SC political activist John Rainey dies at 73

Anderson-bred attorney and political activist John Stringer Rainey, whose philanthropic interests included S.C. Educational Television, the National Wildlife Federation and Spoleto Festival USA, died Saturday at the age of 73.

The son of an Anderson doctor, Rainey was known for his recent court battle with fellow Republican Gov. Nikki Haley, whom he had accused of breaking ethics laws in 2011 when she worked as a hospital fundraiser while also representing Lexington in the state House.

He wound up taking his complaint up to the South Carolina Supreme Court.

At the time of his death, Rainey was a practicing Camden attorney and board chairman of Greenville real estate firm Easlan Capital.

From 2003 to 2010, he served as chairman of the S.C. Board of Economic Advisers.

U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham on Saturday mourned Rainey's death, calling him one of the state's great business leaders.

"He shared his good fortune in support of so many worthy causes. He was a true philanthropist," Graham said.

U.S. Rep. James Clyburn said in a statement that he considered Rainey a good friend, a compassionate human being and an ardent practitioner of the Golden Rule. "In short, he was one of the finest people God ever created."

Among Rainey many passions was the outdoors — he was named a wildlife conservationist of the year and a life trustee of Brookgreen Gardens, the nation's first outdoor sculpture garden, according to his obituary.

He was also a fierce advocate for social justice, producing the documentary "Corridor of Shame," exposing neglect of South Carolina's rural public schools.

Rainey was an Eagle Scout and former scoutmaster, a Vietnam combat veteran who received the Bronze Star for Valor and chief fundraiser for the erection of a Vietnam monument in Columbia's Memorial Park.

Rainey's obituary said he was raising money for a war dog memorial to be installed at the park in time for Veteran's Day later this year.

He is survived by his wife, Anne Edens Rainey, two children, two sisters and a brother, Lou Rainey of Anderson.

Following a private burial Sunday on Pawleys Island, a memorial service will be held at 4 p.m. Tuesday at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Columbia.