Since South Carolina is served by so many talented and dedicated broadcasters and by individuals in related fields who work tirelessly to support the industry, SCBA has, over the years, created three awards to recognize those distinguished leaders—Hall of Fame, Honorary Life Membership Award and the Masters Award. Known as the Awards of Distinction, these awards honor those professionals who have set the bar for excellence in South Carolina broadcasting.
Traditionally, these awards are presented each year at a ceremony held in conjunction with the SCBA Winter Convention. The recipients are selected by the SCBA Board of Governors which is comprised of Hall of Fame inductees and SCBA Board members. Nominations are accepted each year in late summer/early fall. (See award descriptions and criteria below.) An award is not necessarily presented in each category every year.
The 2022 SCBA Awards of Distinction Dinner was held on March 31, 2022, and honored three outstanding broadcasters. Click here to view a video of the evening or click here to view the photos from the event.
2022 SCBA Awards of Distinction Dinner Sponsors
2022 SCBA Awards of Distinction Cocktail Reception Sponsors
2022 SCBA Awards of Distinction Stage Sponsor
Congratulations to our 2022 Awards of Distinction Honorees
JR Berry - WLTX-TV
Masters Award
On March 31, 2022, JR Berry was honored with the Masters Award for outstanding achievement as an on-air broadcaster. A staple at WLTX-TV for the past 31 years, JR got his start in radio in 1976 on WSSC in his hometown of Sumter, SC. In 1990 he joined WLTX-TV as a part-time reporter and his first big project found him on location in Saudi Arabia. 1998 found JR in the morning and noon anchor seat, teaming up with then meteorologist Darci Strickland and by 1999 the show became Columbia's first 2-hour morning news program, JR then became the anchor of News 19 at 6 pm and 11 pm in 2002 and he has occupied that same seat since.
Geoff Hart - WYFF 4
Masters Award
Geoff Hart was also honored with the Masters Award for outstanding achievement as an on-air broadcaster. He served as both a sports director and later an anchor at WYFF News 4 for 28 years. His smooth and trustworthy delivery made him a fixture externally to the viewers and internally to the WYFF 4 family. Earlier this year, Geoff was forced to step away from the career and community he loved to focus his energy on an Alzheimer’s diagnosis he received. He approached this situation, like he does everything else, with dignity and class. He opened himself and his family up to the viewers who care deeply for him.
Michael J. Hayes - Hearst Television
Hall of Fame Award
Michael J. Hayes was inducted into the SCBA Hall of Fame on March 31, 2022. This award recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to the growth and development of the broadcast industry in South Carolina, or South Carolinians who have made such contributions outside the state. An inductee is not selected each year and there has not been an SCBA Hall of Fame recipient since 2018. Mike began his career as a sportscaster and producer at WISH-TV in Indianapolis, IN. During his broadcasting career, he held positions ranging from account executive to local sales manager to general sales manager to President and General Manager of WYFF 4 in Greenville. He now serves as the Executive VP of Hearst Television in New York. Mike first joined the SCBA Board of Directors in 2005 and in 2006 was elected President-elect. In 2007 he assumed the role of President, serving a two-year term, the first president to do so. To this day Mike has continued to support the Education Foundation through the Fellows Program. The characteristic that most encapsulates Mike’s personality is charity. His career is the epitome of a lifetime of extraordinary achievement, service, and contributions.
Nominee Criteria
Hall of Fame
First presented in 1973, the Association’s most prestigious award was created to recognize individuals who have made significant contributions to the growth and development of the broadcast industry in South Carolina or South Carolinians who have made such contributions to broadcasting outside the state. Inductees have reached the highest levels of achievement and success in broadcasting on a local and/or national level. Busts and plaques recognizing their many accomplishments are on display at the SCBA Hall of Fame housed at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, SC.
