Tuesday night, a former Florence chief of police received the highest civilian honor awarded by the governor of South Carolina.
Ralph Porter was given the Order of the Palmetto.
It's given to persons who make contributions of statewide significance.
Porter served for 30 years in a variety of law enforcement positions.
After retiring as chief of police, Porter founded the Choices Charter School.
It has an 85 percent success rate in helping young people who are unable to continue in their assigned schools for a variety of reasons.
Porter is also active in several other local, state and national organizations.
"My time as a juvenile delinquent, the things I did wrong as a kid have served as a learning mechanism for me. And I try to share and impart this; just today with the students. I don't always do the right things, but when I don't do the right things, I try to correct it," Porter told us.
Ralph Porter was also recognized Tuesday night by the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Pee Dee Area as their 2010 Champion for Youth.
