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Bill Terrell of SCETV's 'Job Man Caravan' Dies at 79

Bill Terrell on SCETV's "Job Man Caravan"
SCETV
Bill Terrell on SCETV's "Job Man Caravan"
Bill Terrell
South Carolina State University Athletics
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South Carolina State University Athletics
Bill Terrell

William "Bill" Terrell, known to many South Carolinians as the host of the SCETV program Job Man Caravan, has died at age 79. He passed away Thursday after a lengthy illness, according to an obituary shared by Pearson's Funeral Home in Columbia, SC.

Originally from Memphis, TN, Terrell moved to South Carolina in 1967 and joined the staff of radio station WOIC-AM.

In 1968, he began producing and hosting SCETV's Job Man Caravan, a groundbreaking television show spotlighting career opportunities for the Palmetto State's underserved Black population. It educated audiences about job interview techniques, traveled to a different town every week with a mobile TV unit, and featured popular musical acts. The show garnered ETV its first Emmy Award a year after its debut.

Terrell also served as executive producer of SCETV's For The People, originally hosted by Listervelt Middleton, focusing on national and international issues affecting people of African descent. The program continued his efforts to inform, enlighten, and empower South Carolinians.

Listervelt Middleton (l) and Bill Terrell (r)
SCETV
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SCETV
Listervelt Middleton (l) and Bill Terrell (r)

In 1980, he became the voice of South Carolina State University's Bulldogs football team, providing play by play, commentary, and analysis. He was inducted into the South Carolina State Athletics University Hall of Fame in 2002.

Before retiring, Terrell acted as visiting professor of broadcasting at Claflin University in Orangeburg, SC.

He was also known for his years of community service, including serving as a member of the Board of Directors of the Columbia Urban League and the Columbia Opportunities Industrial Center, campaign chair for the United Black Fund of the Midlands, and a host for South Carolina United Negro College Fund Telethon, according to the South Carolina African American History Calendar.

Sean Birch brings his passion for engaging with listeners and delivering high-quality radio and podcasts to his role as Director of South Carolina Public Radio. Working with his team, he guides the creation of news and programming which informs, entertains and reflects the diverse population of the Palmetto State. He also chooses the national programming heard on stations and oversees the day-to-day operations of the radio network.