Our History
Founded in 1956 by Dr. Douglas Carlisle, the South Carolina Student Legislature has existed for nearly 70 years. Our motto, "Our Freedom, Our Liberty, Our Responsibility," guides us in our missions to prepare the leaders of tomorrow. Our organization has developed several distinguished alumni, including:
- Former Republican strategist Lee Atwater
- Former SC Republican Party Chairman Van D. Hipp Jr.
- Former United States Representative Liz Patterson
- United States Representative Russell Fry
- Governor Henry McMaster
- State Representative Alex Harvin
- Conservative media personality Joey Hudson
Our Founder
Douglas Hilton Carlisle was born in Jackson, Mississippi, on July 27, 1919. He attended Mississippi College and subsequently attended the University of North Carolina, earning a master's degree in political science. He was drafted into service during World War II, but not before marrying Carol Whitt Jones of Florida. After the war, the couple returned to Chapel Hill to complete their studies and teach at the University. They both received their Ph.D. on June 4, 1951, and returned to Columbia, South Carolina. In 1955, Dr. Carlisle founded the South Carolina Student Legislature. In addition to giving the opportunity to hundreds of students to develop their critical thinking, speaking, and political skills, his organization served as the model for several other mock student legislatures across the country. Dr. Carlisle would teach at the Naval War College, the University of South Carolina, and the University of Tennessee before retiring in 1986. He remained active in politics and advocated for the involvement of women in politics for the rest of his life. He passed away on August 26, 2010 -- his memory will live on forever through the lives that he touched.