PERSONAL

Simpsonville resident for over 25 years

Laird has been married to his wife Nancy for 48 years, and they have one adult son who teaches mathematics in Florida.

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MILITARY

Laird enlisted in the US Army in 1970, serving honorably until he was discharged in 1973 with the rank of Specialist 4.

 

EDUCATION

Laird earned his bachelor’s degree in French Horn performance from the Boston Conservatory of Music in 1977. In 1980 he received his law degree from the University of Pennsylvania, and in 1993 earned his M.B.A. from the University of Pittsburgh.

 

PROFESSIONAL

Laird practiced law in Charleston, West Virginia from 1980 through 1987 at a small law firm, becoming a partner, and then in-house as Vice President and Assistant General Counsel for a bank holding company in Pittsburgh, PA. In 1997 he moved to South Carolina, where he initially worked with a local mortgage lending company and subsequently founded his own company as a wholesale broker of mortgage loans between financial institutions. He retired in 2017.  

 

COMMUNITY AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT

Laird was asked to serve as President of South Carolina Public Interest Foundation by its founder, Ned Sloan. "SPIF" for short is a non-profit entity which uses litigation to force South Carolina government at all levels to follow laws and adhere to the South Carolina state constitution. Laird will be sitting for the South Carolina Bar Exam in August in order to more effectively contribute to the South Carolina Public Interest Foundation, whose tag line is "Because The Constitution Cannot Defend Itself".

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Since 2000 Laird has performed with the Foothills Philharmonic, a volunteer orchestra that performs several free concerts for the community each year. Laird has served on its Board of Directors for 10 years, and as its Treasurer for 7 years. 

 

Laird has been on the Board of Directors of the Greenville County Historical Society since 2017, and as its Treasurer since 2018.

 

Laird has been a dedicated citizen for many years, working closely with his fellow South Carolinians and state legislators to draft bills and proposed amendments.