Community Spotlight
A Focus on Solutions and Support
Meet Barry Cox, Owner of The Cox Group and President of Warehouse Services, Inc.
If you could offer one piece of advice to your high school self, what would it be?
Do not ever give up on your dreams. Consistent, disciplined work beats talent every day. Be disciplined in your approach to life, work every day towards what and who you want to be.
Getting to Know Our Community Partners
Where did you graduate from?
I graduated from Christ Church Episcopal School in Greenville, SC.
Who was your favorite teacher?
Mrs. Tate in the fourth grade: she inspired me to love math.
Was there a coach in high school who made a lasting impression on you?
Mr. Cooper was our tennis coach in school.
He fulfilled all of the roles for us: teacher, coach and counselor. He later became an Episcopal priest.
Who were your role models growing up, and how did they influence you?
Paul Scarpa my tennis
coach, Pete Cooper our high school coach, and my father, Charles W Cox. Each instilled a sense of discipline- if you want to achieve a goal you need to apply yourself. Practice is not a game, it is hard work.
Prepare yourself for your future, save your pennies and practice becoming who you want to be.
What is the most valuable piece of advice you received during your formative years?
Without laws there is no civilization. We should respect our parents, our teachers and the law. Cannot tell you how many whippings we received until we finally understood that we need to behave, present ourselves in an appropriate manner and listen to our superiors.
What is your overall favorite memory from school?
My favorite memory is of Mr. Cooper, who taught 7th grade English. He drew a square on the board and stated this is “A Lot”. A lot measures an acre. It is not a description of how much you have eaten, won, or accomplished. That lesson really resonated with me.
What is your most memorable moment from participating in high school athletics?
We traveled throughout the southeast playing tennis matches against quite a few schools- McCallie, Baylor, Episcopal, Woodberry Forest and others. Our trips extended for weeks at times and we truly built some incredible friendships.
In what ways did your experiences in high school and college help shape your professional path?
High School defined who, and what, we were going to be later in life. My family had moved from New Jersey to South Carolina when I was 10 years old. It was 1968 and to those that lived in Greenville we were complete outsiders. So you could say that we were definitely not with the “in” crowd.
Nothing was ever easy for me in high school. We had to take Latin for 2 years and truly struggled with it, but that class has provided a great foundation for understanding not only the English language but foreign languages as well. College was also very difficult- taking me 5.5 years to complete a Chemical Engineering Degree- all while playing tennis for Georgia Tech. The work I completed there taught me to never give up on my goals in life and helped me learn how to manage and prioritize my time.
You’ve made a significant impact on students nationwide, including those in the EVSC. How has your involvement in the community shaped both your personal and professional journey?
Our community represents who we are. Our roads, bridges, schools, and parks are representations of the people in our community. Each of us should work each day to improve the lives of those around us, assisting those that are less fortunate and building a foundation for the future.
We, as adults, are examples for our children. At work, we are examples for those that are kind enough to work with us. There is a huge responsibility incumbent upon us to lead in a manner where people will want to join in the work that God has assigned to each of us.
Committed to Supporting Our Community
The Cox Group is an incredible partner for our EVSC community and frequently supports schools through our Adopt-A-School program by stuffing backpacks with school supplies for students!
Despite being a nationwide company, they prioritize investing directly in our local community to ensure our students thrive!
