Richard Gallup

Richard “Dick” Brewster Gallup, AKA Big Daddy, 78, of Chapin, passed peacefully Tuesday, December 13th in his home surrounded by his adoring wife, beloved children, and his faithful Goldendoodle, Murray. Dick was born in Rapid City, South Dakota and was the son of the late John Aitken and Marie Kase.

He attended The University of South Carolina in 1962, where he quickly earned a walk-on golf scholarship. Dick graduated from USC in 1966 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a major in Marketing. For a short time after college, he worked for International Machinery until he went into business with an old college roommate, Jim Gordon. Together, in 1972 they began the residential brokerage company, Gordon-Gallup. This was the beginning of his 30+ year career as a leader in the real estate world. He not only was the CEO of several real estate companies over these years but was also an integral component in the Midlands real estate community. Some of the highlights of his real estate professional career include being the Central Carolina REALTORS Association President in 1984, the Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Columbia Chamber of Commerce in 1989, a member of the Central Carolina REALTORS Education Committee in 1993, and part of the Legislative/REALTOR Political Action Committee in 1994.

In 1994 he changed his career path to pursue a dream in custom home building and launched New Home Sales Specialists with his wife, Elaine. He later worked hand in hand with his son, R.B. Gallup. He designed and built hundreds of custom homes around the Midlands. This dream had many names, to include Gallup & Gallup and Gallup & LaFitte. His custom home designs won numerous building awards with the Building Industry Association of South Carolina. His legacy of custom home building lives on through Gallup Design Build.

Throughout his life, he was an active outdoorsman. He had a deep love for golf, hiking and backpacking. His love for golf led his high school team to a State Championship, trips to numerous courses across America and to play with close friends in Ireland. He and his dear friend Rox Pollard Jr. won the Timberlake Club Member Guest Championship in 2018 where as Rox often said, “Dick carried us to the championship”. When he wasn’t playing golf, you could find him on a mountain trail. He spent many days in the Blue Ridge Mountains with his “AHC” buddies and family. His deep passion also led him to become an instructor in the Professional Development Program for the Hurricane Island branch of Outward Bound.

Dick will be remembered for his love of golf, hiking adventures, classic quick wit, cast iron stomach, unwavering devotion to his family and his never-ending words of positivity and encouragement. He approached life with a steady sense of calm and a tremendous level of patience and understanding.

He is predeceased by his younger brothers, John Aitkin Gallup and David Bruce Gallup.

He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Elaine Mason Gallup of Greenville; his three children: Katherine “Kasey” Gallup Reid (Michael), Richard Brewster “R.B.” Jr. (Alexandra), and Carly Kathaleen; as well as six grandchildren Katherine Grace Haigler, Richard Brewster “Brew” Gallup III, Ashleigh Morgan Reid, Michael Christopher Reid Jr., Lauren Elisabeth Reid, Molly Katherine Reid; his sister Sandra DeCastro (husband, Greg); sister-in-law Katherine Mason Stanton and niece Ali-Morgan Stanton; and beloved companion, Murray.

A funeral service for Richard will be held Tuesday, December 20, 2022 at 2:00 PM at Lake Murray Presbyterian Church, 2721 Dutch Fork Road, Chapin, South Carolina 29036, followed by a visitation following the service.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.caughmanchapin.com for the Gallup family.