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No one, I think, would ever have denied that Maurice Bessinger was a man of faith. And he wasn’t particularly a “still, small voice” man either; he wanted everybody in earshot to know that slavery had been God’s will, that desegregation was Satan’s work, and the federal government was the Antichrist. God wanted only whites to eat at Bessinger’s six Piggie Park barbecue joints; so His servant Maurice took that fight all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, which in 1968 decided that his religious freedom argument was “patently frivolous.” Until the day he died, however, Bessinger insisted that...

COLUMBIA, SC — Maurice Bessinger, who was as famous for his barbecue shops and sauces as he was for his diehard segregation stands, has died at 83. A Korean war veteran, a gentlemanly demeanor, a businessman who grew a restaurant business that employed 200 employees, a devout Baptist who supported missionaries abroad, Bessinger in many ways had a background as American as the finger-licking tasty Southern food his establishments were known for. "I'm just a fair man. I want to be known as a hard-working, Christian man that loves God and wants to further (God's) work throughout the world as...

COLUMBIA, S.C. --Outspoken barbecue baron Maurice Bessinger - known as much for his support of the Confederate flag as his food- is providing some variety for his customers, but this change has nothing to do with his famous mustard-based sauce. At about half of his dozen restaurants, Bessinger has replaced the better-known Confederate battle flag with its red background, blue cross and white stars with the less recognized and perhaps less controversial first flag of the Confederacy - a banner with two red stripes, a white stripe and a blue square with a circle of white stars. The new flag,...

Background Maurice Bessinger, owner of the popular (and excellent!) chain of BBQ restaurants in the South Carolina midlands, once flew the largest American flag in the Columbia area. On Tuesday (August 22, 2000), however, he took it down and replaced it with the South Carolina state and Confederate Battle flags. The State newspaper and other local media, who all despise the Confederate flag, have been extremely critical, making this out to be a racist issue, with Maurice as the racist. They apparently didn't read Maurice's press release (see below) or ask Maurice why he did it. Actually, we are sure...

Judge drops one suit brought by Bessinger Federal ruling gives grocers right not to stock his sauce By CLIF LeBLANC Staff Writer Barbecue king Maurice Bessinger’s lawsuit against grocery chains that pulled his sauce from their shelves because of his views on race and religion took a hit Monday, but he vows to continue the fight. Bessinger’s suit against four of the nine chains was dismissed by Chief U.S. District Judge Joe Anderson. Most of the five remaining suits are in state courts. Bessinger contends the chains unfairly removed bottles of his mustard-based barbecue sauce because he flies the Confederate...

WEST COLUMBIA, S.C. — Inside his conference room at Piggie Park headquarters, beneath the faded portraits of Confederate generals, South Carolina's deposed barbecue king is in no mood for reconciliation. Maurice Bessinger, 72 and unbowed, leans forward in his yellow Maurice's BBQ shirt and calls the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) a "terrorist group." He says there is evidence that slaves enjoyed life in the South. He makes very clear that, in his mind, white Southerners were the best friends blacks have had — the best friends, he says, "in the history of the world." A...

SCANA officials are clarifying their position on the Confederate flag, even as Maurice Bessinger fires another volley against the company's policies. A press released issued by SCANA Wednesday says the company has never banned the Confederate flag, or issued a ruling telling employees not to eat at certain restaurants. CEO Bill Timmerman says the company's Code of Conduct tries to prevent divisive symbols which may harass other employees. Timmerman says as long as it's meant as heritage it would be okay for an employee to display a Confederate emblem while at work. He also says employees can eat at Maurice...

Sen. Glenn McConnell wants Legislature to punish the company By JOHN MONK Staff Writer SCANA's flag policy draws fire The complete, unedited text of Sen. Glenn McConnell's letter is on Page B2. Angered by SCANA's new policy prohibiting employees from displaying Confederate flag bumper stickers in company parking lots, South Carolina's top state senator said Friday he wants to strip the company of state contracts and allow other utilities to compete with it. Sen. Glenn McConnell, R-Charleston, the Senate president pro tem, said he would propose legislation to do so - if the company does not reverse course. "People around...

Posted on Thu, Aug. 15, 2002 Scana bans Confederate flag from company property COLUMBIA, S.C. - Scana Corp. employees have been told to keep Confederate flag paraphernalia off company property. South Carolina's largest utility also has ordered employees not to drive company vehicles to Maurice Bessinger's barbecue restaurants, The (Columbia) State reported Thursday. Bessinger has been an outspoken Confederate flag supporter. "Both the flag and Maurice Bessinger are divisive issues," said Scana spokeswoman Cathy Love. "For us to continue to be successful, we must have healthy, collaborative relationships with customers and co-workers. Divisive activities that disrupt harmony in the workplace...