Changes

Workman was an at-large member of the Greenville City Council for two years preceding his tenure as mayor. The 33rd mayor, he served for twelve and one-half years, in which capacity he refined his emphasis on economic and downtown development, the thrust of which dated back to 1971 to 1979 during the administration of the [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] Mayor [[Max Heller]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://library.furman.edu/specialcollections/southcarolina/heller_biography.htm|title=Max Heller Biography|publisher=Furman University|accessdate=May 20, 2014; material no longer accessible on-line}}</ref> In 2004, [[U.S. Senator]] [[Lindsey Graham]] acknowledged Workman's accomplishments in attracting new industries to his city and region: "There is no doubt Greenville is now one of the Southeast region's premier cities for business."<ref name=votesmart/> Workman faced the rapid decline of the [[textile]] mills in western South Carolina, a loss which made economic development more difficult. Workman described economic development as a process which requires both diversification and specialization. Quoting the urban planner Jane Jacobs: "Poverty happens; prosperity, you have to work at it."<ref>"Prosperity Requires Both Diversification and Specialization," ''Greenville Business Magazine,'' December 1, 2013.</ref> In 1994, Mayor Workman was elected by his colleagues as president of the Municipal Association of South Carolina.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.masc.sc/about/Pages/PastPresidents.aspx|title=Past Presidents|publisher=Municipal Association of South Carolina|accessdate=May 14, 2014 material no longer accessible on-line}}</ref>

Workman was an at-large member of the Greenville City Council for two years preceding his tenure as mayor. The 33rd mayor, he served for twelve and one-half years, in which capacity he refined his emphasis on economic and downtown development, the thrust of which dated back to 1971 to 1979 during the administration of the [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] Mayor [[Max Heller]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://library.furman.edu/specialcollections/southcarolina/heller_biography.htm|title=Max Heller Biography|publisher=Furman University|accessdate=May 20, 2014; material no longer accessible on-line}}</ref> In 2004, [[U.S. Senator]] [[Lindsey Graham]] acknowledged Workman's accomplishments in attracting new industries to his city and region: "There is no doubt Greenville is now one of the Southeast region's premier cities for business."<ref name=votesmart/> Workman faced the rapid decline of the [[textile]] mills in western South Carolina, a loss which made economic development more difficult. Workman described economic development as a process which requires both diversification and specialization. Quoting the urban planner Jane Jacobs: "Poverty happens; prosperity, you have to work at it."<ref>"Prosperity Requires Both Diversification and Specialization," ''Greenville Business Magazine,'' December 1, 2013.</ref> In 1994, Mayor Workman was elected by his colleagues as president of the Municipal Association of South Carolina.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.masc.sc/about/Pages/PastPresidents.aspx|title=Past Presidents|publisher=Municipal Association of South Carolina|accessdate=May 14, 2014 material no longer accessible on-line}}</ref>

Involved in Republican politics, Mayor Workman in 1984 attended a [[Ronald Reagan|Reagan]]-[[George H. W. Bush|Bush]] rally at Greenville Technical College.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=39247|title=Remarks at a Reagan-Bush Rally in Greenville, South Carolina|date=October 15, 1984|publisher=presidency.ucsb.edu|accessdate=October 24, 2020}}</ref> In 1986, Workman ran unsuccessfully for a seat in the [[United States House of Representatives]] from South Carolina's 4th congressional district. The position was vacated by Carroll Ashmore Campbell, Jr. (1940-2005), a Republican who was elected governor in 1986, only the second Republican in the office in the 20th century. Workman defeated airline pilot Ted Adams in a runoff election for the Republican nomination, 8,453 votes (55.3 percent) to 6,829 (44.7 percent); in the [[primary]], however, Workman had polled 49.2 percent, nearly enough to win outright. Workman lost in the [[general election]] to sate Senator Liz Johnston Patterson, 67,012 votes (52.7 percent) to 61,648 (47.3 percent). Two minor candidates polled the remaining 1,747 votes (1.3 percent).<ref name=ourcampaigns>{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=46247|title=SC - District 04|publisher=ourcampaigns.com|accessdate=October 23, 2020}}</ref> Patterson is the daughter of [[Olin D. Johnston|Olin DeWitt Johnston]] (1896–1965), the Democrat whom Workman's father had unsuccessfully challenged twenty-four years earlier in the 1962 race for the U. S. Senate.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1986-06-24/news/8602070150_1_gOctober 24, 2020ck-bill-baxley-runoff|title=Bitter Alabama Race Nears End|date=June 24, 1986; article on Alabama campaigns with mention of Workman's congressional bid|publisher=''Fort Lauderdale ([[Florida]]) Sun-Sentinel''|accessdate=October 24, 2020}}</ref> In February 2004, Workman spoke in Orangeburg, South Carolina, to support downtown revitalization efforts there. He said that development depends on a mixture of "love, humility, and cooperation among all residents. ... Downtown is everybody's neighborhood."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140629075641/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-118756760.html|date=June 29, 2014|title=Former Greenville, S.C., Mayor Praises Downtown-Revitalization Group|publisher=highbeam.com|accessdate=October 23, 2020}}</ref>

