Rock Hill, SC – Robert (Bob) M. Pearse Jr., 79, passed away on Thursday, February 1, 2024 at White Oak Manor in York SC.
Born in Cleveland Ohio, Mr. Pearse was the only child of the late Robert M. Pearse Sr., and the late Emma Arline Bliss Pearse. Bob is survived by his loving spouse of 56 years, Janet; two daughters, Tammi Newell (Mike), and Christi Knight (Richard) both of Rock Hill, SC. He was the proud Pop of five wonderful grandchildren: Reagan, Pearse, Garrison, Emmett, and Emma.
Bob began his broadcast career in 1959 at WDGO-FM in Cleveland, while attending high school. His family moved to Pinehurst, NC later that year, where he continued his broadcast career on the radio. In 1965, he joined the international Christian broadcast team of Trans World Radio and spent the next 5 years as an English announcer stationed on the island of Bonaire. It was while working there that he met the love of his life, Janet. They communicated via letters and were happily married in 1967.
Upon returning to the United States, Bob worked at Films for Christ, a motion picture production company in Illinois. In the mid 1970’s he returned to North Carolina and began supplying news and sports stories to WRAL in Raleigh and WGHP in High Point, where he eventually became the weekend sports anchor. He was then offered a position as weekday sports reporter and weekend sports anchor at WSOC in Charlotte. His work there earned him the NC Sportscaster of the Year Award.
In 1980, Bob left WSOC to begin an independent video production company called Sunbelt Video, which provided TV stations around the country with sports videos via satellite uplink. He also created and produced the “Inside NASCAR” TV show.
In 1992 Bob joined WBTV as a news photographer and live truck operator. In 1999 he accepted a position as news director and anchor for CN2 in Rock Hill, SC, where he enjoyed mentoring new talent.
After leaving CN2 in 2010, Bob’s entrepreneurial spirit led him to explore multiple endeavors before finally retiring in 2022.
A service for Mr. Pearse will be held at First Baptist Church of Fort Mill, where Bob was a member, on Tuesday, February 13th from 6-7 pm with Pastor Ken Terry officiating. The family will receive friends from 5-6 pm.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Mr. Pearse’s name to Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/ give) or the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (www.cff.org).