William Michael Haley (born February 7, 1970)[1] is an American businessman and commissioned officer in the South Carolina Army National Guard who served as the first gentleman of South Carolina from 2011 to 2017. He was the first to hold the position. He is currently serving an active duty deployment as a staff officer with the 218th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade in the Horn of Africa. Haley is the husband of Nikki Haley, a former governor of South Carolina, ambassador of the US to the United Nations, and candidate for President of the United States in the 2024 Republican Party primaries.
Michael Haley | |
|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) Haley in 2013 | |
| First Gentleman of South Carolina | |
| In role January 12, 2011 – January 24, 2017 | |
| Governor | Nikki Haley |
| Preceded by | Jenny Sanford (First Lady) |
| Succeeded by | Peggy McMaster (First Lady) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | February 7, 1970 |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Anderson University University of North Carolina, Charlotte (BBA) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch/service | United States Army |
| Rank | Major |
| Unit | South Carolina Army National Guard |
| Battles/wars | War in Afghanistan |
Early life
editOriginally from Ohio, Haley entered a foster home when he was two and was adopted by Bill and Carole Haley when he was four. [2] His new father was a director of a steel-manufacturing plant, and his new mother taught school. [3] He is a graduate of Hilton Head Preparatory School[4] and was an undergraduate at Anderson University[5] before graduating from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte with a degree in business administration.[6][7]
Haley was known as William or Bill until 1989 when he met his future wife, who started calling him by his middle name, Michael.[8]
Career
editHaley worked at Exotica International, an upscale men's and women's clothing store owned by his mother-in-law. He worked for eight years as a federal technician in various positions in human resources with the South Carolina Army National Guard.
He spends his time as an investor and partner in several companies and is a member of several boards and advisory boards.[6][7][9]
On July 31, 2022, an investigation by The Wall Street Journal found that Michael Haley and John Clyburn, brother of U.S. Representative of South Carolina Jim Clyburn, were given shares in a business profiting from the newly approved Catawba Two Kings Casino. The business, Kings Mountain Equipment Supply, leased slot machines to the casino, thereby financially benefitting Haley.[10] Haley denied accusations of political kickbacks, saying his business consulted on physical and cybersecurity projects for the Catawba Casino project and was paid with a stake in the business.[11]
Military service
editHaley is an officer with the South Carolina Army National Guard and specializes in security cooperation.[12]
| External videos | |
|---|---|
 Departure ceremony for the South Carolina Army National Guard prior to deployment to the U.S. Africa Command, June 17, 2023, C-SPAN |
In January 2012, Haley was deployed on a six-month tour of duty in Afghanistan as a captain in the South Carolina Army National Guard.[7][13][14] The unit served in Helmand Province as an agribusiness development team helping Afghan farmers improve farming techniques and develop cash crops to replace opium poppies.[15] Haley served as a liaison between the military and civilian authorities.[16] He is thought to have been the first spouse of a governor to serve on active duty in a war zone.[7][17]
Marines serving with Haley in Helmand Province nicknamed him FGOSC (First Gentleman of South Carolina).[18]
First Gentleman of South Carolina
editSince Haley is the first person to become first gentleman of South Carolina, and because there have only been fifteen first gentlemen in U.S. history, including the five men in that role as of 2015,[19] there was speculation about what his role would be.[14][20] Haley chaired the foundation that oversees the preservation and management of the South Carolina Governor's Mansion in Columbia.[19][20]
Stand for America
editHaley is listed as president of Stand for America, a policy and media organization that Nikki Haley started after leaving her position as UN ambassador. Internal Revenue Service paperwork from 2019 indicates that Michael Haley worked 40 hours per week at the New York-based organization and received no compensation.[21]
Personal life
editHaley and Nimarata Nikki Randhawa met in 1989 while he was attending Anderson University and she was attending nearby Clemson University.[5] They were married in 1996 in two ceremonies, a Sikh ceremony and a wedding at St. Andrew's-by-the-Sea, the Methodist church in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, where Haley's parents, Carole and Bill Haley, reside.[4][22][3]
Michael and Nikki Haley have two children: Rena was born in 1998, followed by Nalin in 2001. [23]
References
edit- ^ Haley, Nikki [@NikkiHaley] (February 7, 2022). "Happy Birthday to the best husband ..." (Tweet) – via Twitter.
McLeod, Harriet (July 30, 2012). "South Carolina's first gent deploying to Afghanistan". Reuters. Retrieved January 20, 2024.Michael Haley, 42 ...
- ^ Haley, Nikki (April 3, 2012). Can't Is Not an Option: My American Story. Penguin. ISBN 978-1-101-56886-6.
- ^ a b Dawsey, Josh (June 19, 2010). "Nikki Haley's Hilton Head in-laws have been helping since campaign's onset". McClatchy–Tribune Business News.
- ^ a b Lauderdale, /david (April 23, 2013). "Governor mixes business, pleasure at Heritage". The Island Packet. Archived from the original on January 27, 2016. Retrieved January 18, 2016.
- ^ a b Burack, Emily (June 13, 2023). "Who is Michael Haley, Nikki Haley's Husband?". Town & Country Magazine. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
- ^ a b Jennings, Natalie (January 10, 2013). "Nikki Haley's husband departs for Afghan mission". Washington Post. AP.
- ^ a b c d Wilkinson, Jeff (July 30, 2012). "First gentleman Michael Haley to serve with Guard in Afghanistan". Spartanburg Herald–Journal.
- ^ "55 Things You Need to Know About Nikki Haley". Politico. February 14, 2023. Archived from the original on June 7, 2023.
- ^ "Haley's Comet". The Economist. January 16, 2016.
- ^ Guion, Payton (December 7, 2022). "Catawba Two Kings Casino violates US law, federal investigation finds". Charlotte Observer. Retrieved January 18, 2023.
- ^ Maremont, Mark (July 31, 2022). "Slice of Profits From North Carolina Casino Goes to Relatives of Politicians". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
- ^ "Haley, Chosen to Rebut Obama's State of Union Speech, Is Rising Republican Star". Voice of America. January 12, 2016. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
- ^ Lowe, Rachael (May 8, 2015). "May proclaimed 'Month of the Military Spouse'". The State. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
- ^ a b Beam, Adam (May 23, 2013). "EXCLUSIVE Michael Haley: No better way to represent S.C. than in the Guard". The State. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
- ^ Schafer, Susanne (January 10, 2013). "S.C. Gov. Haley's husband deploys with Guard". Army Times. AP. Retrieved January 18, 2016.
- ^ Low, Kristen (July 31, 2012). "First Gentleman of South Carolina, husband of Nikki Haley, to ship out to Afghanistan". New York Daily News. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
- ^ Singh, Simran (November 12, 2010). "We live the American Dream". India Abroad.
- ^ Beam, Adam (December 10, 2013). "Michael Haley: No better way to represent S.C. than in the Guard". The State.
- ^ a b Thompson, Krissah (April 24, 2015). "What happens when a man takes over role of first lady?". News Journal. Washington Post. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
- ^ a b Funderburg, Greg (November 3, 2010). "What Will SC's First, First Gentleman Do?". Fox News. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
- ^ "Form 990 (2019)". Nonprofit Explorer. ProPublica. May 9, 2013. Retrieved November 2, 2021.
- ^ Dewan, Shaila (June 13, 2010). "All Her Life, Nikki Haley Was the Different One". New York Times. Retrieved January 18, 2016.
- ^ Amato, Laura (February 18, 2016). "Nikki Haley's Family: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know". Heavy.com. Archived from the original on December 6, 2016. Retrieved January 27, 2017.