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 a 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 ( in which 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 . Johnson had also been the first businessman who pushed to have the Confederate flag removed from the state house in Columbia
Orangeburg massacre
Orangeburg massacre
William "Hootie" Johnson