He sang at SC State’s graduations for years, then crossed the stage at nearly 80 years old

ORANGEBURG, S.C. – Linwood Riddick didn’t come to South Carolina State University for a career. He came for clarity, for purpose, and to honor a legacy that moved him. 

On Friday, the Vietnam veteran and longtime SC State Concert Choir member graduated with a bachelor’s degree in music industry. On Monday, he will celebrate his 80^th birthday.

His path to the diploma was unconventional but rooted in conviction.

“I was just passing through the college once and I heard some men talk about the Orangeburg Massacre,” Riddick said, referring to the 1968 police shooting of unarmed students that left three young men dead on the SC State campus. “I said, ‘You know what, I'm going to have to come here, put my name on this institutional wall because of the sacrifice of these three men.’

“Now you see I am at the end of the journey, and I want to be an inspiration to others -- they will see me, and they'll have an understanding of my purpose in this institution,” he said.

SC State President Alexander Conyers briefly paused Friday’s Commencement Ceremony to recognize Riddick as he exited the choir’s riser.

“Mr. Riddick at 80 has been fully engaged with the student experience, singing on this choir, performing at concerts,” Conyers said. “Mr. Riddick, you inspire us all.”

And as Conyers handed Riddick his diploma later in the program, Riddick was met with a thunderous ovation from his fellow members of the Class of 2025 and the audience in the arena.

Born in New York and raised in Virginia, Riddick served in Vietnam before building a career in business.

“I went to the military. I did my time and came out,” he said. “I went to the VA, got some money, went on my own, had my own business – sold souvenirs and such -- for about 30 years.”

He retired at 72. Soon, he was commuting from Summerville, South Carolina, to Orangeburg for class.

“I came here to keep my mind and body updated,” he said. “You go to realize your brain is like a spiritual muscle, and you have to use it. Your mind, your body, your soul and spirit — they must be utilized.”

At SC State, he became a fixture in the concert choir, performing at commencements, concerts and special events. But his role on campus went beyond the stage, as he became an inspiring presence for his younger peers. 

Riddick said he hopes to continue supporting SC State and its students to help bridge what he considers to be a gap between generations resulting in disinterest among students.

“Sometimes we need one to teach one,” he said. “With my experience in life and all I’ve gone through I want to be a mentor to them. So hopefully, I can get together with the faculty and maybe we can all have more interconnection with the students. We need innovation.” 

His message to others, especially those his age or older, is simple: “If I can do it, you can do it. It’s not impossible if you try.”

As for what’s next: “Only thing that’s left for me now is to get computerized—but I have everything else.”