WISW-AM

BILL BENTON
(Good Morning Columbia)

In 1976, Bill and three partners, (Dennis Waldrop, Gene McKay, & Dave Wright) bought WSQC (Sunny 100) in West Columbia. After WSCQ was sold, in 1997, Bill and his partners bought “The Independent News of Irmo” where Bill worked as a columnist

After more than 46 years in radio, television, and newpapers… 39 of which were spent in Columbia. Bill continues to serve the Midlands as part of “Good Morning Columbia”, with co-hosts Charlie Benton and Doug Enlow

Bill married his high school sweetheart, Sallie Lou Smith, in 1953. They have four children and nine grandchildren.

Bill is a 1972 Georgia Karate Champion, and was a multi-event winner in the 1994 Senior Olympics, has served as District Chairman Central SC Council of the Boy Scouts of America, and has served as a member of  the Board of Visitors of Columbia College. He’s also won numerous awards from The US & South Carolina Wildlife Federation, The Mental Health Association, Mid-Carolina Council on Alcoholism, Air Force ROTC, and the Green Beret Unit of Camp LeJune, among others.

He’s also been presented with a key to the city by Columbia mayor Bob Coble, was declared a “Palmetto Gentleman” when awarded the Order of the Palmetto by Governor David Beasley in 1996, and won The Life Member Award from the SCBA in 2004.