William Light “Bill” Kinney Jr. ’54 died Feb. 19, 2023, at his home in Bennettsville, S.C. A journalist, historian and community leader, he followed his father and grandfather to Wofford, and his son and grandson followed him.

A lifelong Terrier, Kinney was a member of the Senior Order of Gnomes and Phi Beta Kappa as a student. He edited the college handbook and the Bohemian yearbook. He served as student body president and as vice president of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. He also participated in ROTC and the Glee Club. One of his most cherished distinctions was Wofford’s conferral of an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters in 1999.

“I can only say that when I attended Wofford, it was hopefully to make me a better student. When Bill went to Wofford, it made Wofford a better college,” wrote Dr. Hunter Stokes ’60 in an op-ed about Kinney’s life and contributions to society.

Kinney was editor and publisher emeritus of the Marlboro Herald-Advocate, McColl Messenger and Marlboro Shopper and former president of Marlboro Publishing Co. He was past president of the South Carolina Press Association and a founder of the SCPA Hall of Fame.

A graduate of the University of South Carolina College of Journalism, he served in the U.S. Army.

Kinney visited all 50 states and many foreign countries and was a lifelong active member of First United Methodist Church in Bennettsville, singing bass in its chancel choir for 75 years, until his failing health would not allow him to continue.

In addition to his involvement in virtually every facet of life in Marlboro County, his passion for history and historic preservation meant service on the state and national levels. In addition to helping Wofford celebrate its centennial during his years as a student, he served as a chairman of the state’s tricentennial in 1970 and U.S. bicentennial in 1976. For 30 years, he served as a congressional appointee to the board of trustees of the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress and was board chairman for three terms. He was a member of the national board of advisors of the National Trust for Historic Preservation and chairman of its Southern Region board.

In acknowledgment of his many contributions to society, South Carolina presented Kinney with the Order of the Palmetto, its highest civilian honor, in 2015. At the same time, the Bennettsville City Council named two major entrances into a large city municipal parking lot “Bill Kinney Jr. Way.”

Memorial donations may be made to the William Light Kinney III ’91 Endowed Scholarship Fund at Wofford (wofford.edu/give or 864-597-4200).