A member of the Broadcast Pioneers, Bill Roberson was indeed a pioneering figure in North Carolina broadcasting. His roots ran first to AM radio WRRF in Washington, NC in 1942, and WRRZ, Clinton, in 1943. Then he founded the first Eastern North Carolina television station WITN, Channel 7 in 1955, followed by powerhouse WITN-FM!
Bill was more than a broadcaster. He gave freely of himself in public service, serving as a NC state representative and NC Secretary of Transportation. He and his wife were champions of the arts, and he established an endowment at the NC Museum of Art in her memory.
Bill was responsible for a couple of generations of managers, talent, and technical people, many who went on to populate the networks and major broadcast outlets far beyond their Eastern Carolina origins.
Bill touched me as a young man as well, and now my wife and I have been honored to call him our next door neighbor for the past ten years. I shared a drink with Bill on New Years Eve. He proclaimed “to another year!”
Well, Bill made that “another year” – 2009. Regrettably, he will not see it through, as he passed away gently on the morning of January 3rd at 90 years of age.
One of the delights of this great Tar Heel gentleman was the sunset over the Tar River in front of his home. So this sunset is for you, old friend – and if you look carefully, you can see your tower lights just coming on!
Lawrence Behr
Sorry to hear of the loss of your friend. He sure did pioneer broadcasting in ENC!
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