Former Augusta head 'Hootie' Johnson passed away

[Mule56]

William Woodward Johnson (Hootie), the South Carolina banker who as chairman of Augusta National stood his ground against inviting female members, has passed away at 86. http://www.golfchannel.com/news/doug...ohnson-dies-86

[nearace]

Just heard, rip hootie.

[RCCHGA]

Just heard, rip hootie.

RIP not appropriate, given his checkered background!

[Gridiron]

RIP not appropriate, given his checkered background!

I'm sorry...what? His checkered past? As president of Augusta he is the representative of the membership, not making decisions on his own.

Is it this that you take issue with:
"Johnson was a key figure in integrating higher education in South Carolina in 1968, getting the state to pay for an undergraduate business program at South Carolina State, which then was attended only by blacks."

Or this:
"He later invited South Carolina State president M. Maceo Nance to serve on the board at Bankers Trust, the first black man appointed to a bank board in the state."

I could see "RIP not appropriate" if we were talking Hitler or bin Laden but the former president of Augusta?

[Zebb]

Hootie also opposed flying the Confederate Flag at the SC Legislature and was one of the first high profile people to do so.

Its been intimated that ANGC was getting ready to admit women members and Martha Burke set the process back by years.

[4wedges]

R.I.P. Hootie

[Pimento Cheese]

I'm sorry...what? His checkered past? As president of Augusta he is the representative of the membership, not making decisions on his own.

Is it this that you take issue with:
"Johnson was a key figure in integrating higher education in South Carolina in 1968, getting the state to pay for an undergraduate business program at South Carolina State, which then was attended only by blacks."

Or this:
"He later invited South Carolina State president M. Maceo Nance to serve on the board at Bankers Trust, the first black man appointed to a bank board in the state."

I could see "RIP not appropriate" if we were talking Hitler or bin Laden but the former president of Augusta?

Johnson was also the person who nominated Darla Moore to be one of the first two female members of the club. Even if one is determined to hold Johnson accountable for the will of the membership in 2002, the nomination of Moore by Johnson was a significant gesture.

For the life of me, I can't understand the "RIP not appropriate" and "checkered past" comments. Either the poster made the most superficial of assessments or there is a "checkered past" that I'm unaware of.

[RCCHGA]

11 X 3. Perhaps he repented all of that. If so, I am not aware..