John "Bob" Robert Cole Jr.

Born in Melvin Hill, N.C., to the late John Robert and Sara Stilwell Cole. Cole graduated from Greenville High School in 1957 and attended the University of South Carolina and Brevard College. He began his writing career as a sportswriter for the Greenville Piedmont and joined the sports staff of The Columbia Record in

1961. Cole entered the U.S. Army in 1962 and, after serving two years at Fort Jackson and Fort Steward, G.A., he returned to the Record sports staff. He was named sports editor of the Record in 1967.

Cole joined the staff of The State in September of 1968 where he served as assistant sports editor for over 25 years. He subsequently served as a columnist and beat writer, covering USC, Clemson and S.C. small colleges until his retirement in July of 2001.

Among the major events Cole covered, in addition to USC and Clemson football games, were numerous Final Fours and NCAA regional basketball playoffs, two NCAA soccer Final Fours, the Masters golf tournament, the Family Circle Magazine Cup women's tennis championships, the Heritage golf championship and Clemson's national championship win over Nebraska in the 1981 Orange Bowl.

Among the sports celebrities he interviewed over a career that spanned 41 years were basketball greats Michael Jordan, Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell; tennis stars John McEnroe, Jimmy Connors, Bjorn Borg, Chris Evert, Billy Jean King and two-time Grand Slam winner Rod Laver; and legendary sports writer/tennis commentator Bud Collins.

Cole won numerous writing awards and was twice named the Sportswriter of the Year by the S.C. Press Association.

He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Jacqueline Heathcote Cole of Columbia; a daughter, Jennifer C. Leary and her husband, Robert and three grandchildren, Heather, Emily Simmons (Logan) and Colin. A sister Betty Kremer in West Palm Beach, Florida.

The family will hold a simple graveside service at the Episcopal Church of St. Simon and St. Jude at a date to be determined.