Theodore Wilbur Thornhill was born in Summerville, South Carolina on September 12, 1892, the son of J.T.E. and Lula Wilbur Thornhill. Thornhill worked at the Charleston Oil Company before he entered Clemson College in 1910. He majored in electrical engineering and received his Bachelor of Science degree in 1914. On November 8, 1916, he and Anna Van Noy Smith were married. They had two sons, Van Noy and Thomas Edwin. In 1917 he volunteered and entered World War I as a private in the Corps of Engineering. He saw service in the Panama Canal Zone and France before being discharged as a Captain in 1919. He returned to employment with the Charleston Oil Company where he rose to the presidency. He was also president of Seaboard Gas Company, 1946-1953.

Mr. Thornhill was a tireless promoter of agriculture, especially soil conservation, and served as a member of South Carolina Soil Conservation Committee and National Association of Soil Conservation Districts. In Charleston he supported Porter Military Academy, served as a Public Service Commissioner, was president of the Chamber of Commerce, a Director of First Federal Savings and Loan Association, a member of the Country Club, Carolina Yacht Club, Hibernian Society, Grace Episcopal Church, the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA), Masons, Elks, Knights of Pythias, and Rotary. For the state he served on the Highway Commission and the State Hospital Regents. He also served on the National Advisory Committee, Office of Price Administration during World War I.

Thornhill was president of Clemson’s Alumni Association during 1929-30. In 1947 he was chosen by the South Carolina Legislature to fill out unexpired Clemson Board of Trustees term of J.P. Mozingo III. He was reelected for four year terms until he retired in 1960. Clemson awarded him an honorary Doctor of Laws Degree in 1966. He was active in promoting all interests of Clemson College during this period. T. Wilbur “Buddy” Thornhill died January 4, 1978.