Involved in Republican politics, Mayor Workman in 1984 attended a [[Ronald Reagan|Reagan]]-[[George H. W. Bush|Bush]] rally at Greenville Technical College.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=39247|title=Remarks at a Reagan-Bush Rally in Greenville, South Carolina|date=October 15, 1984|publisher=presidency.ucsb.edu|accessdate=October 24, 2020}}</ref> In 1986, Workman ran unsuccessfully for a seat in the [[United States House of Representatives]] from South Carolina's 4th congressional district. The position was vacated by Carroll Ashmore Campbell, Jr. (1940-2005), a Republican who was elected governor in 1986, only the second Republican in the office in the 20th century. Workman defeated airline pilot Ted Adams in a runoff election for the Republican nomination, 8,453 votes (55.3 percent) to 6,829 (44.7 percent); in the [[primary]], however, Workman had polled 49.2 percent, nearly enough to win outright. Workman lost in the [[general election]] to sate Senator [[Elizabeth J. Patterson]], 67,012 votes (52.7 percent) to 61,648 (47.3 percent). Two minor candidates polled the remaining 1,747 votes (1.3 percent).<ref name=ourcampaigns>{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=46247|title=SC - District 04|publisher=ourcampaigns.com|accessdate=October 23, 2020}}</ref> Patterson is the daughter of [[Olin D. Johnston|Olin DeWitt Johnston]] (1896–1965), the Democrat whom Workman's father had unsuccessfully challenged twenty-four years earlier in the 1962 race for the U. S. Senate.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1986-06-24/news/8602070150_1_gOctober 24, 2020ck-bill-baxley-runoff|title=Bitter Alabama Race Nears End|date=June 24, 1986; article on Alabama campaigns with mention of Workman's congressional bid|publisher=''Fort Lauderdale ([[Florida]]) Sun-Sentinel''|accessdate=October 24, 2020}}</ref> In February 2004, Workman spoke in Orangeburg, South Carolina, to support downtown revitalization efforts there. He said that development depends on a mixture of "love, humility, and cooperation among all residents. ... Downtown is everybody's neighborhood."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140629075641/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-118756760.html|date=June 29, 2014|title=Former Greenville, S.C., Mayor Praises Downtown-Revitalization Group|publisher=highbeam.com|accessdate=October 23, 2020}}</ref>

In March 2004, Workman received the annual John D. Whisman Vision Award from  the Development District Association of Appalachia at the annual conference of the organization held in Arlington, [[Virginia]]. The conference represented more than three hundred officials from seventy-two economic planning and development districts.<ref name=workmaniii>{{cite web|url=http://msa.maryland.gov/megafile/msa/speccol/sc5300/sc5339/000113/001000/001688/unrestricted/20060280e.htm|title=William D. Workman, III, Receives John D. Whisman Vision Award|date=March 15, 2004|publisher=msa.maryland.gov|accessdate=October 24, 2020}}</ref> He also acquired the annual "William D. Workman, III, Buffalo Hunter Award," which honors either an individual or an organization that has demonstrated a major impact on the local economy. "Buffalo Hunter" refers to locating new businesses to Greenville.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gsabusiness.com/news/27810-gadc-reports-1-556-jobs-created-in-2008|title=GADC reports 1,556 jobs created in 2008|date=May 22, 2009|publisher=gsabusiness.com|accessdate=May 14, 2014; material no longer accessible on-line}}</ref> He is a past president of the Greenville County Research and Technological Development Corporation.<ref name=votesmart/>

In March 2004, Workman received the annual John D. Whisman Vision Award from  the Development District Association of Appalachia at the annual conference of the organization held in Arlington, [[Virginia]]. The conference represented more than three hundred officials from seventy-two economic planning and development districts.<ref name=workmaniii>{{cite web|url=http://msa.maryland.gov/megafile/msa/speccol/sc5300/sc5339/000113/001000/001688/unrestricted/20060280e.htm|title=William D. Workman, III, Receives John D. Whisman Vision Award|date=March 15, 2004|publisher=msa.maryland.gov|accessdate=October 24, 2020}}</ref> He also acquired the annual "William D. Workman, III, Buffalo Hunter Award," which honors either an individual or an organization that has demonstrated a major impact on the local economy. "Buffalo Hunter" refers to locating new businesses to Greenville.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gsabusiness.com/news/27810-gadc-reports-1-556-jobs-created-in-2008|title=GADC reports 1,556 jobs created in 2008|date=May 22, 2009|publisher=gsabusiness.com|accessdate=May 14, 2014; material no longer accessible on-line}}</ref> He is a past president of the Greenville County Research and Technological Development Corporation.<ref name=votesmart/>