Background
He was born in Belknap, Illinois. Mescher was the son of Clarence H. Mescher, a sharecropper, and Jane (Richards) Mescher.
He was born in Belknap, Illinois. Mescher was the son of Clarence H. Mescher, a sharecropper, and Jane (Richards) Mescher.
He gained a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Illinois, and later an Master of Business Administration from Northwestern University.
Mescher served in South Carolina Senate, representing senate district #44 Berkeley County, South Carolina, from 1992 until his death in 2007. He was the first in his family to graduate from high school and then benefitted from the GI Bill to go to college, having served as a United States Army Staff Sergeant in World World War II and of Korea. Mescher went on to become chief executive of utilities company Santee Corporation, and headed his own management consultancy practice.
Shirley"s death from lung cancer inspired Senator Mescher"s campaign to legalise medical marijuana.
The family lived in Pinopolis. Mescher, a conservative Republican, was first elected as a state senator in 1992.
In 2005, Mescher criticized Governor Mark Sanford for his involvement in Santee Cooper affairs Sanford responded by pointing out a conflict of interest, that Mescher himself once served as Chief Executive Officer of Santee Cooper.
In 2007, Mescher gained media attention when he proposed a bill to legalize medical marijuana in South Carolina.
He has also previously fought for the legalization of ferrets as pets and tattooing in the state. Mescher died of a stroke on April 8, 2007. A Special Election for State Senate District #44 was held on August 7, 2007.