Former Fort Mill Times editor Jerry McGuire dies at 83

Former Fort Mill Times editor and long-time journalist and community advocate Jerry Phifer McGuire died Dec. 9 at his Fort Mill home. He was 83.

McGuire got his start in journalism at the University of South Carolina when we worked for the student newspaper, The Gamecock, and got his professional start at the Elkin Tribune, where he was the sports editor and managing editor.

After six years in Elkin, McGuire and his wife Margie, who was born in Fort Mill, returned home. The couple was married for 58 years.

McGuire grew up with three brothers in Rock Hill around the site of the River Walk area and was a Rock Hill High School graduate.

“They grew up in a big old family and grew up with basically nothing and had to make do,” said Scot McGuire, one of his two sons.

“One time I had a bicycle outside that didn’t have any pedals, but he cut a hose pipe and made it to where I could still ride it. That’s how he was. It just wasn’t a thing to him, he could make it work.”

Upon returning to Fort Mill, McGuire moved into a home on Sutton Road. Fifty years ago it was surrounded by cow pastures and the old Sutton Farm, but now the McGuire’s look out their window and can see Baxter Village.

“He’s seen the old Fort Mill and he’s seen the new Fort Mill and he’s watched it all grow right around him,” Scot McGuire said. “I think he’s enjoyed seeing it develop.”

But McGuire’s biggest impact and sense of calling came in the 30 years he spent as the Fort Mill Times’ editor.

His work led to numerous South Carolina Press Association awards, including an award for a photo series, a couple for sports stories and among others, one on a feature story he’d written, but McGuire wasn’t in journalism for the awards, his son said.

“Dad was so well-rounded that the awards weren’t a thing for him,” Scot McGuire said. “He went to work every day, did a great job and when he happened to get recognized for it, than great, but he loved what he did.

“He was more than happy to help new folks coming through, because that’s what you did. (Former Fort Mill Times Publisher William) Bradford held his hand to get him started, and he wanted to give his time to anyone if it would help them get started.”

And that was a passion McGuire shared for the community.

Jerry McGuire’s younger son, Keith, said growing up, his friends would see his father in the school office and would wonder what the boys had done to get in trouble. It wasn’t a matter of the McGuire brothers doing anything wrong, but rather that their father was there for a story or photo.

Keith said if something noteworthy happened at school, the boys didn’t have to tell their parents because McGuire was usually the first to know about anything that happened in town.

“It was nice having him as the editor of the paper and it was nice that our teachers, neighbors and principals knew him,” Keith McGuire said.

“He really enjoyed the human interest stories. As far as running a newspaper, he could care less – he enjoyed writing and helping. He was involved with getting the food pantry started and knew there were other things out there to get involved with.”

Through his work at the paper, Jerry McGuire helped many causes and touched many lives in journalism and in the community.

“He supported us, but he also supported the community,” Keith McGuire said. “People talk about how much he did for the Fort Mill High band, and I’m sure part of that was because we were in the band, but part of that was because that was what he thought his role as a newspaper person was.”

McGuire had a way of carrying himself – as a family man, a professional and as a prankster who viewed life a little differently, his family said.

“Dad was a funny man,” Scot McGuire said.

“It didn’t matter the situation, but he always had a different take on life. I think a lot of people don’t know he has a twin brother who lives in Rock Hill. People would think they saw him out in public and it would be his twin. It happened all the time. We’d be out in public and he’d talk to someone real generic, and I’d say, ‘Dad, who was that?’ He’d say, ‘Oh honey, I don’t know.’ He had a way about him.”

In addition to his newspaper work, McGuire was also and elder and church deacon at Riverview Presbyterian Church. He was a member of the Free Masons for 59 years and served as worshipful master of Catawba Masonic Lodge No. 56 of Fort Mill. He received the lodge’s Mason of the Year Award and the William L. Broadwell Memorial Award for service to the craft and the community. He was appointed committeeman in the South Carolina Grand Lodge of Ancient Freemasonry

He served several terms on the Catawba Regional Council of Governments after an appointment by the York County Council. McGuire served in the U.S. Army.

Most important for McGuire’s family was the legacy of good will he left behind.

“People would ask about him all the time and ask us to tell our dad hello,” Keith McGuire said.

“It’s nice to know that your father is that well thought of that people ask how things are going and ask about him. Sometimes you don’t realize the effect that someone you know has on others until people ask about him or say how much they liked and respected him.”

Jerry McGuire is survived by his wife and two sons; two granddaughters, Chloe Jordin McGuire and Sophie Ariel McGuire of Rock Hill; a twin brother, Perry Downs McGuire (Susie) of Catawba; three sisters-in-law – Annie Lou Price Deason, Eula Mae Merritt McGuire and Minnie Mae Price Stegall, all of Rock Hill; and Catherine Gibson Price of Andrews; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a son, Jerry “Jay” Phifer McGuire Jr., and three brothers – Grier McGuire Jr., Frank Olin McGuire Sr. and Thomas Clarence McGuire.

A worship service celebrating McGuire’s life was held Friday at Riverview Presbyterian Church. Burial with a Masonic Memorial Service followed at Grand View Memorial Park in Rock Hill.

Memorials may be made to the donor’s choice, or to Riverview Presbyterian Church.

This story was originally published December 10, 2015 at 6:25 PM with the headline "Former Fort Mill Times editor Jerry McGuire dies at 83."