COLUMBIA - John Graham Altman held court on the Statehouse floor for the final time, and he was as unrepentant as ever.

The politically incorrect Charleston Republican blasted newspaper editors, South Carolina public schools and illegal immigrants as he said goodbye after 10 years in the Legislature.

"We're part of Mexico's food chain," he warned, contending the state already is "being invaded by illegal aliens."

It was typical Altman, whose final days as a state representative were marked in extraordinary fashion. On Tuesday night, he flatly snubbed Gov. Mark Sanford by refusing to go to the Governor's Mansion to receive the Order of the Palmetto, the state's highest honor for public service. Altman's once-enthusiastic support of Sanford has waned since the governor took shots at Altman's Statehouse friends. It might be the first snub of its kind in state history.

He also continued his battle with the Charleston County School Board. The final bill of his career, which would put budgetary oversight in the hands of County Council, was introduced during a blur of last-minute action.

"John, what you got there?" asked Rep. Seth Whipper, D-North Charleston, smelling a rat. The bill had no chance of passing, following a familiar pattern: During the just-completed two-year legislative session, 25 of the 27 bills introduced by Altman didn't pass. But on Thursday that didn't faze Altman, who has sparked more verbal fires than any other lawmaker in the Statehouse in recent times.

His tough stances could lead to a second career. He's been contacted by several anti-immigration groups who saw him in nationally televised interviews talking about ways to discourage illegal immigrants from settling in South Carolina.

Then there's November's Charleston County school board race. Altman said he hasn't made up his mind on whether he'll be a candidate to fix, in his words, "our sorry school system."

Some colleagues don't expect it to happen, partially because of health concerns. Altman turns 72 next week and is a heavy smoker. His goodbye address was interrupted often by his coughing.

But those decisions are in the future. On Thursday, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, friend and foe, said Altman will be missed for the directions he took the debate.

"One of the last great orators is leaving the South Carolina House of Representatives," said Speaker Bobby Harrell, R-Charleston.

"The House is boring already," added Democratic Sen. Robert Ford, who lives in Altman's West Ashley district. "With him being gone, it's going to be a graveyard."

Altman was never boring. His biting quips and fiery duels with those on the left were numerous and memorable, such as when Columbia Democrat Leon Howard called him a racist on the House floor after Howard's bill requiring wrappers on plastic straws was defeated, largely because of Altman. Gays and liberals were frequent targets.

But some detractors say Altman's mouth actually helped them last year when the lawmaker made one of his biggest gaffes, saying he didn't understand why battered women return to their abusers. The remark drew national attention to the state and prompted the male-dominated House leadership to push through a tough domestic violence bill. Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter thanked Altman for the miscue.

"If not for John Graham Altman, the bill wouldn't have passed," the Orangeburg Democrat said. Cobb-Hunter said Altman was one of the few lawmakers whose position was clear to everyone 100 percent of the time. "I'll miss his candor," she said.

Altman opted to end his career saying he was sick of living in a hotel six months of the year in Columbia, although by most accounts he would have faced a tough re-election season. His years in the Legislature, combined with his previous 20-year career on the school board, make him one of Charleston's longest-serving elected officials.

On the House floor, colleagues spoke of what they thought was his best quality: loyalty. "What we're losing here is our ideological mooring," said Rep. Jim Merrill, R-Daniel Island.

Not all his colleagues were sorry to see him go. "I wish him well, but I cannot enthusiastically say anything good about his service," said state Rep. David Mack, D-North Charleston. "During his time on the school board and in the House, he was never a friend to the African-American community."

Standing at the House podium, Altman offered bits of advice, primarily telling lawmakers to stick to their convictions: "The best politics is no politics. Hang in there with what you believe and do it."

Reach Schuyler Kropf at skropf@postandcourier.com or 937-5551.