Hall of Fame | Dean Livingston

 “Newspapering,” as he called it, was in Dean B. Livingston’s blood. He and The Times and Democrat will forever be synonymous.

An Orangeburg and South Carolina journalistic icon who died in 2014, Livingston began as a bicycle carrier at age eight for the newspaper he would serve as publisher from 1962 through 1999.

At age 12, he was a production employee and columnist for The Orangeburg Observer. Over consecutive summer college breaks, he served as The Times and Democrat’s interim sports editor and managing editor. Upon graduating from the University of South Carolina in 1956, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force, serving a three-year tour of duty as a MAPS navigator, logging more than 2,000 flying hours. He then returned to The Times and Democrat as managing editor and, in 1962, he was named publisher.

He was on the front line of coverage at the scene of the 1968 “Orangeburg Massacre” in which three students were killed near South Carolina State University during a continuing protest over desegregating a Russell Street bowling alley.

He led the newspaper through its most trying times in 1972 when the Broughton Street building complete with major improvements was lost to fire.

A year later, The Times and Democrat continued to publish during the snowstorm of 1973 that was termed the worst-ever natural disaster to hit locally.

Continuing to produce daily editions no matter what was the hallmark of Livingston’s leadership. He took great pride in The Times and Democrat never failing to publish during his three decades as publisher.

As an industry pioneer, in 1965 he was among the first publishers nationwide to convert to offset printing technology and in the 1990s was on the cutting edge of computer pagination of newspaper pages.

Livingston served his community and profession as president of the S.C. Press Association and its Foundation; as an active member of the American Newspaper Publishers Association, and the S.C. Newspaper Publishers Association.

He was also an adjunct professor at both the USC School of Journalism and Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College.

He enjoyed 25 years of service to Rotary International, serving a term as president, as well as serving as president of the Orangeburg County Chamber of Commerce. He also served both the Salvation Army and the Boy Scouts of America.

In 1989, Livingston was the recipient of South Carolina State College’s Distinguished Achievement Award for “exemplary achievement in business and outstanding community leadership and service.”

After retirement, Livingston did not step away from The Times and Democrat, writing columns and serving as editor for the newspaper’s millennial special section.

He authored “Yesteryears: A newsman’s look back at events and people who have influenced the histories of Orangeburg and Calhoun counties.”