Leaders react to death of civil rights activist Julian Bond

ATLANTA — Julian Bond, a longtime leader of the NAACP who also fought to keep his seat in the Georgia Assembly, where he served 20 years, died Saturday night in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. He was 75.

A public face of activism for civil rights throughout his life, Bond led the Southern Poverty Law Center and was the first black man nominated for vice president of the United States.

The SPLC announced Bond's death in a statement Sunday, saying the country lost a hero.

[Social media reacts to Julian Bond's death]

Channel 2's Rachel Stockman spoke to the son of Bond, Michael Julian Bond. He said his father "was a great friend as a father, a great teacher, a great mentor, not so much the great disciplinarian, but he was our friend, he was my buddy and I loved him with my whole heart."

The Bon family planes to head to Florida, and have no word on funeral plans yet.

Tom Houck is a long-time friend of Bond, and says he spoke with his friend a few weeks ago.

"We talked about him not feeling well," Houck said. "He had problems walking and breathing. He didn't know what the problems were, but he was going to see a doctor."

Channel 2’s Steve Gehlbach talked with two members of Atlanta's Ebenezer Baptist Church who were young men during the civil rights movement of the 1960s. They said they will always remember Bond and are eternally grateful to him for being such a strong leader.

One of the elder's Gehlbach spoke to, Cal Murrell, said he first arrived in Atlanta in 1967. Bond was one of the first people he met.

"It's shocking to me," Murrell said. "And we're going to miss him and this is very shocking to us. "And he was an integral part of helping young people. And we will never forget him."

Church member Bill Ficklin said he remembers Bond's youthful demeanor.

"When he was young, he was active and vibrant, so he led a lot of us young people to come in and join some of the things he was doing," Ficklin said.

Those that knew him call Bond a true leader.

"Everybody respected him because he had something to say,” said Ficklin. “He didn't just talk the talk, Julian Bond walked the walk, so we are proud yet we know that we all are going to miss him. He's a family man, he's a community man, and he put his life on the line for all of us."

The first president of the SPLC, former chairman of the NAACP, and serving in the Georgia House and U.S. Senate, Bond was a legendary civil-rights activist in the 60s, who also co-founded the student non-violent coordinating committee while at Morehouse College.

Morehouse College President John Silvanus Wilson, Jr. released the following statement Sunday about Bond's passing:

" Morehouse College joins the nation in mourning the death of one of our most accomplished and prominent graduates.  Julian Bond was iconic in the civil rights movement, helping to launch the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee while he was a Morehouse student.

Bond was a master at speaking truth to power.  During a memorable visit to Morehouse, while I was a student in the 70s, he challenged us to go beyond seeking personal comfort in the world, and to live a life of service to others.

His indelible mark on this nation will continue to be celebrated by the Morehouse family and should never be forgotten."

WSBTV