Melvin Bessinger
Class of 1951
An extremely successful businessman, he was co-founder of Joe's Diner in Holly Hill, co-founder of the Piggy Park Drive-Ins in Charleston--A favorite of all cadets in the 60's. Co-founder of Bessinger's Bar-B-Q and Founder and CEO of Melvin's Legendary Bar-B-Q in Mt Pleasant. Melvin was a World War II veteran who served in the U.S. Army during the invasion of Normandy, D-Day 2 where he was a part of the Battle of Saint Lo. A POW of the Germans,he successfully escaped captivity and was awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star.