John Zeigler’s philosophy is that everyone can – and should – make a difference. Less than a year shy of his 100th birthday, the state of South Carolina bestowed on John Asbury Zeigler the Order of the Silver Crescent – one of the highest civilian honors the state gives out.

On Aug. 7, 2011, College of Charleston Board of Trustees member (Governor’s Appointee) Jeff M. Schilz presented the award on behalf of Gov. Nikki Haley. Zeigler was deeply honored, as family and friends, and College of Charleston President George Benson, School of the Arts Dean Valerie Morris, College Board of Trustees Chairman Gregory D. Padgett, and legislative officials Sen. George E. “Chip” Campsen III and Rep. Harry B. “Chip” Limehouse III, gathered at his home.

The School of the Arts at the College of Charleston nominated Zeigler for the award, which recognizes individuals who make a significant contribution to a particular South Carolina city or community.

Ziegler was born in Manning in 1912. He attended The Citadel, and one year before he graduated, founded and edited The Shako, The Citadel literary magazine. At age 30, he enlisted in the Navy and was stationed in Alaska. Ziegler served as a radioman and was the Naval correspondent for the Glacier Gazette.  He also served aboard the U.S.S. Dickens, a ship that carried soldiers to Iwo Jima.

One year after his honorable discharge, Zeigler co-founded a bookstore in Charleston, and befriended many artists – including Carson McCullers (The Heart is a Lonely Hunter) and Maurice Sendak (Where the Wild Things Are) – while it was in operation.

The Book Basement, which was located in the Ziegler family home – was acquired by the College of Charleston in 1971. There is a plaque on the house that refers to John Zeigler as someone “whose steadfast support of the School of the Arts, its students and its programs in music, continues to ensure that orchestras, symphonies and operas world-wide feature College of Charleston alumni.”

Over the years, Ziegler has made more than 170 gifts to the College of Charleston. The scholarships he has endowed, awards he has funded and financial support he has given to students so that they can travel to competitions, come to approximately $800,000.

The effect that John Zeigler’s support of the arts has had goes well beyond the College of Charleston. He has made gifts to cultural organizations such as the Charleston Symphony Orchestra and Spoleto Festival USA. In turn, School of the Arts alumni who have benefitted from Ziegler scholarships and awards make their own contributions to the arts community in the state, and their accomplishments bring attention to Charleston and to South Carolina.

For example, Florencia di Concilio is a film composer who lives in Paris. She wrote the score for Eyes Wide Open: A Journey through Today’s South America, a film that received the Audience Award at the 2010 Thessaloniki Documentary Festival.

Eunjoo Yun created the Charleston Academy of Music to “expose people of all ages, backgrounds and walks of life to the many wonders of music. Reflecting on what a Ziegler scholarship, and her friendship with Mr. Zeigler, have meant to her, Yun says that his support “didn’t just help me financially. His scholarship allowed me to grow as a person who cares about other people, and he helped me realize that there are a lot of people waiting for me to get in touch with them through music.”

In 2010, the College of Charleston Alumni Association gave Ziegler the Alumni Award of Honor (the only award the Alumni Association bestows on non-graduates) in recognition of his ongoing support of students at the College.

That same year, on National Philanthropy Day, the Association of Fundraising Professionals gave Zeigler a special recognition award that acknowledged the ways in which donors can “touch, change, and sometimes even save, countless lives in ways of which they may not even be aware.”

On May 7, 2011, the College of Charleston conferred the honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree on John Zeigler. The citation referred to his “everlasting commitment to generations of writers, musicians and artists…” and noted that his “generosity has enabled the creation of art that is enjoyed the world over.”