SC legendary TV personality Joe Pinner dies at 89. ‘If you knew him, you loved him’

Former television personality Joe Pinner has died at 89, according to a statement from Pinner’s family read on his longtime station WIS-TV Sunday night.

Pinner, who had an extensive and celebrated career in South Carolina broadcasting, “passed peacefully this weekend with his sons Michael and Gregg by his side,” the family statement said.

“His joyfulness was so contagious,” said a tearful longtime WIS-TV anchor Judi Gatson, herself a popular television personality, in announcing Pinner’s passing Sunday night on the station.

A memorial service is planned for November, WIS-TV said. Details will be announced later.

Pinner, whose nicknames included “Papa Joe,” was known throughout South Carolina for his outgoing, cheerful and positive personality, and he was awarded the Order of the Palmetto by three separate governors, according to an obituary on WIS-TV. He held a variety of roles at WIS, which he joined in 1963, including being a weatherman and master of ceremonies for a long-running variety show for kids, “Mr. Knozit.”

In 1967, “Mr. Knozit” won a prestigious national broadcasting Peabody award , whose commendation called the show “a unique children’s program which has provided its followers with wholesome amusement and a source of education and experience involving their community, and country, the world, and the universe.”

Former Columbia Mayor Bob Coble recalled Sunday night, “We all grew up with Joe Pinner on Mr. Knozit.”

But Pinner, with his unforgettable resonant voice, was a vital cog in other ways, especially in the pre-internet era, when he could be depended upon to push out timely vital information to the community on WIS television, said Coble, mayor from 1990 through 2010. “He was always such a help in winter weather. He was always very, very helpful.”

Most of all, said Coble, “He really epitomized the whole community. He was somebody that everyone loved. If you knew him, you loved him.”

Veteran WIS journalist Jack Kuenzie, who worked at WIS 33 years before leaving in 2017, remained close to Pinner.

“Joe was a delight to work with. He was always the guy who had this very sunny optimism — outgoing and friendly to everybody. He always had a good word to say about just about everybody he came in touch with,” recalled Kuenzie. “He really respected a lot of the people who were in the operation and felt like they were part of the family.”

The spirited personality he projected on television was his real personality, Kuenzie said.

“I don’t think there were too many times I ever saw him being anything other than Joe Pinner, the Joe Pinner who was the emcee, the Mr. Knozit, the big personality — he was just an icon. I used to refer to him as ‘the legend’,” Kuenzie said.

“I can’t tell you how many times over my career I heard people say (to me), ‘Hey, how’s that Joe Pinner doing?’ or “I used to be on Mr. Knozit as a kid.’ There were always references to Joe in any setting that you went to....He was a magnet for a lot of people, an integral part of their lives.”

Columbia Mayor Daniel Rickenmann said Sunday night that Pinner was “Television in Columbia, S.C.”

“He will be missed by many, however he will always be in the hearts and minds of generations of South Carolinians,” Rickenmann said in a text to The State. “Thank you, Joe Pinner.”

A long and illustrious career

Pinner’s on-air career spanned more than 60 years, according to a story written by The State when Pinner retired in 2018.

At 15 years old, Pinner got his start by working at his home-town radio stations in New Bern and Morehead City, N.C. He went on to work at WCHL in Chapel Hill, N.C., during college. In 1955, Pinner went to work for WMBR-TV and Radio in Jacksonville, Fla. Joining the U.S. Army, he was stationed in Columbia and managed the Armed Forces Radio WFJX at Fort Jackson.

Pinner joined WIS in 1963, where began hosting the children’s program, “The Knozit Show,” on WIS. The show, which came to be known as the “Mr. Knozit Show,” ran for 37 years.

Pinner also was anchor of The 7:00 Report, weatherman for WIS Live at 5 and co-host of WIS News Midday.

He retired from the news station in 2018 after 55 years.

Beyond television, Pinner was a spokesperson and pitchman for various companies and organizations. Over the years, he was a regular figure at events like the South Carolina State Fair and Irmo’s Okra Strut as well as serving as emcee and host for happenings all over Columbia and South Carolina.

Pinner also served as “narrator and Master of Ceremonies for the youth concerts of the South Carolina Philharmonic Orchestra, and was on the Philharmonic’s Advisory Council. He served on the board of the weatherboards, the Voice of AGAPE, Statewide Integrated Services for Senior Citizens, South Carolina Safe Kids, and Blythewood Cultural Arts Association, and was an ambassador of Honor Flight SC,” the WIS obituary said.

Pinner received a plethora of local, state and national awards, WIS said.

But the one award that Pinner enjoyed showing off during a WIS tribute to the former newsman was his 2007 “Biggest Media Hog” award given by readers of Free-Times, the Columbia alt-weekly publication, for its annual “Best Of” honors. He’d won that recognition a number of times over the years, Pinner joked.

“This is the third time (for retirement),” Pinner said during the WIS tribute. “’Knozit’ retired at 37 years, then at my 50th anniversary, and now after 55 years, people are saying, ‘When is he going to really retire?’”

Pinner’s survivors are “his two sons, his two beloved daughters-in-law Diane (Michael) and Paula (Gregg), his cherished grandchildren Allen (Carmen), Christopher (Addie), Danica (Nick) and Lauren,” according to WIS.

Pinner’s wife of 65 years, Peggy Deen Pinner, died in 2022 at the age of 84. She was a singer and personality in her own right, an integral part of their multi-generational family, and Pinner worshipped her.

“He was shaken by her passing. He tried to put a brave face on it a lot of times, but it had really thrown him into a place where it was difficult for him to be the Joe Pinner that we all knew,“ Kuenzie said.

“He was just a terrific guy,” Kuenzie said.

Television has changed so much, it’s not likely that someone would stay such a long time at one station and become the face of the community for more than half a century, Kuenzie said. “I don’t think there will ever be another like him.”

Veteran Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott said that Pinner’s middle name “was Leon, so we had an instant connection. He was the ultimate community builder. Joe was proud of his military service and was always ready to assist Fort Jackson and its soldiers. Our greeting was for Joe to ‘assume the position’ (legs spread and hands up, ready to be searched).”

“He was the most recognized person in Columbia and my friend,” said Lott.

Congressman Joe Wilson, R-Lexington, said in a statement, “The passing of Joe Pinner, the beloved ‘Mr. Knozit,’ will be recognized as an institution who inspired so many young people to achieve the highest of their abilities. Roxanne and I will always cherish dear friends Peggy and Joe so devoted to the Midlands community betterment.”

This is a breaking news story and will be updated.