C.B. and Dona Smith

Ever since graduating from the USC School of Law in 1970, C.B. Smith has been a strong supporter of the school, the university and its athletics programs.

He chaired the USC Educational Foundation from 2004 to 2008 and presently serves as chair emeritus. He also served on the university's most recent presidential search. If that were not enough, Smith, who practices law at Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP, also chaired the law school's partnership board, served on the School of Medicine's partnership board and currently sits on the Garnet Way Cabinet, an advisory board to the Athletics Department.

"I strongly believe that USC is a very important, even vital, part of South Carolina," he said. "The university is a tremendous economic generator, and the law school educates most of the state's lawyers and judges. USC is critical to every phase of the state's economic success."

Not surprising, then, that Smith and his wife, Dona, have finalized two bequests—one to benefit School of Law scholarships and the other to benefit the Athletics Department.

"I believe in the mission of the university, and I have a lot of confidence in the administration and the Athletics Department and what they're both trying to accomplish," Smith said. "That's why I support the institution like this."