Cyril B. Busbee

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Cyril B. Busbee (1908–2001) was an American educator who led South Carolina’s Department of Education as the 12th State Superintendent from 1967 to 1979. The Cyril B. Busbee Elementary School is named after him. He was born in Wagener, South Carolina, and earned a bachelor’s degree in 1928 and a master’s degree in 1938 from the University of South Carolina. He worked as a teacher, coach, and administrator, and later led the Brookland-Cayce Schools in Lexington District Two.

Busbee became state superintendent after Jesse T. Anderson retired in 1966. He defeated Inez C. Eddings with about 53% of the vote, facing a strong Republican challenge. He was reelected in 1970 and 1974. His term came during federal desegregation guidelines that required school integration in South Carolina. His administration started a statewide kindergarten program and expanded the free basic textbook program to all grades.

After leaving office in 1979, Busbee advised the president of the University of South Carolina and served on the boards of C&S National Bank and Lexington Medical Center. He died in 2001 in Cayce, South Carolina, and is buried at Southland Memorial Gardens.