Floyd Nicholson

Senator Floyd Nicholson was born in Greenwood County, South Carolina, the tenth child of the late Marion and Nona Nicholson. He is a graduate of Brewer High School and South Carolina State University. He continued his education at Clemson University and the Institute of Government at the University of South Carolina and was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters by Lander University. Prior to his election as Senator for SC Senate District 10 in 2008, he served as a member of Greenwood City Council from 1982-1993 and as the Mayor of the City of Greenwood from 1994-2008. He was the first African American elected as Mayor of the City of Greenwood and the first African American elected as Senator for District 10. He served as Senator from 2008-2020. He is a former teacher, coach, and school administrator. He has served on numerous boards, including the Greenwood Partnership Alliance, Safe and Drug Free Schools (Greenwood School District 50), American Red Cross and Salvation Army, among many others. In the SC Senate, Senator Nicholson served on the Education Committee, Medical Affairs Committee, Finance Committee, Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee and General Committee. He also served on the Joint Legislative Voting System Research Committee, Joint Legislative Municipal Incorporation Committee (Chairman) and Special Study Committee on the Department of Juvenile Justice. He is currently serving as chairman of the board for the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Lakelands and on the board of Upper Savannah Council of Governments. He is a member of the SC Athletic Hall of Fame Commission and is a Meals on Wheels volunteer. He and Mamie are members of Mt. Olive Baptist Church where he serves as Chairman of the board of deacons.