Thomas Barton McTeer Jr.

Thomas Barton McTeer, Jr., age 89, of Columbia, South Carolina, died peacefully at home with his family at his side on August 21, 2026. Born in Early Branch, South Carolina, he was the only child of Thomas Barton McTeer and Virginia Murdaugh McTeer Houraney. He was predeceased by his parents, his cousins Clyde and Warner Jones and his wife of 39 years Sandra Browning McTeer (d.2001).

Tom (“Poppy Tom” to all his grandchildren) had a deep love for his hometown in Hampton County. One of his fondest memories was playing in the back of his father and uncle’s appliance/country store and searching for Indian Head pennies in the old cash register, the beginning of a life-long hobby of collecting coins. The happiest of memories were the fun times he had at the family “river house” with all his cousins… playing cards, picking crabs and sleeping outside on the wrap-around porch. And one of his most vivid memories from his childhood and a story he would tell often was of him and his friends watching a WWII troop train pull into the station and seeing German prisoners of war unloading and marching off to wherever they were headed at that time. What a sight for a young boy in Hampton.

Tom was a fantastic athlete and excelled in every sport he played. Growing up in a small town, he had to play almost every sport to help his teams fill out a full roster. Football was his best sport and, after being selected to play in the Shrine Bowl, he earned a football scholarship to USC and had made plans to attend. At the last minute, Coach Frank Howard learned of him and offered him a scholarship to Clemson and the rest is history. He ran track at Clemson, served as vice president of the senior class and the Central Dance Association, and was a member of the senior council. He also was inducted into Tiger Brotherhood and Blue Key Honor Fraternity. Knee injuries unfortunately sidelined his football career; however, his love for Clemson University and his service to this great school had only just begun. While a senior at Clemson, he met Sandra Browning of Greenwood and it was love at first sight. He loved telling stories of how he and his friends would sneak out of Clemson early on Friday afternoons and make the drive to Columbia to go on dates with Sandra and her friends at Columbia College only to have to drive all night to get back before Saturday morning check-ins. They married in 1962.

Tom took his Industrial Management degree from Clemson and went to work in Dillon, SC, for Dixiana Mills. From there he joined Shell Oil Company as a sales representative in South Carolina and Georgia. Sales were his passion. He soon moved to Columbia to work for Advanced Builders Realty; and, in 1964, he founded McTeer Real Estate, a firm specializing in the development and management of apartment complexes, multistory office buildings and shopping centers such as Dutch Square Mall. He was a recognized, instrumental figure in much of the tremendous development that our capitol city was experiencing then and continued in this business for nearly 60 years until declining health finally made him stop. Peers, friends and partners in the real estate business have all shared stories of the impact Tom had on their families, businesses and the industry.

Some of his fondest memories as a husband and father were taking family trips to the British Virgin Islands. He loved hunting (especially with his girls) and spending time at Combahee Plantation with family and friends and he never missed a Hammond Academy girls basketball game. He spent countless football weekends in Clemson and treasured the blessings of many great road trips and bowl game victories, experiencing Clemson’s first National Championship while he served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees.

Elected a Life Trustee on June 9, 1976, he was chosen chairman of the Board of Trustees for the 1981 to 1983 term and served as Vice Chairman from 1986 to 1989. With his quiet resolve, he navigated Clemson through a number of issues during his tenure as chair and continued to serve the University in many capacities in the years following. He became Trustee Emeritus in 2012 and in 2013 received The Clemson Medallion, the highest public award an individual can receive from the institution. This award is presented to a living person who has rendered significant service to Clemson and who exemplifies the ideals of the University’s founder.

In 2003, Tommy met his second love Mary Frances Varner Campbell of Montgomery, Alabama, on a blind date arranged by mutual friends. Both recently widowed, they soon married in 2004 and shared another lifetime together making new memories with one another. They were so blessed to have each other. It wasn’t too long afterwards that his third love Lucy (their cat) was rescued and stole his heart.

All who knew Tom understood he was a man of few words. When he spoke, you knew he had thought things through and his words, opinion and advice would be reasoned, sound and sincere. He loved his family more than anything in this world. His love for Clemson was just right behind. He was a man of great faith and will be missed by many. He certainly made this world a better place.

Tom is survived by his wife of 22 years; daughters Lisa McTeer Taylor (John), Ashley McTeer Love (Mac), Meredith McTeer Cooke (Chris), and Kim Campbell Norris; grandchildren, Jay (Julia) Taylor, Sarah (Charles) Colhoun and Whit Taylor, William and Thomas Love, Laurie Smith, Christopher (Anna) Cooke, William (Zariah) Cooke and Lindsay Cooke, and Mary Clark Norris; and his three great grandchildren.

The family would like to thank his caregiver and “Buddy” Deloris Young, the doctors and nurses at Lexington Medical Center, Encompass Rehab, South Carolina Oncology Associates and the very special people at Interim Hospice.

A family burial will be held at Greenlawn Memorial Park and a memorial service will be held on Wednesday, August 26th at 2:00 at Shandon United Methodist Church. The family will receive visitors immediately following the service at the church. Shives Funeral Home, Trenholm Road Chapel, is assisting the family.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to: The Sandra Browning McTeer Scholarship Fund, G-01 Sikes Hall, Box 345123, Clemson, SC 29634; or to Shandon United Methodist Church, 3407 Devine Street, Columbia, SC 29205.