Michael Bedenbaugh

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Michael Bedenbaugh
Personal details
Political party Alliance
ProfessionReal estate

Michael Bedenbaugh is an American historical preservationist [1] known for preserving South Carolina's historical landmarks including Trinity Episcopal Church, [2] buildings in Society Hill community of Darlington County [3] and Wilkins House. [4] He received the Order of the Palmetto by Governor Henry McMaster in 2021. [5]

Contents

Education

He earned a degree in International Studies focusing on Russian studies and History from University of South Carolina in 1990, and studied at Columbia University during his senior year. [6]

Career

Bedenbaugh served as president and CEO of Preservation SC, a nonprofit organization preserving historic properties in South Carolina, from 2007 to 2022. [7] He implemented programs and raised over $3 million for preservation projects, generating over $2 million in operating revenue. [8]

During his career, Bedenbaugh's advocacy and behind the scenes negotiations helped ensure the conversion of the Palmetto Compress near the University of South Carolina into off-campus student housing, and the Curtiss-Wright Hangar at Columbia's L.B. Owens Airport transformation into a bustling brewery and restaurant. [9] Bedenbaugh led the effort to preserve Trinity Episcopal Church in 2019, and applied for a $250,000 national preservation grant from the National Fund for Sacred Places. [10] In 2020, he negotiated the donation of the vacant Plantation House hotel in Edgefield with the desire to revitalize the 30,000-square-foot historic building by finding qualified investors and entrepreneurs to refurbish it. [8]

For his work, he received the Order of the Palmetto from Governor Henry McMaster in 2021. [11]

2024 US House election

In January 2024, Bedenbaugh announced his candidacy to represent South Carolina's 3rd congressional district in the United States House of Representatives, being vacated by Jeff Duncan. [12] He was the Alliance Party nominee. Bedenbaugh was defeated by Republican nominee Sheri Biggs. [13]

References

  1. ↑ Husk, Andy (August 13, 2021). "Bedenbaugh awarded Order of the Palmetto". Newberry Observer.
  2. ↑ Núñez, Linda (May 27, 2019). "Restoring Abbeville's Trinity Episcopal Church". South Carolina Public Radio.
  3. ↑ Behre, Robert (September 9, 2017). "Saving Society Hill: The birthplace of the Pee Dee looks to its past for new life". Post and Courier.
  4. ↑ Lee, Anna. "Wilkins House secrets emerge as move nears". The Greenville News .
  5. ↑ Olson, Mike (July 23, 2021). "Gov. McMaster presents 2021 SC Historic Preservation Awards". WOLO-TV . American Broadcasting Company.
  6. ↑ "Michael Bedenbaugh, who was most recently President & CEO of Preservation South Carolina for over 14 years". ColdwellBankerHomes.com.
  7. ↑ Robertson, Mike (April 20, 2012). "College Receives Historic Preservation Award". The College Today. College of Charleston.
  8. 1 2 Biles, Dede (December 28, 2017). "Preservation South Carolina plans to breathe new life into Plantation House hotel in Edgefield". Post and Courier.
  9. ↑ Christian, Matthew (September 28, 2022). "Three experts say Aiken would benefit from historic preservation". The Post and Courier .
  10. ↑ Donaghy, St Claire. "Restoration still a go: Trinity Episcopal in Abbeville to receive national grant". Index Journal.
  11. ↑ Palmetto Trust for Historic Preservation recognize efforts to preserve pieces of past, June 14, 2014, retrieved June 28, 2023
  12. ↑ DOMINGUEZ, DAMIAN (January 23, 2024). "Bedenbaugh to run for 3rd District as Cash urges Jones to run". The Index-Journal. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
  13. ↑ "Election Night Reporting". www.enr-scvotes.org. Retrieved November 8, 2024.
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