Immediate Past Governor Jon Hethcox

Jonathan “Jon” Hethcox served as the 101st Governor of the Carolinas District during the 2019–2020 Kiwanis year and was re-elected in August 2025 to serve a second term as Governor. A member of the Kiwanis Club of Columbia, South Carolina, since 2005, he has served four terms as Club President, two terms as Distinguished Lt. Governor, and as District Trustee. He is both a Walter Zeller Fellow and a George F. Hixon Fellow.

Jon’s Kiwanis-family journey began as a Key Club member at Cardinal Gibbons High School and continued at Flagler College, where he served Circle K International (CKI) as Lt. Governor, Governor, and International Trustee. He later served as District Administrator for the Distinguished Carolinas District of CKI.

A tradition of service runs deep in Jon’s family. Following the example of his father and grandfathers—all Army veterans—Jon carries that spirit forward as a third-generation Eagle Scout. He continues to give back to Scouting and his community, serving as Assistant Scoutmaster and Treasurer for Troop 9425. Jon is a graduate of the Leadership Columbia Class of 2018, holds a BA in History from Flagler College, and completed graduate coursework at The George Washington University’s Graduate School of Political Management.

Jon met his wife, Jennifer—a veteran teacher, former Kiwanis District Trustee, and eight-time Distinguished District Administrator for Carolinas CKI—at Kiwanis International headquarters during CKI Governor training in 1999. They have two daughters: Caroline, a past Key Club President and Lt. Governor, and Lillian, the current Key Club President at River Bluff High School. The family resides in Lexington, SC and attends Shandon United Methodist Church.

In addition to his Kiwanis roles, Jon has served as District Administrator for the Distinguished Carolinas District of Circle K International (CKI), Kiwanis’ collegiate service organization. His involvement with the Kiwanis family spans over twenty years, beginning as a Key Club member at Cardinal Gibbons High School and continuing at Flagler College in St. Augustine, Florida, where he was an active CKI member. During his time with CKI, Jon served as Lt. Governor, Governor, and International Trustee.

Jon’s commitment to community service was instilled in him from a young age. As the grandson and son of Army veterans, he learned the value of putting others’ needs before his own. These values were further reinforced by his achievements as a third-generation Eagle Scout.

Beyond his Kiwanis involvement, Jon serves as an Assistant Scoutmaster and Troop Treasurer for
Scouting America Troop 425G. He has also been a Board Member for Communities in Schools of the Midlands and is a member of the Leadership Columbia Class of 2018. Jon has volunteered as a Lunch Buddy at Logan Elementary School for many years.

Born in Birmingham, Alabama, and raised in Alabama and South Florida, Jon holds a BA in History from Flagler College and has completed graduate coursework at The George Washington University’s Graduate School of Political Management. He is married to Jennifer Hethcox, a veteran public-school teacher and digital learning coach. The couple, who met at Kiwanis International headquarters during their CKI Governor training, are a true Kiwanis family “love connection.” Jennifer also serves as a Kiwanis District Trustee and is the District Administrator for Carolinas CKI. They have two children, Caroline, a Key Club Lt. Governor and Lillian, a Key Club Secretary, and are members of Shandon United Methodist Church, where they have served as Co-Presidents of the Foundation Sunday School class.