Hall of Fame Inductees
| 1973 G. Richard Shafto*
WIS Radio & TV, Columbia |
1995 Dr. Richard Uray*
SCBA & USC, Columbia |
| 1974 John M. Rivers*
WCSC Radio & TV, Charleston |
1996 William L. McElveen
Citadel Broadcasting, Columbia |
| 1975 Walter Brown*
WSPA Radio & TV, Spartanburg |
1997 Diane Bagwell
WIS-TV, Columbia |
| 1976 Cleatus O. Brazzell*
WELP-AM/FM, Easley |
2000 James F. Coggins*
WKDK-AM, Newberry |
| 1977 Wilson C. Wearn*
WFBC Radio & TV, Greenville |
2001 Harold T. Miller, Jr.
Miller Communications, Sumter |
| 1979 Henry J. Cauthen
SCETV, Columbia |
2003 Barry Brown
Next Media, Myrtle Beach |
| 1980 W. Frank Harden*
WIS Radio & TV, Columbia |
2004 James Keelor
Cosmos/Liberty Broadcasting, Greenville |
| 1981 Charles A. Batson*
WIS Radio & TV, Columbia |
2005 Dave McAtee
WYFF-TV, Greenville |
| 1983 John Y. Davenport*
WESC-AM/FM, Greenville |
2006 Alex Snipe
Glory Communications, Columbia |
| 1985 Beverly Whitmire*
WFBC Radio & TV, Greenville |
2007 Jim Whitaker*
WCSC-AM&FM/WEZL-FM, Charleston |
| 1985 Robert A. Jolley*
WFBC Radio & TV, Greenville |
2008 Doug Smith
WFBC-TV/WYFF-TV, Greenville |
| 1988 Joseph B. Wilder*
WBAW-AM/FM, Barnwell |
2009 Allan M. Miller
WRHI-AM/FM & WRHM-FM, Rock Hill |
| 1989 Dixon Lovvorn*
WIS Radio & TV, Columbia |
2010 Tad Fogel
Winyah Bay Broadcasting, Georgetown Fogel Advertising Services, Brevard,NC |
| 1990 Wally Mullinax*
WESC-AM/FM, Greenville WMTY-AM/FM, Greenwood |
2011 Jim Yager
Barrington Broadcasting Group Hoffman Estates, IL |
| 1991 H. Moody McElveen*
WNOK Radio &TV, Columbia |
2012 George H. Buck, Jr.*
WCOS-AM/FM, Columbia, SC |
| 1992 Betty Roper*
WHLZ-FM, Manning |
2013 Jane Pigg
WCRE-AM/FM |
| 1993 William Saunders
WPAL-AM/FM, Charleston |
2018 Rich O'Dell
WLTX-TV, Columbia |
| 1994 Richard Laughridge
WLTX-TV, Columbia |
2022 Michael J. Hayes
Hearst Television |
*deceased
Honorary Life Membership Award
The Honorary Life Membership Award salutes those who have served broadcasting by making significant contributions to the industry either in South Carolina or outside the state. Special consideration is given to South Carolina broadcasters. This special category may include broadcast educators, legislators, owners and managers, on-air talent, broadcast technical specialists, legal and regulatory experts or a South Carolinian representing broadcasting on a national level.
Honorary Life Members
| 1978 Frank Blair*
NBC Network, Hilton Head |
2003 Jim Sefert*
Cosmos/Liberty Broadcasting, Greenville |
| 1978 Moody McElveen*
WNOK Radio & TV, Columbia |
2004 Bill Benton & Gene McKay*
WSCQ-FM & WISW-AM, Columbia |
| 1979 Frank Best
WDIX-AM, Orangeburg |
2005 Dave Aiken
WOLO-TV, Columbia |
| 1980 Randy Davidson
WAKN-AM, Aiken |
2006 Betty Black
WMTY-AM/FM, Greenwood |
| 1982 Dr. & Ms. Marshall (Lillian) Brown*
Presbyterian College, Clinton |
2007 Arthur Smith*
WOLS-AM, Florence WSPA-AM, Spartanburg |
| 1982 Doug Youngblood*
WFIG-AM, Sumter |
2008 Mel Stebbins*
WIS-TV, Columbia |
