Other History
Johnson was a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives during 1957 and 1958. He also was a trustee of historically black Benedict College. Johnson served as former board member of the National Urban League; served as co-chairman of committee that developed plan to desegregate universities in South Carolina, and in 1975, received the Outstanding Citizen Award from B'nai B'rith. He had supported African-Americans for public office. As a banker, he had appointed African-Americans and women to his corporate boards. He made loans to minorities. Following the 1968 Orangeburg Massacre (when three South Carolina State University students were killed by state troopers while participating in civil rights protests) Johnson had worked on a desegregation plan for the state's colleges and universities. And Johnson had also been the first businessman who pushed to have the Confederate flag removed from the state house in Columbia.
Johnson has also served as chairman of the South Carolina State Ports Authority, chairman of the South Carolina Research Authority, and trustee of the University of South Carolina Business Partnership Foundation.
Read more about this topic: William "Hootie" Johnson
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