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Chief Donald Rogers, representative of the Catawba Indian Nation, performs a traditional hunters dance in honor of King Hagler of the Catawba Indian Nation. King Hagler was killed in 1763.AP Photo/The Sun News, Steve Jessmore

18th-Century Chief in S.C. Hall of Fame

By the Associated Press

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (AP) — King Hagler, an 18th-century Catawba Indian chief, was inducted into the South Carolina Hall of Fame on Wednesday. He was the first Native American inducted into the hall.

Each year, one living and one deceased South Carolinian are inducted. This year's other inductee is Pat Conroy, 63, the author of "The Prince of Tides," "The Great Santini" and "The Lords of Discipline."

King Hagler was killed in 1763 by a raiding band of Shawnee Indians.

A South Carolina historical marker says, "The location of Hagler's burial place is not known. The Catawbas say there were two locations. The second one they never divulged to any non-Catawbas. Maurice Moore described King Hagler's grave as 10 feet wide, 10 feet long and 10 feet deep. Along with Haigler's body was buried his silver-mounted rifle, powder flask, gold and silver money, pipes, tobacco, and other personal possessions."

Hagler and Conroy were honored in a ceremony at the hall at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center.

Others in the Hall of Fame include President Andrew Jackson, jazz legend Dizzy Gillespie and the late U.S. Sen. Strom Thurmond.

Conroy is an Atlanta native whose family moved to Beaufort in his high school years and much of his fiction has been based on his experiences in the state's Lowcountry.