Since then, Mayor Roberts has been successful in improving the quality of life for residents in Anderson. More particularly, African-Americans there are confident that someone has their best interest in mind.

Roberts, a native of Anderson, is a proud graduate of Westside High School and Winthrop University in Rock Hill, SC, where he met his wife, Regina. With a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration, he moved back to the Upstate, this time residing in nearby Greenville.

In 1988, an opportunity became available for him to become an independent contractor with State Farm. In July, he and his wife moved back to Anderson just thirty days before their first daughter was to be born. He could have never imagined how the roots he had planted so many years before would someday produce fruit so sweet.

After moving back, Roberts began to work diligently. He attributes a strong work ethic to morals instilled in him through his parents and generations before his time. He was taught to be a regular, active part of the community. Both of his parents were very educated and he always observed them reaching out to families in the area to improve their quality of life.

He has served as former chairman of the Anderson Chamber of Commerce and former chairman of the Anderson YMCA. He was the only African-American on both committees. Additionally, he was the former chairman for New Foundation Children and Family Services, a non-profit organization, and former chairman of the Montessori School in Anderson.

Currently he is working again on the Anderson Chamber of Commerce, Salvation Army, Anderson Development Partnership and School District Five Business and Industry boards. Explaining his reason for involvement, he refers to a passage in a Vernon Jordan book that says, "If you are not at the table, then you are not representing." His attendance of meetings ensures that the minority population will be represented.

Mayor Roberts' vision for the city of Anderson in 2007 is to continue to carry out plans that ensure growth, production and development such as that seen in surrounding cities. His current initiative, Imagine Anderson, focuses on the future for the city in the year 2026. Of these efforts he says, "Dream at first; then plan it."

As for his new honor of "Unsung Hero," Roberts uses one of his mother's favorite quotes by Abraham Lincoln when he says, "It's surprising what you can get accomplished if you don't care who gets the credit." For Mayor Terrance Roberts, the pride and prestige of doing the job is simply enough.