Alan Mason ’75 enrolled in Clemson University largely for its proximity to his family’s home in Seneca, South Carolina. After years of moving for his father’s military career, Clemson met the criteria he was looking for in a university – a short commute home and a high-quality education.
From a young age, Mason had a passion for sports communication. Though he pursued a degree in administrative management, he found opportunities to explore his interests outside of the classroom and immersed himself in the world of live broadcasting at WSBF-FM, Clemson’s student-run radio station. Now a part of Tiger Media in the Department of Communication, WSBF-FM offered hands-on experience, creative freedom and mentorship from experts in the field.
Mason joined the student broadcast team to call plays for the University’s junior varsity games. Over time, with encouragement and support from leadership in Athletics, Mason and his co-hosts received permission to cover baseball and soccer games as well – an experience that was almost unheard of for undergraduates at the time.
Mason said much of that opportunity was made possible by Bob Bradley, Clemson’s sports information director. Bradley recognized the value of experiential learning and provided real-world opportunities for students to grow in knowledge and build confidence for future success.
“He was one of the most supportive people I met at Clemson,” said Mason. “He believed in me before I had any real experience. His support made all the difference.”
During his time as a student, the South Carolina Educational Radio Network, a National Public Radio (NPR) affiliate, opened a studio in Clemson House. He earned a position as a newscaster and covered Associated Press (AP) reports and farm market updates. He said this real-world experience in a professional setting fueled his passion for broadcasting.
After graduation, through connections made at the on-campus NPR affiliate, Mason earned his first full-time role at WQOK-AM in 1975. Suddenly, he was running a one-person newsroom – delivering morning news, covering local stories during the day and anchoring an afternoon sports segment. Within a year, he was play calling for Furman University football alongside Sam Wyche, a former player in the National Football League (NFL) and future head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals.
From there, his career accelerated.
He spent five years building his reputation in radio before moving into television as the bureau chief for WLOS-TV in Greenville, South Carolina. Later, he transitioned to weekend sports anchor then assignment editor at WLOS-TV in Asheville, North Carolina; earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Pittsburgh; and returned to WLOS-TV as news director before moving to Dallas, Texas, as a television consultant.
Ultimately, his career led him to Time Warner Cable, where he helped launch one of the first 24-hour local news networks in Raleigh, North Carolina. Over the next two decades, he developed and led regional news operations across multiple states, including Florida, North Carolina, Ohio, Wisconsin, Kentucky and Washington, D.C.
He retired as a regional vice president and general manager after the company transitioned to Spectrum, closing a 45-year career that began with a student radio station and a dream.
“My time at WSBF changed the trajectory of my life,” he said. “I am eternally grateful for my Clemson Experience and the mentors and professors who poured into me during my time as a student.”
That gratitude inspired Mason and his wife, Priscilla, to give back in a meaningful way. Longtime supporters of Clemson academics and athletics, they felt called to enhance their level of giving to the Department of Communication to support faculty and students during a time of major change across the industry, specifically in communications, journalism and technology.
Their gift will establish an endowed professorship, ensuring that future generations of students benefit from the same kind of mentorship and hands-on learning that defined his experience. The endowment will support faculty excellence while creating new opportunities for students to explore careers in media, communication and beyond.
“We are deeply grateful to Alan and Priscilla for their generous gift to the Department of Communication. This endowed professorship will allow us to continue to recruit exceptional faculty who elevate student learning opportunities and drive innovation,” said Deanna Sellnow, communication department chair. “It is also a powerful reflection of their legacy which is rooted in a deep commitment to experiential learning, mentorship and academic excellence.”
The College of Behavioral, Social and Health Sciences (CBSHS) was established in July 2016. CBSHS is a 21st-century, land-grant college that combines work in nine disciplines – communication; nursing; parks, recreation and tourism management; political science; psychology; public health sciences; sociology, anthropology and criminal justice – to further its mission of “building people and communities” in South Carolina and beyond.
