The Greater Columbia Chamber welcomed USC’s new men’s basketball coach, Frank Martin and his wife Anya to Gamecock Country this morning (June 27, 2012) with a breakfast presented by , US Airways Magazine.
Watch FOX footage from the event
Dave Aiken, Emcee at WOLO TV, kicked off the morning with a welcome to the sponsors and guests followed by sponsor recognition by Mike Brennan, SC president of BB&T and Greater Columbia Chamber Board chair.
Steve Mitchem, vice president and publisher at US Airways Magazine, as well as self proclaimed “adopted Gamecock”, welcomed Martin to the legacy o
f great coaches he will join at the USC Athletics Department. Mitchem then unveiled US Airways Magazine’s June edition, with featured city “Famously Hot”, Columbia, S.C. Chamber President Ike McLeese, Mayor Steve Benjamin and Ric Luber with the Midlands Authority were all presented with a framed copy of the article’s cover page.
After McLeese made his welcoming comments to Martin and guests, City of Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin took the stage to officially proclame that June 27 is “Frank Martin Day.”
Eric Hyman, USC’s Athletic Director, gave the official introduction for his 
newest hire. Those in attendance had the opportunity to hear firsthand Martin’s take on the team he is building as well as his plans and hopes for the upcoming season. While Martin is looking forward to the experiences he will share with his team as well as the Gamecock community as a whole, he admitted that “winning is hard work.” Creating a new team with six first-year players could present a season full of both excitement and challenges.
The Chamber would like to thank all who came out to show the community’s support for Martin and for Gamecock Athletics. Find more event pictures here.
To read the full US Airways article click here.
Ike McLeese, Lee Catoe, Frank Martin, Anya Martin and Mayor Steve Benjamin
Article cover for US Airways Magazine feature on Columbia
