Bill Cotty — a South Carolina state senator who made waves as a Republican in his bid to remove the Confederate flag from the state capitol building — has died at the age of 69.
The New York native had served for 18 years as a representative and senator in the State House in Columbia.
According to his obituary, the lawyer and longtime National Guard member "led the floor fight" to get the symbol the slave-owning south banished from atop the capitol dome.
The flag was finally taken down a year ago after flying for a half-century below the American flag.
Cotty, survived by his wife of 47 years, Amelia, three children and seven grandchildren "was a true statesman," Democratic State Sen. Joel Lourie told
The State newspaper.
"He approached every issue with integrity and passion. He had a servant's heart and cared deeply about his community, serving with honor at both the local and state level ... We have lost a good man."
Last August, Cotty announced he would not seek reelection in order to focus on his family and building up his insurance consulting business.
He was first elected to the state House in 1998 and then the Senate in 2004.
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