John Humphries, the longtime broadcasting executive who most recently served as general manager of WYFF News 4, has died. Humphries passed away Monday, just months after retiring in December 2024 following an accomplished career spanning decades in television news and media leadership.
Humphries dedicated 18 years to Hearst Television and became widely respected for his leadership, professionalism, and commitment to local journalism. He was appointed president and general manager of WYFF News 4 in 2016, marking a return to the station where he had previously served for six years as general sales manager. Before returning to Greenville, Humphries spent four years as president and general manager of WGAL-TV, Hearst Television’s NBC affiliate serving the Lancaster-Harrisburg-Lebanon-York market in Pennsylvania.
Prior to joining Hearst Television in 2006, Humphries held leadership positions at several stations across the Carolinas. He served as director of sales at WBTV in Charlotte and at WSPA-TV/WASV-TV in the Greenville-Spartanburg market. He began his broadcasting career at Charlotte’s WSOC-TV, working first as a production specialist before becoming a sports reporter and anchor and later transitioning into sales management.
A graduate of Appalachian State University with a bachelor’s degree in Speech, Humphries remained active with his alma mater through its Alumni Council and also completed Hearst’s executive development program, the Hearst Management Institute.
Beyond broadcasting, Humphries was deeply involved in civic and charitable organizations. He served as past president of the South Carolina Broadcasters Association and its Educational Foundation and contributed to numerous community boards, including United Way of Greenville County, the Greenville Chamber of Commerce, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, and the Urban League of the Upstate. He was recently inducted into the South Carolina Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame.
Humphries is survived by his wife, three daughters, and granddaughter.
