Bell law founder gives $15,000 for inaugural
By Tommy Howard
thoward@gtowntimes.com
Putting on a lot of inaugural activities for America's 44th president -- and the first black President, Barack Obama -- takes a lot of money. The largest donation in South Carolina was made by Georgetown attorney J. Edward Bell III.
The founding partner of the Bell Legal Group, a national law firm based in Georgetown, Bell contributed $15,000 to the Presidential Inaugural Committee.
Bell, his wife and several of his law partners were in Washington on Tuesday enjoying the inaugural activities. He was unable to return a phone call from the Georgetown Times before press time.
Overall, some 37 South Carolinians contributed about $50,000 to the cost of the inauguration.
Following Bell's contribution, other major contributors from the Palmetto State include:
* Ann Ghisolfi, self-employed of Hilton Head Island, $10,000;
* John Keith, Eastern Carolina Pediatrics of Florence, $6,000;
* Richard "Dick" Harpootlian, R.A. Harpootlian PA, Columbia, $5,000 (former chairman of the S.C. Democratic Party from 1998 to 2003);
* Harriet Holliday, Not employed, Myrtle Beach, $1,000;
* A. Darrell Hickman, Not employed, Anderson, $1,000;
* and Dr. John Ijem, Inlet Cardiopulmonary and Associates, Pawleys Island, $250, is the only other contributor from Georgetown County.
