Country Club Reviews Policy Banning Blacks

The country club in Columbia, La., which refused to let a black high school golfer play in a tournament last week will hold a special meeting to reconsider its policy of banning blacks.

“The policy itself will be reviewed with the membership,” said Caldwell Parish Country Club president Iley Evans, who also is an assistant district attorney.

Evans said the 20-year-old club’s eight-member board voted unanimously to call a special meeting to reconsider the policy that keeps black golfers off the club’s private course.

The meeting’s date has not been set.

The policy drew national attention when St. Frederick High School’s golf team withdrew from a three-school match last Wednesday because senior Dondre Green was told he couldn’t play.

John McKeithen, former governor of Louisiana, resigned from the country club Friday. His son and daughter, Secretary of State Fox McKeithen and Melissa McKeithen Cummings, and their families also have threatened to resign unless the policy is revoked.

They said they were unaware of the club’s policy against blacks.

McKeithen invited Green, his parents, coach and teammates to his Baton Rouge office today to present an official proclamation and apology to Green, and to commend the white team members for refusing to play. Gov. Buddy Roemer will issue a proclamation declaring today “Dondre Green Day.”