FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Sharon Stone

COLUMBIA, S.C. (September 30, 2026) — South Carolina REALTORS® (SCR) awarded its Distinguished Service Award to Realtor® Jay Rinehart, Broker/Owner of Rinehart Realty. The award was given during the association’s legal conference, Business Unusual, at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center in Columbia.

The Distinguished Service Award recognizes Realtor® members and executive officers who have gone above and beyond exemplary service. Award recipients are those who have made outstanding and ongoing voluntary commitments to SCR.

Jay Rinehart is a Realtor® having served the industry for many years as broker/owner of Rinehart Realty in Rock Hill, South Carolina, and is a dedicated member of his local association, Piedmont Regional Association of REALTORS®, SCR, and the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR).

Rinehart has held numerous leadership positions and contributed to a wide range of SCR committees and initiatives. His service includes 19 years on the SCR Board of Directors from 2006-2024, 17 years of involvement with the Political Action Committee from 2006-2024, and leadership roles with the Standard Forms, Budget and Finance, Legislative, Quality of Life, State and Local Fiscal Affairs, Professional Standards and Legal Action committees, among others.

His contributions to SCR have also been recognized through several of the association’s highest honors. Rinehart was named SCR REALTOR® of the Year in 2015 and was inducted into the SC RPAC Trustees Hall of Fame in 2025. He also received the Omega Tau Rho Award in 2021 and is a graduate of Leadership SCR’s Class of 2004.

Rinehart’s service extends to the national level through NAR. He served as Region 4 Regional Vice President in 2020 and chaired the NAR CEO Search Committee in 2023. His national service has included the NAR Board of Directors, Legal Action Committee, Federal Taxation Committee, RPAC leadership and numerous workgroups and advisory groups. He has also served as a Federal Political Coordinator and as South Carolina’s RPAC Major Donor Liaison.

His commitment to the Realtor® organization has been matched by a longstanding record of community service. Rinehart has served on the boards of numerous civic, charitable and educational organizations, including the York County Regional Chamber of Commerce, York County Community Foundation, Winthrop University Eagle Club, City Club of Rock Hill and Rock Hill School District Foundation. He also served as vice chairman and chairman of the Baptist Foundation of South Carolina and has been involved with Westminster Ministries Foundation and United International Ministries.

Rinehart’s community involvement also includes service through First Baptist Church, Habitat for Humanity of York County, Cultural & Heritage Museums and other organizations. He served as a closing attorney and state counsel for Habitat for Humanity of York County and chaired the Cultural & Heritage Museums Gala Committee in 2008.

In addition to his association leadership and community service, Rinehart has continued to contribute to housing and civic issues. In 2025, he founded York County NOAH (Naturally Occurring Affordable Housing), furthering his involvement in housing-related initiatives.

“Jay Rinehart’s service is an example of what it means to be a Realtor® leader,” said SCR President Corwyn Melette. “His commitment has spanned generations of Realtor® leadership, from his local association to SCR and NAR, while his community service demonstrates that his dedication extends well beyond the real estate industry. This award recognizes not just the number of years Jay has served, but the lasting impact of that service.”

Photo credit: Carl Kerridge Photography

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South Carolina REALTORS® (SCR), the largest professional trade association in the state, serves as the voice of real estate for more than 29,000 members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries. REALTOR® is a registered trademark that identifies a professional in real estate who subscribes to a strict code of ethics as a member of SCR and the National Association of REALTORS®.