AND THE AWARD GOES TO… BOB HAMBRIGHT ‘74


Our alumni continue to soar, making impacts at Winthrop, in the community, and in their career fields. We’re delighted that one of our own, Bob Hambright, a 1974 MBA graduate, was honored as the recipient of the 2025 Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award. The award recognizes a Winthrop alumnus for selfless dedication of time, energy, and talent in service to Winthrop and others. Inducted as a charter member into the College of Business and Technology's Pinnacle Leadership Society, Bob also supported the College as a previous member of the advisory board and as a speaker in the MBA lecture series. He served on the Winthrop University Foundation Board from 2001-2009 and joined the Winthrop Honors College Leadership Council just last year.


Bob, a 1970 graduate of Clemson, was making tires in Charlotte when he committed to earning his MBA at Winthrop. He describes it as a pivotal and sacrificial decision given the time and money required, and due to an ultimatum given to him by the dean to maintain a 3.0 GPA to stay in the program. “I was struggling in every phase of my life. Winthrop was exactly what I needed, when I needed it. It completely turned my career around, and to some degree, my whole life,” Bob shared.


Following graduation, Bob spent his entire career working in the construction industry, including a 25-year tenure at J.A. Jones Construction and nine years at the helm of Balfour Beatty Construction’s Southeast Division before retiring in 2010.


Toward the latter half of his career, developing future leaders became one of his passions. As a leader himself, Bob learned to let his values drive his decisions and to recognize that he didn’t have to be the smartest person in the room if he built a good team of knowledgeable and trustworthy individuals. He’s enjoyed the opportunity to continue using his skills post-retirement and impact something that is so near and dear to him.


“Growing leaders is a great way to change the world. For me, the center of leadership is your value system. If you have the right values, it will allow you to be a good leader. In turn, those leaders and their values can have big impacts in so many places.”


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