Elwin Wilson Dies: Former KKK Supporter Dies At 76

Elwin Wilson, a reformed KKK supporter has died. He was 76. Wilson publicly apologized for his actions of violent racism including the beating of a black Freedom Rider who later became a Georgia congressman.

The apologetic Wilson died on Thursday in South Carolina after battling years of heart and lung problems and a recent bout with the flu. His wife, Judy Wilson told the Associated Press that her husband was grateful to have lived a long enough life to make amends for his wrongful racist actions.

He detailed his deeds at length when he called The Herald of Rock Hill to apologize shortly after President Barack Obama's inauguration in 2009.

"He said he had it on his heart for a long time," Judy Wilson said. "He said he wished he could find the ones he mistreated and apologize to them all."

The acts of hatred he discussed were heinous including, cross burnings, hanging a black doll on a noose at the end of his driveway, hurling cantaloupes at black men walking down Main Street, hurling a jack handle at a black boy jostling the soda machine in his father's service station and the brutal beating of U.S. Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., at a Rock Hill bus station in 1961.

Wilson apologized and expressed his remorse for his hateful and disgusting actions.

"All I can say is that it has bothered me for years, all the bad stuff I've done," he said. "And I found out there is no way I could be saved and get to heaven and still not like blacks."

Representative John Lewis, who suffered his beating, finds Wilson's story of remorse important and special.

"He was the first private citizen," Lewis said. "He was the very, very first to come and apologize to me ... for a private citizen to come along and say, 'I'm the one that attacked you; I'm the one who beat you.' It was very meaningful."

Wilson and Lewis were connected through the ability of forgiveness and change. In 2009, Lewis and Wilson accepted the Common Ground Award for Reconciliation at the Canadian embassy in Washington, D.C.

The two also told their story to Oprah Winfrey and millions of viewers in an emotional and moving segment.