WEST COLUMBIA, SC -- Three people with ties to Airport High School were honored Tuesday at the 2022 Educator Hall of Fame & Distinguished Alumni Gala.
The annual event is presented by the Airport High School Educational Foundation. A reception was held at the high school.
This year’s educator inductee is Joe Yawn, who worked with Airport High School from 1977-2010. After graduating from the University of South Carolina, Yawn worked in a variety of jobs in business, construction and heavy equipment operation. While between jobs, he tried substitute teaching – and he said he was hooked on education. After graduate school, he was later hired at Airport, where he taught government and economics. He participated in a number of activities during his time in education, including coaching football and track.
This year’s alumni inductees are Dr. Jim Estes and Dr. Edward Davis. Estes graduated from Airport in 1981 and went on to receive his bachelor’s in chemistry from the University of South Carolina Honors College and his medical degree from the USC School of Medicine. He has worked at Lexington Women’s Care in West Columbia since 1993, and as medical director from 2006-2020. He has delivered 10,682 babies – and counting! Estes coached youth soccer for 20 years and served as a Boy Scout Leader. Davis graduated from Airport in 1989, then went on to attend the University of South Carolina and the Medical University of South Carolina, briefly leaving South Carolina for St. Louis University, where he earned a certificate in orthodontics. Davis is an ABO-certified orthodontist who participates in several professional organizations and has organized dentistry at the state, regional, and national levels. He was president of the state association and is currently a delegate to the regional level and campaigns in Washington DC, focusing on national reforms for health benefits and student loan reforms.