First ‘Pillars’ honorees announced for Hilton Head Hall of Fame

The Rotary Club of Hilton Head Island has announced a new class of honorees for the Hilton Head Island Hall of Fame, recognizing individuals whose contributions helped shape the modern community.

Ten residents will be inducted as the first group of “Pillars,” a designation created to honor those who carried forward the vision established by the island’s original founders. 

Since its creation in 2012, the Hall of Fame has recognized 16 “Founders,” individuals credited with helping define Hilton Head Island’s early identity, values and development. Those honorees include figures such as Charles Fraser, whose work in Sea Pines helped establish a model for environmentally conscious development that shaped the island’s growth.

The new Pillars category expands that recognition to individuals whose work built on those early efforts, contributing to the island’s evolution in areas such as media, environmental protection, tourism and the arts.

Among the 2026 honorees are Todd Ballantine, recognized for promoting environmental protection as a community value, and Jonathan Worth Daniels, co-founder of the Island Packet newspaper, who helped establish a shared public forum for the growing island.

Other inductees include Tim Doughtie, known for his advocacy against billboards and for regulated signage, and Joe Fraser Jr., who served as the first chairman of the Heritage Classic Foundation, helping guide one of the island’s most prominent events.

Walter M. Greer was selected for his contributions to the arts as one of the island’s first full-time artists, while Benny Hudson Jr. was recognized for his role in early tourism and hospitality. David Jones was honored for his leadership of the Hilton Head Island Fishing Cooperative and efforts to oppose industrial development on the island.

Architect Pete McGinty was acknowledged for helping define the island’s distinctive design approach, emphasizing harmony with the natural environment. Landscape architect Ed Pinckney, often referred to as a pioneer in his field in South Carolina, was recognized for his work integrating development with the island’s natural features, particularly in Sea Pines.

Rounding out the class is Gregg Russell, whose performances under the Liberty Oak have become a long-standing family tradition for generations of visitors and residents.

Organizers say the Pillars honorees reflect the same core values associated with the Founders, including environmental stewardship, community service and a commitment to preserving the island’s character.

The Hall of Fame was established by the Rotary Club as a way to document and celebrate individuals whose efforts had a lasting impact on the island. Bronze plaques honoring each inductee are displayed on the museum grounds, offering visitors a look at the people behind Hilton Head Island’s development.