Dawson Rejoins “Whites Only” Country Club
Former SCGOP Chairman Katon Dawson has rejoined the “whites only” country club that he publicly bolted a year ago while running for chairman of the Republican National Committee (RNC), multiple sources at the club have told FITS.
Dawson resigned his membership at the Forest Lake Country Club last September – right around the time local media outlets were preparing to write a story about it. The issued dogged Dawson in the race for RNC Chairman, a contest he eventually lost to former Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael Steele in January.
At the time of his resignation from the club, Dawson publicly urged its leaders to rethink their policy of refusing to admit blacks – a position that he has obviously now rethought himself.
There is no written prohibition against black members in the Club’s by-laws, however the deed to the property on which it is located expressly forbids their membership.
Subsequent investigations by FITS revealed that S.C. Attorney General Henry McMaster – the current GOP gubernatorial front-runner – and Republican first Congressional District candidate Carroll A. Campbell III were also members.
Here are screen shots of McMaster’s and Campbell’s names appearing in the 2008 club directory.
FITS also uncovered Dawson and McMaster’s memberships in several other “whites only” social clubs.
Comments
By Mix It Up on December 22nd, 2009 at 10:42 am
Is it the policy that’s whites only or is it there has never been a person of color to be a member? That makes a difference. Racist people are all over South Carolina.
Having lived in several cities…in SC and across the US, it’s always interesting to me when someone all of a sudden thinks I must ‘think’ or ‘feel’ the way they do and they begin using the ‘N’ word around me. Disgraceful.
By John Fleming on December 22nd, 2009 at 10:57 am
My understanding is that their is no written policy. Somewhat like if I rushed Omega Psi Phi…while there is no written rule to not accept whites, it is very highly unlikely I would be admitted, and this is on a public campus, not a private club.
By peoplefromcharlestonwalkonwater? on December 22nd, 2009 at 12:17 pm
who really cares honestly? More important problems in the world i beleive
By Todd on December 22nd, 2009 at 12:53 pm
Katon did a great job with the SC GOP when it was under his watch. Look at it now! I know some of his employees and to the (wo)man, I have never heard of such support for an employer. Katon Dawson, for all of his faults, is not a racist.
By Ynot on December 22nd, 2009 at 12:55 pm
he never left.
By bo on December 22nd, 2009 at 1:40 pm
will,
why didnt you marry a black girl? ever “relate” with one?
By BIN News on December 22nd, 2009 at 1:53 pm
another sic(k) willie racist post to generate cheap hits.
what a pimp.
By Reginald on December 22nd, 2009 at 3:04 pm
“Dawson publicly urged its leaders to rethink their policy of refusing to admit blacks … ”
Did ya’ll apologists miss something? Dawson hisself acknoweldged the club’s racial and racist policy.
By Joe on December 22nd, 2009 at 4:36 pm
What about Columbia’s mayoral wannabe Kirkman “my dad was mayor” Finlay? Will he leave in time for the election?
By Cooter Brown on December 22nd, 2009 at 4:57 pm
Freedum ov association, folks!
Freedum caint garin-tee dat peoples will do lik ye think dey outta…
Yet, wee still shuld chooses th’ cause ov freedum ova slaverie an’ forced ’sociashun even if it iz sumetimes ugly!
By SnakeMD on December 22nd, 2009 at 5:32 pm
The late Terry Rosen, jazz musician, several years ago played a wedding gig at Forest Lake Country Club for a “prominent” Cola family and during a break he slipped into the dining room and fixed himself a plate of food. As he was eating at the corner table one of the member/guests told him that Jews were not allowed to eat in the front room. He snapped his band up in the middle of the party and left while the host sadly informed everyone that Mr. Rosen had taken ill and had to depart.
I believe a black General from Ft Jackson (name?) was asked to join awhile back but decided not to be the first token black. How about the former black rector of Trinity Episcopal? How come he never signed up since a lot of his flock knock ‘em back neat there. Go figure.
By ron on December 23rd, 2009 at 7:13 am
Well said Cooter!!
By Soft Sigh From Hell on December 23rd, 2009 at 12:58 pm
Somebody needs to double check this, but my recollection from news stories was that the FLCC gave an honorary membership to the each succeeding commandant at Ft. Jackson, and even relented on their bigotries when a Jewish general assumed command, but that they balked and halted the practice at the first black commandant.
By kyle on December 23rd, 2009 at 1:16 pm
what makes tumpy campbell’s membership in the all white country club even funnier is the address he listed, the all white–and all confederate political consulting firm of Richard Quinn and Associates.
By SnakeMD on December 23rd, 2009 at 6:29 pm
Well said Cooter? Can somebody email the deciphering code for his Table Rock-Gullah-Pellion dialect! A dialectician I’m not….
By Interloper on January 8th, 2010 at 5:41 pm
I am certain Katon Dawson never really quit that whites-only club, or any other.
And, for the record, African-American fraternities and sororities do have white members, particularly at schools such as North Carolina State, Howard and Morehouse.
By spudnick on January 12th, 2010 at 10:17 pm
SnakeMD: your stories are bullshit. The “black rector” of Trinity? I missed that. Name? dates?
By SnakeMD on January 13th, 2010 at 9:51 pm
To spudnick.
So, my stories are bull shit?
Trinity Episcopal Cathedral’s first African-American was Rev. Richard C. Britton, Jr. He came there in September of 1996 and left on June 20, 1999. Allison Askins of The State newspaper did several articles on him concerning race relations, especially between Columbia’s “power and prestige” church members and the black community. Rev. Britton even mentioned how uncomfortable he was while being served hors devours at Forest Lake by black employees in servant uniforms. He left for St Lukes Episcopal Church in downtown Atlanta. Why don’t you call him at 1-404-873-7600 and ask him directly how full of shit I am. God bless you my ignorant son!
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