Installation of Larry Doby and Bernard Baruch Statues in Camden

A unique act of racial and religious reconciliation will occur in Camden, South Carolina on March 29th as statues of Camden native sons Larry Doby, the first African American to integrate the American Baseball League in 1947, and financier Bernard Baruch, of Jewish ancestry and an adviser to US Presidents Wilson through Kennedy, will be unveiled.

The dedication will take place at 2:30pm on a main square provided by the City of Camden at Broad and Dekalb Streets on the front lawn of the Camden Archives and Museum.

Participants in the unveiling ceremony will include U. S. Senator Tim Scott, Baseball Hall of Famer Jim Rice – a native of Anderson, SC – who will pay tribute to Larry Doby, philanthropist Darla Moore – a native of Lake City, SC – who will pay tribute to Bernard Baruch, Camden Mayor Tony Scully, and attorney John S. Rainey, originator of the project , who will speak on the theme of reconciliation.

Rainey is the descendent of two Confederate soldiers and a signer of the Ordinance of Secession. Mrs. Anne Edens Rainey is the descendent of Lt. Wade Hampton Gibbes, CSA, who fired the first shot at Fort Sumter in Charleston harbor to begin the American Civil War. The sculptures were created by Maria Kirby-Smith of Camden, a descendent of Lieutenant General Edmund Kirby-Smith, CSA, who was the last Confederate officer to surrender to Union forces in Texas in June,1865.

A string and brass ensemble will perform a medley of the Battle Hymn of the Republic, Dixie and We Shall Overcome to conclude the ceremony.

Baruch’s statue will be featured sitting on a park bench at the edge of a baseball diamond with his autobiography in hand,”My Own Story”.  Doby’s statue will stand just behind home plate, autographing a baseball to Baruch. Each is extending to the other his life’s story across the expanse of time, race, and religion. They appear to be in conversation.

The overarching theme of the installation is Reconciliation.

“I wanted to do this project to express our heart- felt gratitude for how far we have come as a state and nation, but with concern for how far we still have to go. By creating this special place to honor two lives that contributed greatly to our nation, we will recognize that we are one people inextricably bound together by our shared history and common destiny. We know we have not come as far as we should or as far as we can or as far as we must to achieve reconciliation. But why not now in this place–South Carolina’s oldest inland city– and at this time? Waiting can no longer be an option,” Rainey said.

SCETV will edit the program for later broadcast and offer the footage to PBS’s National News Hour for telecast and web.