Honor what you love: A family’s support for animals heals a tragic loss and promises to improve health for South Carolina

With gifts that remember a son, fulfill a wife’s dream and carry forward a four-generation Clemson legacy, Don Quattlebaum helps shape the future of veterinary medicine across the state.

When Don Quattlebaum ’76 and his now-late wife, Hayden, lost their 22-year-old son, Andy, they faced a grief deeper than words could ever express.

But from that loss, a legacy of healing and hope has emerged, growing and deepening at Clemson University.

“When you bury your parents, you bury the past; when you bury a spouse, you bury the present; and when you bury a child, you bury your future,” Don says now, six years later.

The Andy Quattlebaum and Blackwell Family Foundation was established by Don and Hayden to channel their heartache into meaningful action, supporting causes that were also Andy’s passions: animals, the outdoors, conservation, veterans and Clemson.

Today, Andy’s legacy and the Quattlebaum and Blackwell Family’s leadership are shaping not just the Clemson community but also the health and well-being of communities across South Carolina.

A hub for healing

The Quattlebaum family’s most recent gift to the University names the Quattlebaum Hub and Andy Quattlebaum Pavilion at the new Harvey S. Peeler Jr. College of Veterinary Medicine. The Hub will serve as the heart of Clemson’s new veterinary medicine program, providing a space for learning, collaboration and connection while preparing the next generation of veterinary professionals.

“South Carolina has a huge need for veterinarians of all types,” Don says from his Lowcountry home in Georgetown, South Carolina. “Until now, we’ve sent our brightest students to other states, with no guarantee they’ll return.

“This school will change that.”

In addition to the Quattlebaum Hub, the family has also supported the Andy Quattlebaum Outdoor Education Center on Clemson’s main campus as well as Andy’s Cottage at the Baruch Institute in Georgetown. The foundation has also made possible two veterinary medicine endowments, ensuring lasting support for faculty and programs.

Andy adored his yellow Labrador, Oak, and the family often sought care for Oak and their other pets at North Carolina State’s veterinary school. It was there that they met Dr. Steven Marks, who would later become founding dean of Clemson’s program. But those connections also contributed to Hayden’s dream of one day seeing a veterinary school come to Clemson.

Legacy that spans generations

The Quattlebaum family’s Clemson roots go back more than a century. Don’s grandfather, McQueen Quattlebaum, graduated in 1909. His father, Alexander McQueen Quattlebaum, was a 1934 graduate, professor of engineering and Clemson trustee. Now, Don is extending that legacy in a way that blends remembrance with purpose.

“My father was always proud of Clemson and believed in giving back. I think he would be very pleased with what we are doing.”

Don Quattlebaum

Andy represented the fourth generation of Quattlebaum Tigers, and Don fondly recalls the transformative years he spent at Clemson, especially during his time in the Bridge to Clemson program.

“He blossomed,” Don says. “When Andy came to Clemson, he made so many friends and loved his time here. It’s been six years, and still his friends gather at least once a year at my house to celebrate his life.”

Each time, Don says, he hears new stories.

“And that helps keep him alive in my memory. He loved his friends, his family and his animals.”

One of Don’s most cherished memories is a road trip with Andy to see the Tigers play Notre Dame in the 2018 Cotton Bowl. It was the last game they attended together, and the memories, he says now, were simply “priceless.”

“When we lost Andy, it seemed as though our life was over,” Don recalls.

But honoring him, and now Hayden, through philanthropy has given Don a strong sense of purpose, giving back to a place that has meant so much not only to him but also to his loved ones.

“We lost Andy six years ago, and I lost Hayden two years ago,” he says. “She knew that Clemson was working toward opening a vet school, and it was her desire to be a part of it. This follows through on her wishes.”

Building a healthier future for South Carolina

From classrooms near the coast to immersive learning spaces in the Upstate, the Quattlebaum legacy is creating new opportunities for Clemson students and communities across the state.

The Quattlebaum family experienced first-hand the impact students can have on animals’ well-being. Andy’s beloved dog, Oak, along with many of the family’s other animals, were treated at North Carolina State University’s veterinary school through the years, Don says, and it’s also where they first met Steven Marks, who would eventually become founding dean of Clemson’s new college of veterinary medicine.

Don says he hopes the first students who walk through the doors of the Quattlebaum Hub feel the weight of what they’re a part of.

“I am sure that the students at Clemson will have that same pride and love for the animals we saw in North Carolina, and I am hopeful that they will stay in the state after graduation,” Don says. “I hope that they will be awed by the fact that they are the start of something wonderful for the state of South Carolina, and they will be led to be the best they can be.”

A message for future students

To today’s Tigers, Don offers this advice: “Take electives that broaden you. Explore your passions. This is your chance to learn.”

And to the entire Clemson Family, he shares a message of hope, optimism and legacy: “We are building something meaningful — not just for Clemson but for South Carolina. It’s a privilege to be a part of that.”