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Archie Shaw Dargan, Jr., 86, died July 30, 2011, at his home in Myrtle Beach. A native of Darlington County, SC, he was the son of the late Archie S. Dargan, Sr. and Edith Austin Dargan. He was a 1949 graduate of Clemson University with a B. S. Degree in Mechanical Engineering. He founded Dargan Construction Company of Myrtle Beach in 1953, and the company remains in business today as a successful building contractor. His hobbies were Clemson football games, golf and aviation and he was an instrument-rated pilot. He was preceded in death by his wife, Caroline Douglas Sligh Dargan, his parents, one infant grandson, and daughter-in-law, Joyce Chestnut Dargan. Mr. Dargan was an investor and a member of the Boards of Directors of Myrtle Beach National Company; Coastal Crane Service; Caravelle Resort; Longwood Golf Corporation (Blackmour); Alabama Theatre; Construction Equipment Rental Company; Ice House Group; and Hillsborough Land Group, LLC. He served on many Boards of Directors in the past, some of those being C&S National Bank (now Bank of America); General Telephone Company (now Frontier); Carolinas Branch, The Associated General Contractors of America; Horry County Development Board; Greater Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce; Chairman, Board of Trustees Ocean View Memorial Hospital Foundation; Trustee, SC Foundation of Independent Colleges; Board of Visitors, Coastal Carolina College School of Business; Board of Trustees and Board of Visitors, Coker College; Board of Visitors, Columbia College, President, Carolinas Golf Association; President, Rotary Club of Myrtle Beach; President, United Way of Horry County; Vice President, Pee Dee Area Council of Boy Scouts of America; Horry County District Chairman, and Horry County District Finance Chairman. He was very involved in civic organizations that helped the community and the world. Because of his service, he received the Silver Beaver Award, Boy Scouts of America, Pee Dee Area Council; Citizen of the Year for Myrtle Beach, SC; Rotarian of the Year for Myrtle Beach Rotary Club; Service to Mankind Award, Myrtle Beach Sertoma Club; Community Award of Merit, Coastal Carolina College, USC. Mr. Dargan graduated St. John's High School, Darlington, SC, and was a student at Clemson University in 1943 when he left school to join the military. Mr. Dargan's military service was outstanding. He served in the Army Air Corps, 1943-1945. After pilot training in the States, he was sent overseas in 1944 to fight in World War II and was assigned to the European Theatre of Operation as a fighter pilot, flying a P-51 Mustang. He flew 37 missions and shot down four enemy fighters. He earned the rank of First Lieutenant and returned home in 1945. In 1946, he returned to complete his college education at Clemson University. After working five years in the engineering department of a large textile firm, he decided to move to Myrtle Beach and founded Dargan Construction Company in 1953. The company is still operating strong in Myrtle Beach. He held professional licenses as follows: General Contractor License "Building-Unlimited" SC Licensing Board for Contractors; General Contractor License "Building-Unlimited" NC Licensing Board for Contractors; Professional Engineer - SC State Board of Engineers Examiners. His company built many of the hotels and condominiums in Myrtle Beach, and also the entertainment theatres, such as Carolina Opry, Dixie Stampede, Ronnie Milsap Theatre, Gatlin Brothers Theatre, and others were built by his company. Numerous buildings at Horry-Georgetown Technical College, Coastal Carolina University, Francis Marion College, Voorhees College, Newberry College and many elementary and high school buildings were built. Many hospitals, too, were built by the company; some of them being Orangeburg Hospital, Georgetown Hospital, Self Memorial Hospital, Palmetto State Hospital in Columbia, New Haven Nursing Home, Myrtle Beach Manor Nursing Home, and many others. Mr. Dargan was a man of faith and was a member of The First Presbyterian Church of Myrtle Beach, where he served as an Elder. He also served on various committees, including the current building committee for the new church sanctuary. Mr. Dargan is survived by five children: Archie Shaw Dargan, III (Linda); Waldeck Sligh Dargan; Caroline Douglas MacKorell (John, Sr.); Louisa Sligh Dargan Harris (Trey); Melissa Dorsey Dargan Hufhand (Brian). He is survived by 13 grandchildren, and 1 great grandchild. He is also survived by one brother, George Dargan of Darlington. He always believed that a person should give back to the community. He did this far and above what was expected. His generosity supported colleges, universities, and churches. He will be remembered as a kind man to all and above all, a Southern Gentleman. Visitation for Mr. Dargan will be held on Sunday, July 31, 2011, at his home in the Dunes Cove Section of Myrtle Beach, SC, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Mr. Dargan's funeral will be held on Monday, August 1, 2011, at 2:00 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church of Myrtle Beach, SC, directed by Goldfinch Funeral Home of Conway, SC. Burial will follow in Grove Hill Cemetery, Darlington, SC, at approximately 5:00 p.m., directed by Belk Funeral Home of Darlington, SC. For anyone desiring to send a memorial, please send it to Grand Strand Humane Society, or the YMCA of Myrtle Beach, or the First Presbyterian Church of Myrtle Beach, SC. An online guestbook my be signed at www.goldfinchfuneral.com Goldfinch Funeral Home, Conway Chapel is in charge of the arrangements. (Photo to be emailed)

Tributes

Archie Dargan, Jr.

October 16, 1924 - July 30, 2011