John Humphries, a veteran broadcaster who retired as WYFF News Channel 4’s president and general manager in 2024, died May 11. He was 68.
He is survived by his wife, Anita; three daughters and a granddaughter.
A Charlotte, North Carolina, native and 1979 graduate of Appalachian State University, Humphries began his broadcasting career that same year at WSOC, the ABC affiliate in Charlotte, where he worked for 18 years in a variety of roles.
From 1997 to 2012 he worked in several sales roles for WSPA in Spartanburg, WBTV in Charlotte and Greenville’s WYFF. From 2012 to 2016, he served as president and general manager at WGAL, the Hearst Television NBC affiliate in Lancaster, PA.
In 2016, Humphries returned to Greenville to become WYFF’s president and general manager, a role he held until his retirement in December 2024.
Humphries served in a number of leadership roles with professional associations, including stints as president of the board of the South Carolina Broadcasters Association and the SCBA Educational Foundation. He also served on the boards of United Way of Greenville County, Greenville Chamber of Commerce, Urban League of the Upstate and South Carolina Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
In a news release announcing Humphries’ death, WYFF 4 President and General Manager Blake Bridges said words were inadequate to express the shock and loss the WYFF family was experiencing.
“(John) was so much more than a boss, a mentor, and leader to us,” Bridges said. “John was our friend, our cheerleader, our biggest fan. He led by example, with courage, empathy, and an unrelenting commitment to excellence. He was truly one of a kind. We are grateful for the privilege and blessing to have known and loved him. Rest in peace, John.”
Bill Ellis, a classmate of Humphries at ASU and who forms half of the Ellis and Bradley Morning Show on WSSL 100.5, said his and Humphries’ paths crossed numerous times over the past 50 years.
“He once told me, ‘I always wanted to be you. I just wasn’t good enough.’ Truthfully, it was he who set the high standard at everything he did,” Ellis said. “John was kind, thoughtful and a true gentleman. I’ve never known a better person.”
