Rivers, John Minott | South Carolina Public Radio

“R” is for Rivers, John Minott [1903-1988]. Broadcasting executive. After college, Rivers, a native of Charleston, moved to Greenville. There he became friends with the president of the Liberty Life Insurance Company that operated WCSC radio in Charleston. In 1938, he became president of South Carolina Broadcasting Company, which operated WCSC. He later purchased the station. In 1948, he began operation of an FM station. In 1953, he put WCSC-TV, South Carolina’s first VHF television station on the air. Rivers’ company, WCSC, Inc., eventually became involved in long distance and cellular telephones, security systems, and other enterprises. He helped found the South Carolina Association of Broadcasters in 1952 and served as its president. From 1966 to 1982, he was a member of the South Carolina Educational Television Commission. In 1974 ,John Minott Rivers was inducted into the Broadcasters Hall of Fame.