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Hall of Fame Auctioneer Has Caused "Fights," Seen Families Heal in 40-Year Career

Chris Pracht (right) during his 2017 induction into the National Auctioneers Association Hall  of Fame.
Courtesy of the National Auctioneers Association

Nationally-known auctioneer Chris Pracht of Anderson has run auctions in more than 30 states and three countries over his four-decade career.  His reputation among his peers is such that he was elected to the National Auctioneer’s Association Hall of Fame, one of only four South Carolinians to achieve the honor in the Association’s long history.

Selling estate items as well as land, Pracht feels that he’s helping people move on with their lives to start a new chapter after loved ones pass on or they develop new interests or their needs change.  He has started fights – bidding wars, actually, that benefit his clients – and seen healing at estate sales, sometimes between siblings who haven’t spoken in years. 

It's always interesting, Pracht says, noting that people are always interested in the “chant” of the auctioneer.  He gives the listener a sample, but emphasizes that the purpose of the fast talk is to move a lot of property in a short time, not to confuse people.  He’s always gratified, he says, when people tell him they come to his auctions specifically because they can understand what he’s saying.

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The South Carolina Business Review is a production of South Carolina Public Radio.

Tut Underwood is producer of South Carolina Focus, a weekly news feature. A native of Alabama, Tut graduated from Auburn University with a BA in Speech Communication. He worked in radio in his hometown before moving to Columbia where he received a Master of Mass Communications degree from the University of South Carolina, and worked for local radio while pursuing his degree. He also worked in television. He was employed as a public information specialist for USC, and became Director of Public Information and Marketing for the South Carolina State Museum. His hobbies include reading, listening to music in a variety of styles and collecting movies and old time radio programs.