Free Republic

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...

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...