3. J. Michael Graves, 1927-1998

J. Michael Graves (1915-1996), a Class of 1932 graduate of the Avery Institute, was an educator and musician in the Charleston area. From 1936 to 1937, he served as a teaching principal at St. Luke Elementary School in Grover, South Carolina. From 1938 to 1939, he taught sixth grade and served as choral director at J. K. Gourdine Elementary and High School in Russelville. J. Michael earned a degree in chemistry from Fisk University in 1939.

From 1939 to 1945, J. Michael taught and held a position as teaching principal at Laing High School in Mount Pleasant. In 1947, he returned to Avery High School, where he held a teaching position through 1954. At Avery, he was the accompanist to the choir and adviser to the Science Club. In 1954, he received a master's degree in education from South Carolina State College.

From 1954 to 1970, J. Michael taught science at Burke High School and became chair of the Science Department from 1960 to 1970. At Burke, he also advised the Science Club and accompanied the choir. During his tenure at Burke, J. Michael Graves directed the first Palmetto State Science Fair in 1957 and produced the first National Science Fair winner (W. Delano Meriweather).

In 1970, J. Michael received the High School Chemistry Teacher of the Year award from the South Carolina CHapter of the American Chemical Society. That same year, he accepted position as Assistant Director of Science for Charleston County Schools. In 1974, he was promoted to Coordinator for Natural Sciences for the school district. He was active in the Charleston area educational sector, serving as president for the City Council of Charleston Teachers (1969-1970), Charleston County Education Association (1973-1974), and SCEA County Presidents Association (1974-1975). He worked on educational standards in several capacities, including co-developer of the district science curricula, which were adopted in 1982. He retired from teaching on June 30, 1982.

J. Michael was an active part of the Charleston community, serving on the board of directors for the Charleston Symphony Orchestra (1969-1980), chartering the Optimist Club of Peninsula Charleston (1982), and sitting on the mayor's Environmental Committee (1990-1993). He wasa life member of the NAACP, and sat on the Executive board of the Charleston branch of the NAACP. He was nationally recognized for his work with his fraternity, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., with the Elder W. Diggs Award for Achievement.

J. Michael Graves died in 1996.