2019 Greater Lake City Veteran of the Year

On Monday, November 4, 2019 the Greater Lake City Community Resource Center, a program of the Lake City Creative Alliance, held it’s 2nd Annual Veteran Celebration. During this evening of accolades, Mr. Peter L. Gaskins was named the 2019 Greater Lake City Veteran of the Year.

Mr. Gaskins was reared in the High Hill-Lake City area and has resided in Lake City since 1970.

He was drafted to serve in the US Army while an undergraduate student at Shaw University in Raleigh, NC. After basic training, he was deployed to Southeast Asia and became fully engage in the war with the Viet-Cong. Having attained the rank of sergeant, he saw and endured many hardships and atrocities with jungle warfare. Mr. Gaskins was honorable discharged in 1969.

After earning his bachelor’s and master’s degrees, Mr. Gaskins went on to serve the communities in various capacities, which included memberships in the following organizations:

• Delta Rho Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity
• Lake City Elks Lodege
• Carver High School Alumni Association
• American Legion
• Veterans of Foreign Wars
• Lake City Development Coporation
• Pee Dee Transportation Authority
• Citizens for Educational Excellence

While serving as an educator, supervisor and coach in Florence School District Three for a combined time of over 30 years, Mr. Gaskins was also a licensed funeral director, member of the 6th Congressional District of Morticians and co-owner of Green Copper Gaskins Funeral Home.

Mr. Gaskins is a member of Greater St. James AME Church and serves as a trustee, transportation supervisor, and Veteran’s Committee member.

He has been married to his wife Gloria for almost 50 years.

Congratulations Mr. Gaskins!

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