Linwood Riddick recently kept a promise he made to himself many years ago. Born in Summerville, he received his degree from South Carolina State University on Friday at age 79, three days before his 80th birthday.

He traveled from Summerville to Orangeburg, which is roughly 45 minutes away, to complete his coursework daily to obtain his Bachelor of Arts in Music.

He had suspended his undergraduate studies to serve in the military. Segregation made it difficult for veterans to receive an education at the time. Following his military service, he opened his own business selling souvenirs, doing this for three decades before retiring at age 72.

Not too long after, he overheard a group of men talking about the Orangeburg Massacre — one of the most violent incidents of the Civil Rights Movement in South Carolina — while passing through South Carolina State. The February 1968 event saw the killing of three South Carolina State student protesters by state troopers. The students were protesting segregation when the troopers opened fire on them.

After hearing their story, Riddick said he decided, “I’m going to have to come here, put my name on this institutional wall because of the sacrifice of these three men.”

According to WIS, Riddick promised himself that he would walk across the stage before leaving this earth.