Kermit S King

Mr. King graduated from Cameron High School in 1949 and attended Draughon’s Business College in Columbia for one year, where he learned to write shorthand. He then served in the U.S. Army for two years (1951-1953) before entering the University of South Carolina in the fall of 1953, where he was a participant in the University’s inter-collegiate debate program and was awarded the Hemphill trophy as the University’s outstanding debater in 1955. He entered the USC School of Law in September of 1955, after only two years in undergraduate school. There, he represented the law school in inter-collegiate moot court competition two years, served as president of the student body and graduated cum laude in 1958.

Following graduation and admission to the Bar in 1958, Mr. King practiced law in Columbia until he retired in his late 80s.

During his practice he was associated with the former firm of Edens & Hammer (1958-1961) and with the late Frank Taylor (1961-1966) and was partner with the late Senator Isadore E. Lourie (1966-1970). Thereafter, he was involved in several different partnerships as senior partner. At the time of his retirement, he was a solo practitioner.

In his legal career, Mr. King was principally a trial attorney, whose practice at one time or another embraced civil, criminal and family court cases. He was admitted to practice in the United States Supreme Court, the Circuit Courts of Appeal for the Fourth and Fifth Circuits, the United States District Court and all courts in South Carolina.

Noteworthy civil cases included personal injury cases, medical malpractice cases and the case of Russell v Risher (a member of the S.C. House of Representatives sued the Clerk of the House). Of the numerous criminal cases in which he was involved, perhaps the most news-worthy were State v. Jenkins (the prosecution in Greenwood County of a TV evangelist) and State v. Shaw (a Richland County murder case to which he was court-appointed).

Much of his practice focused on family court cases. He was listed in every edition of “The Best Lawyers in America” in the area of family law, from the first edition in 1983 until his retirement.

Mr. King served as president of the S.C. Trial Lawyers Association in 1972 and served three times as a Special Circuit Judge, by appointment of the then Governor, on recommendation of the then Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

He spoke at countless continuing education seminars and always received one of the highest evaluations from attending lawyers.

In 2012, the Alumni Association of the USC School of Law awarded him its Platinum Compleat Lawyer Award, in recognition of his legal ability, civility, ethics and integrity.

While attending the USC School of law, Mr. King used his shorthand training to take extensive notes as the professors lectured and then typed those notes. They were reproduced and utilized by numerous later law students, many of whom thanked Mr. King (at least semi-seriously) for enabling them to pass and graduate.

Often referred to as a “lawyer’s lawyer,” Mr. King represented many attorneys in civil, criminal and grievance matters and was sought out for advice by fellow attorneys. A friend once remarked that Mr. King was born for law as surely as Mozart was born for music. With a reputation for eloquence and wit, he frequently is (and will be) quoted by those who knew him.

Mr. King’s survivors include his widow, Carolyn Reid King, and children and step-children and their spouses and children: Harriette King Knox and her husband, Robert Knox, of Greensboro, N.C., and their son, Davis, of Washington, D.C.; Katherine King Nicholson and her husband, William Nicholson, of Pawley’s Island, S.C.; Melissa McCullough Harrill and her husband, Paul Harrill, of Columbia, S.C., and her children, Reid Rickard and her husband, Ian, of Marietta, Ga., and Wells Carter, of New York City; and Clayton McCullough and his wife, Catherine, and their children, Cameron and Rodgers, of Mt. Pleasant, S.C.

The funeral service will be at 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 2, at Ebeneezer Lutheran Church, 1301 Richland St., Columbia, S.C., followed by a reception. Memorials may be made to the Living Stones Legacy at Ebeneezer Lutheran Church or a charity of one’s choice. Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel, is assisting with arrangements.

Memories may be shared at www.dunbarfunerals.com.