Get to know the cyclist, conservationist, and chairman of Harper General Contractors
“I guess you could say I’m a multi-generational Greenvillian,” laughs Doug Harper of Harper General Contractors. “My family has been in the Augusta Road area for over a hundred years. I grew up in Greenville and have watched it grow and change to become what it is today, which is an amazing place.”
A local leader with an extensive legacy of engagement and a uniquely affable, approachable air, Harper was born to do what he does—even though he has recently stepped back in his role as chairman. “I was born into a construction family. My grandfather and father started the Harper Corporation in 1950, a couple years before I was born. I started working as a teenager digging ditches and went to Clemson before returning to work for the company. I’ve spent my entire career there, building the community and being involved in countless organizations and activities. I love Greenville and couldn’t imagine living anywhere else.”
And his fingerprint ranges across the region. “I’ve found a lot of fun and satisfaction in working on several iconic buildings and spaces in Greenville, from the Westin Poinsett Hotel renovations and the United Community Bank Headquarters to Unity Park, Cancer Survivors Park, and the Children’s Museum.”
As a road cyclist and mountain biker with a love of adventure travel, Harper has been all over the world, but is always glad to come home to the Upstate: “We’ve got such a great quality of life, from the location and four seasons to the natural diversity, the fun activities downtown, the arts . . . this is really a cosmopolitan small city.” In fact, he’s currently restoring a hundred-year-old-plus lodge and historical structure in Caesar’s Head called GreyLogs.
“One of my passions is conservation and preserving our quality of life and access to natural areas and green spaces,” adds Harper, who you’re just as likely to catch on the Swamp Rabbit Trail as you are downtown—and that commitment extends outside of his personal life into a significant focus for Harper Corporation, too. “We have sustainability goals and a group that works toward them. We were one of the first companies to put solar panels on our office building, and we were one of the first companies in the United States to have an electric vehicle charging station in our parking lot.”
Harper may have many interests but building relationships and preserving his county is in his blood. “We’re Greenville-based and Greenville-focused. However, we’ve grown considerably and are proud to be one of the largest contractors in the Southeast. Greenville is still our home and our roots, and we love being involved in the community,” he insists. “We have a cycling team that raises money for charities, and groups that run Meals on Wheels routes. Greenville has been good to us, and we want to be great corporate citizens who give back. We’re very blessed to be where we are, and we need to be sure that we don’t take that for granted and that we continue to plan for the future to protect our quality of life.”
Doug Harper Fact File
- Started working at age 12, making 25 cents per hour
- Graduated from Clemson University with a degree in construction science and management
- Worked with the city on the $66 million Unity Park project
- Hiked the 18,000-foot Kala Patthar peak in Nepal, which looks out onto Mount Everest
Photo by Reel Video and Stills.
