Thomas Gaither Dies At 86

Thomas Gaither a member of Rock Hill’s legendary Froendship Nine passed away Monday in Pennsylvania. In 1961, he and eight others protested racial segregation in Rock Hill when they staged a sit-in at an all-white lunch counter. They were arrested and made history when they took the stance of “jail, no bail.” Decades later, the men had their records cleared and their names placed on seats at the same lunch counter where they were refused service. Gaither was 86 years old.