Les is married to Elizabeth (Beth) Cousins Hipp and has three stepchildren; William Binnicker, Summers Binnicker and Cullen Binnicker. Les graduated Newberry High School in 1969 and obtained a BS in Mechanical Engineering from The University of South Carolina. Les is a member of Ebenezer Methodist Church.
Les spent his entire career at the VC Summer Nuclear Station. During his career there he managed Materials and Procurement where he was responsible for all procurement engineering and warehousing of a 34-million-dollar inventory supporting the plant.
After completing the Senior Reactor Operator Certification course, he assumed the job of Manager of Nuclear Protection Services. This included responsibilities for Nuclear Security, Industrial Safety, Plant Facilities and The Emergency Response Organization. Les completed his career at VC Summer in 2014 having retired after 40 years of service. Les was elected to Newberry County Council in 2008 where he served two terms and returned again to County Council in 2021. He has served as Chairman of the Economic Development Committee and as a member of the Finance Committee. He graduated from the SC Economic Development Institute in 2014. And he served on the Board of Directors of the Central Midlands Council of Government during his first term on Council. Les has served his community on the Newberry County Board of Zoning Appeals and the City of Newberry Planning Commission.
Les is a past President of the Newberry County Historical and Museum Society. He and others reestablished The Philemon Waters Chapter of the Sons of The American Revolution (SAR) and he served as its first President. Les has served as President of the Newberry Jaycees and was a member of the Newberry Rotary Club. Les was selected for the inaugural class of the South Carolina FBI Citizens Academy.
Les currently serves on the Boards of Directors of the Living Water Foundation, Sistercare of The Midlands, the Newberry Museum and currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors of The Newberry Opera House Foundation. Les was selected as Newberry's 2020 Distinguished Citizen at the Friends of Scouting event held in January 2020 .