Louis B. Lynn, PhD
Dr. Louis B. Lynn’s horticultural enterprise, ENVIRO Ag Science, Inc., established in 1985, is the largest African American-owned landscape firm in South Carolina. His company’s construction division has completed a number of showcase projects including the Columbia Convention Center, the University of South Carolina Colonial Center, and BMW Manufacturing. Other clients include Ft. Jackson, Shaw AirForce Base, Fort Gordon and the Savannah River Nuclear site. As a research scientist, Lynn worked at Monsanto developing the Roundup® herbicide.
Early in his entrepreneurial career, Lynn was challenged to own a socially responsible firm and from a public perspective to “pay his civic rent.” His civic engagement includes election to six four-year terms on the Clemson Board of Trustees since 1988. Additionally, he has served on the boards of the S.C. Workforce Investment, the State Chamber of Commerce, the Columbia Chamber of Commerce, the S.C. Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics, the Palmetto Agribusiness Council, the Midlands Business Leadership Council, the State Museum Foundation, the S.C. Horticulture Society and the S.C. Commission of Higher Education.
A devout Christian, Dr. Lynn considers his business as his ministry, and that desire to use his vocation to advocate his faith has led to his pursuit of a certificate in Market Place Ministry at Columbia Bible College. Dr. Lynn often shares his faith by leading community prayers for Clemson vs. USC football games, the Mayor’s Inauguration, the Governor’s Prayer Breakfast, and numerous business events. His business mission statement is Proverbs 16:3, “Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established.”
The Darlington County native was in the second freshman class to integrate Clemson University, where he received his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Horticulture. He earned his Ph.D in Horticulture at the University of Maryland.