A public memorial service for Russ Meekins, the USC University Foundations executive director, will be held Tuesday at the USC Alumni Center. The 10 a.m. service will include special remarks from University President Pastides, as well as words from former Columbia mayor Bob Coble and other university officials.
Meekins, 63, died unexpectedly on Dec. 23 after working as the executive director of the foundations since 2013. Before that, he was the chief financial officer for 15 years. During his time with the foundations, Meekins worked on projects such as 650 Lincoln, a new baseball stadium, Children's Center at USC and the Inn at USC.
In addition to serving the university through the foundations, Meekins was a USC alumnus. He earned degrees in '81 and '83 in accounting and finance. From Conway, South Carolina, Meekins was the first in his family to attend college.
In a university release, university general counsel Terry Parham is quoted as saying: “Russ loved his family, and he loved Carolina. He was uncommonly kind, always smiling, quick to laugh, and a friend to all who had the good fortune to know him. He took pride in the many successes of his children, and he worked tirelessly on behalf of the university’s foundations to assist in advancing Carolina. I will miss my trusted colleague; I will miss my friend."
The Alumni Center is at 900 Senate St. There is street parking nearby, as well as several university parking garages. Shuttles for faculty and staff will run to the Alumni Center starting at 9 a.m. from the Pendleton Garage.
Memorial gifts to the Russell H. Meekins Carolina Scholar Endowed Scholarship Fund can be made at give.evertrue.com/sc/russ-meekins.