Charlie Post Memorial Scholarship (College of CHS)

Dr. Charlie Post was a medical doctor who specialized in family practice and served as the resident physician of the infirmary at the College of Charleston.  He was an active member of the Charleston Running Club and an avid triathlete before endurance sports had entered the mainstream.

In 1980, Charlie organized and directed the Family Practice Physicians Fitness Run.  During the same year, the annual Association of Family Practice Physicians convention was held in Charleston.  Charlie thought that it would be a good idea to have a race in conjunction with the convention—to encourage the public and the physicians to improve their fitness.  There was a 1-mile family fun run, a 5K and a 15K—which was 3 loops of the 5K course. The Family Practice Run continued in 1981 and 1982.  Charlie decided not to organize a race in 1983 due to growing commitments with his practice, and the fact that the convention moved from Charleston.

In July 1983 while bicycling in preparation for a triathlon, Charlie collided with a van which was parked in the bicycle path on the Isle of Palms and was paralyzed from the neck down.  Art Liberman took over the race and changed its name and purpose.  The name of the race was changed to the Charlie Post Classic and the purpose was to raise fund to help pay some of Charlie’s enormous medical expenses.  Charlie started the races from his wheelchair by voice command, and they were successes in every way. 

Charlie was looking forward to the 1984 races and he planned to start them again. However, on October 28th of that year he died from complications caused by the accident. Since Charlie had always been a man who helped other people, it was decided to continue the race.  It’s purpose would now be an ongoing one: to fund a scholarship in the name of Charlie Post.

The Charlie Post Memorial Scholarship was established at the College of Charleston and has continued to this day through proceeds raised through the race.  The Charleston Running Club has continued as the organizer of this annual race which now enters its 34th year.