)

• Mrs. Virginia Atkinson of Parker High School in Greenville (1959/60)

• Miss Maria Culp of Winthrop College in Rock Hill (1960/61 - 1976/77)

• Mrs. Virginia Atkinson of Parker High School in Greenville (1976/77)

​

In 1971, South Carolina FBLA applied for and was granted independent status as a nonprofit educational student association under Internal Revenue Code 501(c)(3).

 

The Business Education Section of the State Department of Education disbanded our independent Board of Directors and took over governance of the organization in the fall of 1977, and the following individuals served as our State Adviser(s):

• Dr. Anne L. Matthews (1977/78 - 1984/85)

• Ms. Emily Richardson (1985/86 - 1991/92)

• Ms. Linda Albert & Ms. Jean Parker (1992/93)

• Mrs. Katherine Cliatt & Ms. Jean Parker (1993/94 - 1995/96)

  

In the fall of 1996, a change in policy at the State Department of Education regarding sponsorship of the Career & Technical Student Organizations returns governance of our organization to an independent Board of Directors.  During this period, the following individuals have served as our State Advisers:

• Mrs. Pat Itter (1996/97 - 2019/20)

• Mr. Ross Jones (2020/21 - present)

 

In the spring of 2022, South Carolina FBLA formally incorporated as a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation with the South Carolina Secretary of State.