The City of Clemson Honors Joe Pope '21

Congratulations to the Heathwood Hall Competitive Cheer team, who won the SCISA 4A Non-Tumble State Championship on November 16, 2024.

The City of Clemson honored Heathwood alumnus Joseph Pope '21 and his roommate for saving the lives of two people by pulling them out of a wrecked and burning vehicle. Joseph and his roommate Charles were driving back to their apartment early the morning of September 2nd when they spotted the vehicle on fire. As they got closer, they realized the driver was still inside, unconscious. Charles grabbed a hammer from his truck and threw it to Joseph, who smashed the window. As the two pulled the driver out of the smoke-filled car, he mentioned another passenger inside. Joseph and Charles ran back to the truck, smashed the passenger window, and used all their strength to pry the damaged door open, carrying an unconscious, badly injured young lady to safety as flames engulfed the truck. They worked frantically to keep her alive until EMS could arrive and she could be airlifted from the scene.

Every firefighter, policeman, and EMS First Responder at that scene that night showed up Monday to honor Joseph and Charles. They were each given a Life-Saving Award for their quick thinking and courageous actions. The young lady they rescued also spoke, thanking Joseph and Charles for saving her life.

Joseph has been selected by the National Council, Boy Scouts of America, to receive the Honor Medal with Crossed Palms, the highest honor the organization can bestow for heroic action and saving a life with extreme danger to oneself. During the 100 years since this award was created in 1924, there have been a national total of nearly 130 million scouts, 30 million adult volunteers, and 2 1/2 million Eagle Scouts. The Honor Medal with Crossed Palms has been awarded only 277 times. It is extremely rare. This award has never before been presented to anyone in the Indian Waters Council or any of its predecessors, and we can find no instance of it ever being awarded in the state of South Carolina.

Joe Sr, a former Heathwood teacher, and his wife Pamela Pope, C‘88 and a current teacher are the school, could not be more proud of their son and his selflessness in saving another's life.