Inabinet, Benjamin Claude, 1934-1983.

Benjamin Claude Inabinet was born in Columbia, S.C. in 1934. He was the son of Benjamin Claude Inabinet, Sr. and Sarah Abrams Inabinet. Inabinet was an All-State football player at Dreher High School in Columbia, S.C. and led his team to a State AA Championship his senior year. Inabinet played football at Clemson for Coach Frank Howard from 1953-1955. Standing nearly 6 feet 7 inches tall and weighing over 260 pounds, Inabinet was believed to be the largest football player ever to attend Clemson at that time. As a senior Inabinet earned an honorable mention All-American recognition and was chosen to play in the North vs. South College All-Star Game held at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Fla. on December 26, 1955. He received a degree in Textile Management from Clemson in 1956. Inabinet was a fourth round draft choice of the Baltimore Colts but opted to sign with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League. His career was abbreviated by injuries. Inabinet turned to the world of business by founding Defender Industries, which became one of the largest, full service industrial maintenance firms in the United States. B.C. Inabinet was an active community leader. He was a member of the Clemson Alumni Association; Chairman of the Richland County IPTAY Club; President of the Greater Columbia Clemson Club, founded in 1958; member of the Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce; and the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce. In addition, Inabinet involved himself politically by assisting Strom Thurmond's campaign staff as a finance chairman, and assisted the campaigns of Governor James B. Edwards and Congressman Albert Watson. Inabinet married the former Kathryn Caughman. They had three children: Kathy, Dixie, and Benjamin Claude Inabinet III. Benjamin Claude Inabinet died on August 7, 1983.