| 1984 Glen & Mary Ramsey*
SESAC, Florida |
2009 James Thompson*
WGGS-TV, Greenville |
| 1984 Dorsey Owings*
BMI, Florida |
2010 Jerry Peterson*
WRHI-AM/FM & WRHM-FM, Rock Hill |
| 1986 Dr. Albert T. Scroggins*
USC, Columbia |
2011 Haney Howell
Winthrop University, Rock Hill |
| 1988 Palmer Greer*
Consulting Engineer, Greenville |
2012 Rich O'Dell
WLTX-TV, Columbia |
| 1989 Angelo Ditty*
FCC, Atlanta |
2013 John George
Broadtech Services |
| 1990 Norvin Duncan*
WFBC Radio & TV, Greenville |
2014 Don Sornson
SC Army National Guard |
| 1993 Edward LB Osborne*
WBCU-AM, Union |
2015 Lee Brown
WYFF 4, Greenville |
| 1997 Jim Dunbar*
Berry, Dunbar & Woods, Columbia |
2016 Shani White
SCBA, Columbia |
| 1998 Ron Loewen
WIS-TV, Columbia |
2016 John Spratt
US House of Representatives |
| 2000 Jack West*
WSPA Radio & TV, Spartanburg |
2017 Charles Bierbauer, Dean
University of South Carolina School of Journalism and Mass Communications |
| 2001 Joe Pinner
WIS-TV, Columbia |
2018 Jay Bender
Baker, Ravenel & Bender Attorneys at Law |
| 2002 Bob Hooper
WESC-AM/FM, Greenville |
2019 Ed Piotrowski
WPDE-TV, Myrtle Beach |
| 2020 Tommy Suggs
Gamecock Radio Network,, Columbia |
*deceased
Masters Award
The Masters Award acknowledges the lifetime achievements of on-air broadcasters who have made significant contributions to broadcasting in South Carolina and who personify high broadcast industry standards within their communities.
Masters Recipients
| 1989 | Mackie Quave*
WIS & WOLO-TV, Columbia |
| 1990 | Bob Fulton*
USC Radio Network, Columbia |
| 1992 | Jim Phillips*
Clemson Radio Network, Clemson |
| 1993 | Joe Pinner
WIS-TV, Columbia |
| 1994 | Charles Hall*
WCSC-TV, Charleston |
| 1996 | Tom Kinard
WJMX-FM, Florence |
| 2000 | Susan Aude
WIS-TV, Columbia |
| 2001 | Rudy Mancke
SCETV, Columbia |
| 2002 | Monty Du Puy*
WFBC Radio & TV, Greenville |
| 2003 | Dan Moon
WTMA-AM, Charleston |
| 2004 | Jim Gandy
WLTX-TV, Columbia |
| 2005 | David Stanton
WIS-TV, Columbia |
| 2006 | Doug Williams*
WOLS-AM & WBTW-TV, Florence |
| 2007 | Carol (Goldsmith) Clarke
WYFF-TV, Greenville |
| 2008 | Cecil Chandler
WBTW-TV, Florence/Myrtle Beach |
| 2009 | Ethel Taylor*
WOIC-AM & WFMV-FM, Columbia |
| 2010 | Woody Windham
WOMG-FM, Columbia |
| 2011 | Grady Brown
Miller Communications, Sumter |
| 2012 | Brent Johnson
WTCB-FM, Columbia |
| 2013 | Pete Yanity
WSPA-TV, Spartanburg |
| 2014 | Dale Gilbert
WYFF 4, Greenville |
| 2014 | Manning Kimmel
OTS Media Group, Rock Hill |
| 2015 | Beryl Dakers
SC ETV, Columbia |
| 2015 | Jack Kuenzie
WIS-TV, Columbia |
| 2016 | Bill Terrell
SC ETV, Columbia |
| 2017 | Debi Chard
WCSC-TV, Charleston |
| 2017 | Bill Sharpe
WCSC-TV, Charleston |
| 2017 | Gary Griffin
WEZL-FM, Charleston |
| 2018 | John Cessarich
WYFF 4, Greenville |
| 2019 | Michael Cogdill
WYFF 4, Greenville |
| 2019 | Jonathon Rush
WCOS-FM, Columbia |
| 2020 | Dave Aiken
WOLO-TV, Columbia |
| 2022 | JR Berry
WLTX-TV, Columbia WYFF 4, Greenville |
*deceased
Photo Gallery
