Naturaland Trust is excited to officially announce the release of Renaissance Man: The Life of Tommy Wyche by Lynne Lucas. The book is now available at two local bookstores, M.Judson Booksellers in Greenville and Hub City Bookshop in Spartanburg, with all proceeds benefiting Naturaland Trust.
The late Tommy Wyche founded and led Naturaland Trust, South Carolina’s second oldest land trust, in championing the 40-year initiative that resulted in the protection of over 100,000 acres of the South Carolina mountains, which today include Caesars Head State Park, Jones Gap State Park and Jocassee Gorges. In addition, he was one of the key leaders in the revitalization of downtown Greenville. Tommy had an astonishing range of hobbies and talents, including photography, writing, piano, tennis, patented inventions, beekeeping, hiking and canoeing.
“Lynne has done an outstanding job in documenting my father’s full and amazing life,” said Brad Wyche, Tommy’s son.
Before starting her own eco-friendly garden design and installation company in 2003, Lucas was a staff writer, copy editor and columnist for The Greenville News for 25 years. The 339-page book, commissioned by Tommy’s children, explores his contributions to conservation, the City of Greenville’s amazing transformation, the Wyche law firm, and advocacy for the arts. It also includes a foreword by former Governor Dick Riley, many family stories, insights into his one-of-a-kind personality, and dozens of color photographs.
“The range of his accomplishments is just breathtaking,” said Lucas. “Every time I thought I was about finished, I’d uncover or be told about another terrific story or effort he was involved in.”
Tommy had so much going on in different arenas at the same time that one of the biggest challenges, said Lucas, was corralling and organizing the narrative, when it became clear that a chronological telling of his life wouldn’t work. Instead, the book is divided into major parts by topic.
Renaissance Man: The Life of Tommy Wyche is $24 and can be ordered at M.Judson Booksellers by calling 864-603-2412 and Hub City Bookshop by calling 864-577-9349. After ordering, store pickup is available at both bookstores, or the book can be shipped directly to your home.
ABOUT NATURALAND TRUST
Building on Tommy Wyche’s extraordinary legacy, Naturaland Trust continues to work on acquiring and protecting special places in the mountains and foothills of South Carolina, including lands adjoining Jones Gap and Paris Mountain State Parks, lands along Scenic Highway 11, expanding the Swamp Rabbit Trail, and protecting critical habitat for threatened and endangered species.
For more information, see www.naturalandtrust.org.