[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 108 (Tuesday, August 4, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1536]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   TRIBUTE TO W.W. ``HOOTIE'' JOHNSON

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JAMES E. CLYBURN

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, August 4, 1998

  Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Mr. W.W. 
``Hootie'' Johnson; a great American, an outstanding South Carolinian, 
and a good friend. Recently elected Chairman of the Augusta National 
Golf Club, ``Hootie'' Johnson has served his state and nation 
selflessly in various business, education, and civic sectors.
  Mr. Johnson's accomplishments in the business arena are legendary. He 
currently serves as Chairman of the Executive Committee of NationsBank 
Corporation, one of America's largest banks, and was a key player in 
the recent merger between NationsBank and Bank America. He was the 
original proponent of the merger between NCNB and Bankers Trust, and 
was once called the ``strategic father of NationsBank.'' Mr. Johnson is 
a member of the Board of Directors for Alltel Corporation, and Duke 
Energy Corporation. He has served as Chairman and member of The Liberty 
Corporation, and the South Carolina Ports Authority. He has also served 
on the board of the South Carolina Research Authority. A former 
governor of South Carolina, Robert E. McNair once said, ``I don't know 
anyone who has meant more to South Carolina and development than has 
W.W. `Hootie' Johnson.''
  Mr. Johnson has also played crucial roles in community affairs in the 
Palmetto State. He has never been content to just lending his name to 
various organizations and efforts. He has always been in the arena. In 
the early 1970s he appointed Dr. M. Maceo Nance, Jr. to the Board of 
Bankers Trust, the first African American to receive such an 
appointment in the State of South Carolina, or in the South. He is a 
former member of the Boards of the Columbia Urban League and the 
National Urban League. Former Executive Director of the Columbia Urban 
League, Elliott Franks once said, ``In those times, it would have been 
far more convenient to pay lip service, and concentrate on building his 
bank. It took a certain amount of courage for him to be on the front 
lines.''
  Mr. Johnson's service to South Carolina also extends to the education 
community. It was my great honor to serve on the Higher Education Blue 
Ribbon Committee appointed by former South Carolina Governor Richard W. 
Riley which was chaired by ``Hootie.'' It was in this setting that I 
got to witness first hand the extraordinary talents of this uncommon 
man. He is a member of the Board of Trustees of the University of South 
Carolina (USC) Business Partnership Foundation; the Hollings Cancer 
Center Advisory Council, Medical University of South Carolina; and 
Converse College. His influence was instrumental in the recent $25 
million gift from Darla Moore to the USC business school. He has 
received an Honorary Doctor of Humanities Degree from the Medical 
University of South Carolina, Charleston; an Honorary Doctor of Laws 
Degree from the University of South Carolina, Columbia; and an Honorary 
Doctor of Humanities Degree from Lander College in Greenwood.
  ``Hootie'' Johnson graduated from Greenwood High School where he 
established an outstanding athletic career in football. He matriculated 
at the University of South Carolina, where he won the state's Jacobs 
Blocking Trophy. His favorite pastime, however, has always been golf, a 
game to which he was introduced at an early age and has been integral 
part of his life ever since. ``Hootie'' became vice president of 
Augusta National in 1975 and forged close friendships with the past 
chairman Jackson Stephens and the first chairman, Clifford Roberts.
  Mr. Speaker, this new honor for my friend ``Hootie'' is a rare one. 
In its 67 years, only five people have ever held the Chairmanship of 
Augusta National. I ask you, and my colleagues to join me in honoring 
W.W. ``Hootie'' Johnson for his outstanding contributions to South 
Carolina in the areas of business, civic and educational activities, 
and in wishing him good health and great success in his new role as 
Chairman of the Augusta National Golf Club.

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