Clemson Libraries has planted a memorial garden at the Library Depot in Pendleton in memory of Wade Culler, e-resources manager who retired from the University in October 2024. Culler passed away December 3, 2024, at the age of 60.
Culler was known for his green thumb and love of gardening, so planting a garden was a fitting tribute to his memory, said Ariel Turner, associate dean of collections and discovery. Culler’s family was present for the planting and dedication of the garden, which includes plants from Culler’s own garden.
Culler came to Clemson Libraries in 2003 as a library technical assistant. He worked his way up over the years, eventually being promoted to e-resources manager. His role involved negotiating contracts and pricing for the many electronic resources Clemson Libraries has in its collections, including navigating the complexities of streaming media resources, to ensure that Clemson faculty and staff have access to the resources they need for their research and scholarship. He was named Libraries Employee of the Year in 2009.
Culler receiving the 2009 Employee of the Year Award from then Dean Kay Wall
“He had a gift for thinking of others and brightening the day of everyone around him, and did so every day he was in the office. We are so honored to have had the opportunity to work with Wade,” said Turner.
During his career at Clemson, Culler served on the Staff Senate and in 2014, he graduated from the Staff Development Program, which was the predecessor to the CU Grow program. He later served on the Staff Development Program steering committee, helping to ensure that other staff members had the same opportunities for professional development that he did.
Culler graduated from Western Carolina University with degrees in Spanish and French, minoring in German and English.
In his free time, he volunteered with Meals on Wheels, the Board of Elections, the Pendleton Historic Society and the Pendleton City Property Planning Commission. He was named Volunteer of the Year for City Park in Pendleton in 2015.
Read Culler’s full obituary here.