In the spring of 1966, United States Congressman Charles Weltner (D-Georgia) signed an oath of loyalty to support his party's nominees in the general election that November. When Lester Maddox, a staunch advocate of segregation, emerged as his party's nominee for governor, Congressman Weltner chose to withdraw from his own race for reelection rather than ignore the oath and appear to support a segregationist. By standing up for his principles, Charles Weltner sacrificed his future as an elected official. He made two more attempts but was never able to win another election for public office. As a result of receiving the 1991 Profile in Courage Award, Weltner's courageous actions received renewed national recognition. Justice Weltner served as the Chief Justice of the Georgia Supreme Court from June to August 1992. He died in 1992.