John Folsom ’73, P’03 Receives the Order of the Palmetto South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster bestowed Folsom with the state’s highest civilian honor.

By Laura Lemon
November 21, 2025

On the wall of John Folsom ’73, P’03’s office hangs the slogan “Focus on what matters” – words that he’s used as a guidepost throughout his career and philanthropic efforts. The state of South Carolina honored his decades of following that mantra on Aug. 13, when Gov. Henry McMaster presented Folsom with the Order of the Palmetto. Established by Gov. John C. West in 1971, the Order of the Palmetto is the state’s highest civilian honor, recognizing a lifetime of extraordinary achievement, service and contributions on a national and state level.

“I was surprised, honored and very humbled to be recognized by Gov. McMaster with his presentation of the Order of the Palmetto,” said Folsom. “While I am grateful to be acknowledged, I clearly realize that my career and community and philanthropic efforts have been influenced, and, in fact, made available to me, by numerous individuals, including family members and mentors and just being in the right place at the right time. So, the receipt of the Order of the Palmetto serves as a clear reminder to me of the gratitude I have for those who influenced me, including in my two professional roles in banking and commercial real estate.”

Upon his graduation from Washington and Lee in 1973, Folsom married his college sweetheart, English Johnson Folsom, and moved back to Columbia, South Carolina, where he earned his Master of Business Administration from the University of South Carolina. He served as president and CEO of South Carolina Federal, a publicly traded statewide bank holding company, before accepting the role as president and CEO of Colliers International South Carolina. He led the state’s largest commercial real estate firm for over 30 years, becoming chairman emeritus of Colliers in January 2025. In 2015, he earned the Tom Richardson Award, the highest honor given at Colliers.

Beyond his career, his philanthropic work has stretched from education to health care to community-wide projects. He has served as a member of the executive committee, and formerly chair, of the Midlands Business Leadership Group; he’s a former member and chair of the Providence Hospital Board of Directors; former chairman of the United Way of the Midlands Board of Directors; former board member of the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce; and former chairman of the South Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities and the South Carolina Independent Schools Association. He’s also a founding board member of the Transitions Homeless Service Center, for which Folsom, then a member of the Midlands Housing Alliance Board of Directors, helped secure property and gifts from individuals and businesses in the community to help construct the center. And, in one of his favorite endeavors, he co-founded Salute from the Shore, with his son, Andy Folsom ’03, which honors America’s military each Fourth of July with a flyover ceremony across South Carolina’s coast.

In 2008, the South Carolina Independent Schools Association established an award named in Folsom’s honor to recognize volunteer leadership. He was also named Humanitarian of the Year by United Way of the Midlands. Additionally, he earned Transitions’ Volunteer of the Year award, Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce’s Ambassador of the Year distinction and Central South Carolina Association of Realtors’ Meritorious Service Award. He was inducted into the South Carolina Business Hall of Fame and was named one of “The 50 Most Influential People in Columbia” by Columbia Business Monthly.

“My dad was a great example. He was involved in many local, regional, state and even national roles, and his example was the foundation of my commitment to community service,” said Folsom. “On top of Dad’s example, along the way, I learned to focus on initiatives that really matter to me. When one appreciates and buys in to the mission of an organization, it makes service a pleasure and not a chore.”

Folsom calls his time at W&L an “over 55-year love affair.” He served on the W&L Board of Trustees from 1999 to 2007 and was president of the Alumni Board from 1987 to 1988, also acting as director from 1984 to 1988. He was a member of Reunion Class Committees for his 25th, 35th, 40th and 45th reunions, serving as co-chair for his 50th. He’s also dedicated his time to the Chapter Volunteers, serving as president from 1978 to 1979 and board member from 1990 to 2009. He received the university’s Distinguished Alumni Award in 1991 and was inducted into Omicron Delta Kappa in 1998.

“Our university is part of the ‘why,’” Folsom said. “It has been a meaningful influencer on my life, particularly because of the core values of the university, which we experienced as students (Honor System, Speaking Tradition, etc.). Further, the W&L relationships I’ve built over the last 55-plus years have helped shape me in so many ways.

“Simply put, my experiences participating in and focusing on organizations, whether local, statewide or beyond, have been immeasurably enhanced because of my commitment to the respective missions they serve,” he added, “and that, in a nutshell, creates the value we all seek and enjoy when we achieve it.”

The Folsoms live in Columbia, where their two children and six grandchildren also reside.

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