Former congressman devoted much of his time to working for veterans and encouraging people to love politics.

Anyone in this state with a little gray in his or her hair and a love for politics has probably spent an evening or two at the Barrett House, William Jennings Bryan Dorn's farmhouse in Greenwood. It was at this pre-Civil War home that the well-to-do and those of more modest means gathered to listen to rich political oratory, eat some sweet barbecue and rub elbows with elected officials and those who desperately wanted to be elected.

Dorn, a white-suited fixture in South Carolina politics for at least two-thirds of his 89 years, died Saturday. What he did for this state, for his country, for the military and for race relations should not be forgotten.

Living up to his name, Bryan Dorn became a prized political orator, equally adept at quoting from the Bible and Shakespeare. His resume featured many "youngest" entries -- youngest state House member in 1939, youngest state senator in 1941, one of the youngest members of Congress in 1946. This was a man born to be a politician, one whose father made him spend hours rehearsing speeches in the woods near his home.

In Congress, Dorn developed a reputation as someone interested in the military, veterans and this nation's defense. Himself a volunteer in World War II, Dorn devoted much of his congressional energy to working to protect those men and women who had answered their country's call. It is fitting that the veterans' hospital in Columbia was named for him, because few people have done more to see that our veterans are taken care of.

Dorn commanded a major post on South Carolina's political scene during the tense years of integration. He was more moderate than many of the state's leaders during this time, although words pulled from speeches or quotes from decades ago would not do justice to the degree of enlightenment he showed in this area. South Carolina avoided the violent confrontations of some Southern states because many of its leaders didn't indulge in hate-filled race baiting. And when the times changed, people such as Bryan Dorn encouraged this state's people to change, too, and then led by personal example.