Councilmember District 1
tgraham@lancastersc.net
Born and raised on a farm in Londonderry, Northern Ireland, Terry Graham knows the meaning of a hard day’s work.
As one of six children, born Jan. 22, 1954, he was never too young to help on the family’s dairy farm while his father served as a civil servant by day. Terry remembers having chores before and after grammar school from an early age.
He always knew that farming would be a labor of love, if not his living. He attended the University of Reading, graduating with honors with a Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture in 1976.
At college, he met his wife, Genie, who was studying abroad, and he came to America to his first paying farm job on a large cattle farm in Bethune, S.C. He was responsible for the health of 12,000 cattle for two years.
In 1978, he and Genie bought The Ivy Place, a home built by Adam Ivy in 1850 as well as 33 acres for a farm along Van Wyck Road. The couple raised their three children, Stuart, Amanda, and Nancy, on the farm.
As soon as he was eligible, Terry proudly became a U.S. Citizen in 1980.
He worked for a textile company in Charlotte before beginning his own successful logging and timbering business. Terry enjoyed building his business and reputation, but after 13 years, he moved on as the rising cost of insurance and taxes on small businesses cut his profits in half.
Terry worked for Wikoff Color Corp. from 1992 through 2011. His servant-leadership style gained him respect among his colleagues in ink printing and promotion from Production Manager to Plant Manager. He was known as the executive with ink stains on his clothes as he juggled the responsibility of fixing the tough problems on the production floor to produce the best quality products while catering to clients and driving new business.
After the marriages of both his daughters at The Ivy Place, Terry and Genie decided to open their property to events. The Ivy Place continues to host weddings and community events and grow strawberries and other produce. It is a special place where memories are made for the couple’s five grandchildren.
Terry gives back to the community through his appointed position on the Lancaster County Board of Zoning Appeals and involvement in the Van Wyck, Indian Land, and Lancaster County organizations.
He served as an Elder and the Treasurer at Van Wyck Presbyterian Church for many years, and now is an active member at Unity Presbyterian Church in Fort Mill.
Email: tgraham@lancastersc.net
Phone: 803-416-2444