Since the 1940s and the advent of broadcasting in York and Lancaster counties, WRHI and the O-T-S Media Group have chartered an unprecedented record of 68 consecutive seasons of live sports broadcasting. The stations’ pioneering innovations include the first live broadcast coverage for area high schools and colleges and South Carolina’s first play-by-play game coverage heard worldwide via the internet. OTS has celebrated their rich sports heritage annually since 2010 with induction of important sports personalities into the O-T-S Sports Wall of Fame. A secret vote from the station’s 26-member sports staff plus previous living inductees and an on-line listener poll determine the top honorees for induction each year. 2013 inductees Gene Knight and the late Harper Gault will be honored throughout the season including special live segments during “High School Football Tonight” and with a formal induction ceremony at the Rock Hill/Northwestern game on November 8th.
Radio Listener Guide
OTS Sports Wall of Fame Honors Two New Members
GENE KNIGHT - 2013 O-T-S Sports Wall of Fame Inductee
York native Gene Knight caught his early passion and enthusiasm for sports from his father, Gene Knight Sr. who coached football and baseball at York High School. In high school, the future broadcaster was a quarterback on the Green Dragon football team and a relief pitcher on the baseball team. At the age of 18, Knight was hired as a part-time board operator at WYCL radio in York. The job continued through college, and after graduating with a Communication Degree from Winthrop University in 1982, Gene was hired fulltime and was later promoted to Operations Manager for both WBZK and WDZK-FM. Knight’s first opportunity to broadcast live football came in 1980 when he was assigned as color commentator for the Chester Cyclones. He also hosted a weekly “Coaches Corner” program featuring Chester and York County coaches. Six years later, he advanced to play-by-play for the York High Cougars, a position he held for 13 years. During the same period, Gene served for multiple years as play-by-play announcer for the ACC Women’s Basketball Tournament. In 2000, he joined the O-T-S family of stations as color commentator for the Rock Hill Bearcats and soon began broadcasting high school basketball games on a regular basis. The exposure presented many more opportunities for the talented broadcaster including Cable telecasts for the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas for seven years including the 2008 worldwide broadcast on ESPU and the Cable telecast of the Sun Bowl, featuring youth teams from both Carolinas and held at Charlotte’s Memorial Stadium. His multiple state champi“On Air” 2000 - present onship broadcasts to date include Rock Hill, Northwestern, South Pointe, Clover, Lewisville and York. Gene was promoted to the Rock Hill Bearcats play-byplay position in 2008 and continues to serve in that capacity. Knight has been employed as an Account Rep/IPC by Comporium Communications since 1992 and stays active in his community. In 2011, he spearheaded a group of York High Green Dragon alumnae that erected a monument to the former school. The tribute is located on the campus of Harold C. Johnson Elementary School in York. Knight’s latest creation, Friday Knight’’s Losers, has become a popular internet podcast and is delivered weekly during high school football season on www.wrhi.com. Gene combines weekly results and trends with his vast sports knowledge to predict each week’s losing team in the spirit of the old Leonard’s Losers radio show. Entering the 2013 football season, Gene has broadcast over 350 football games and over 100 basketball games, earning for him the title of “the Dean” by his broadcast comrades. Gene “the Dean” Knight is recognized for his professional broadcast coverage of over 450 high school football and basketball games and his genuine passion and advocacy for local sports. In recognition of the enduring admiration and respect of his peers, the staff and management of the OTS Media Group is proud to welcome Gene as a 2013 inductee into the OTS Sports Wall of Fame.
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