[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 198 (Friday, December 1, 2023)]
[House]
[Pages H6064-H6065]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
WYFF 70TH ANNIVERSARY
(Mr. DUNCAN asked and was given permission to address the House for 1
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today not just as a South Carolinian
but also as co-chair of the Broadcasters Caucus to celebrate the 70th
anniversary of WYFF News 4.
Known originally as WFBC, the station started broadcasting on
December 31, 1953. The first anchor for the station was Norvin Duncan
who worked for WFBC radio before joining the newly created WFBC-TV.
Channel 4 was the first broadcaster in South Carolina to televise a
live game, which was a basketball game between Furman and Newberry
Colleges.
By the 1970s, technology had advanced, and WYFF's staff had to
increase as well to ensure accurate, timely news for upstate South
Carolina, Georgia, and western North Carolina.
WYFF was also the first station in South Carolina to have an African-
American anchor when Deborah Lee began anchoring ``The Scene at 6.''
For 70 years, WYFF news has kept the upstate informed on innumerable
local events, heartwarming stories, storms, and national emergencies.
WYFF has even lost staff members in the field who were just working
to keep citizens informed as storms raged. I remember specifically Mike
McCormick and Aaron Smeltzer who passed away in 2018.
I thank Carol, Nigel, Jane, and the rest of the WYFF team for
continuing
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the station's legacy. I look forward to the next 70 years of WYFF
keeping the upstate informed and safe with local, live, and breaking
news.
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