EXTREME BUILDER TIMES THREE BY COURTNEY MCLAUGHLIN Harry Dill has an impressive list of
accolades beside his name. He’s been in construction for more than 40 years, is a partner in the highly-respected building firm Sterling Homes in Myrtle Beach, was named “Builder of the Year” in 1998 and 2001 and “Volunteer of the Year” in 2000, was honored by Gov. Jim Hodges as a South Carolina hero, is on the leading edge of green build- ing practices and is active in wildlife conservation. But those honors pale in comparison to the privilege of being a three-time home builder for ABC’s hit reality show, “Extreme Makeover Home Edition.” In 2007 and 2010, he and his business partner, Clinch Heyward, helped neighbors in Horry County. In 2008 the company was selected as the lead builder for a “50-State Reunion,” all-star build in New Orleans. That’s three times he has worked
at a breakneck pace designing a custom home for a deserving family. Three times he’s recruited a labor force more than 200 people strong. Three times he’s made phone calls soliciting supplies and materials. Three times he’s been on-site or on call during a 100-hour, four-and-a-half day build. And three times he’s been amazed at what a community can do when it pulls together to reach a common goal. “It’s hard to do. I never said it was
easy,” Dill commented. “But it’s a phe- nomenal thing to witness.”
HIGHER CALLING When Dill got the initial call asking
if he would participate in “Extreme Makeover Home Edition” for the Wilson family in 2007, he thought it was a prank.
“I had always been a fan of the show, so I assumed it was one of my buddies messing with me,” Dill laughed. He checked the area code and saw
it was a Hollywood number and quickly realized he was speaking with Conrad Ricketts, one of the show’s creators. Dill isn’t certain how the powers that be got his name but feels blessed to be able to share his talents. “As I’ve said before, I will gladly
give up a couple of weeks of my life to change someone else’s life forever,” he remarked.
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Dill stays in touch with both the Wil- sons (2007) and Suggs (2010) families. “Renee (Wilson) is like my sister. I talk to her all the time, and the Suggs’ live down the street,” he noted. Dill can’t say enough good things
about the production crew, and, after three builds, feels pretty close to that spe- cial group. He said despite their star power, they genuinely care about the people they help. “We love working with the show. They
are a phenomenal group of people who really care about what they do and the people they affect,” he said. Throughout the 100-plus hours and
the months leading up to the marathon build, everyone pulled together, he said, pointing out that “It takes the show, com- munity and the city – it takes everybody.”
LASTING IMPACT Having the national show come to
Horry County not once but twice does a lot for the area and the community, Dill added. Not only does it showcase the Pal- metto State, but it also demonstrates what can happen when friends and neighbors pull together. “Even when the show leaves town,
you still have things happening under that banner. It shows people what can be done,” he commented. The fact that 200 subcontractors work
side-by-side in harmony for days on end with a constant flow of dedicated volun- teers is a testament to his town. “It shows the community what can be
done if it’s for the common good,” he said. What happens in the middle of the
night when there are no cameras or movie stars around proves what people are made of, and Dill is proud of how the construc- tion industry has stepped up to the plate. “I believe the building industry has some of the biggest giving hearts you will ever find,” he said. Dill is not sure if he’ll catch up to his
friend and colleague Sal Ferro, president of Alure Home Improvements in New York, who has participated in seven builds, but he is already looking forward to the expe- rience if asked to participate again. “We keep going back because of the
spirit of the builds and being able to witness the effect on everyone involved,” he said. “It’s amazing to see what goes on around the build. It becomes a living, breathing thing.”
South Carolina. For five weeks, the Classic Home team helped pore over plans and secure materials and labor for a building project that would take 101 hours to complete. More than a thousand people were in- volved in the construction process, working up to 24 hours at a time to get the home finished on schedule. “Te people who really get it
done are the people of the commu- nity,” said White. “Tey are the ones who are doing the work.” In addition to being part of the design and building team, White was serving on the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce board when the show came to town. “Everyone was excited about it and had a sense of pride. It was such a big undertaking,” he commented. Te show and the family inspired attitudes of generosity, White added. “If we asked for 10 sheets of plywood, we’d have three companies deliver what we needed,” he said, pointing out that volunteers who didn’t get a chance to work on the Wilson home helped fix up other homes in the area, repairing roofs, installing bathrooms and completing other side projects. “People like to do good things for other people and this gives them an avenue to do that.”
QUICK COORDINATION “Extreme Makeover Home
Edition” returned to Horry County in 2010. Sterling Homes contacted 84 Lumber in Myrtle Beach about being part of the team that would build a new home for Amanda and Derrick Suggs in Loris, and Market Manager Raymond Goodman re- sponded with enthusiasm. Company employees reviewed plans with the builder and figured out what materials would be needed, rely- ing on vendor partners for specific products. During construction, 84
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