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The John Bonsignor Interview with Councilman Cam Crawford (Part 7)

Personalities and Politics (A): Henry Brown, Russell Fry, & Alan Clemmons

In Part 7 of our continuing series, John Bonsignor and Horry County Councilman Cam Crawford take a step back for a wide-ranging, personal look at the people who helped shape modern politics along the Grand Strand.

This episode is a journey through relationships, reputations, and the individuals behind the headlines — told by those who worked alongside them, learned from them, and in many cases, helped build the political landscape we see today.

At the center of the conversation is Henry E. Brown Jr., the widely respected former congressman whose deep connection to Horry County made him a lasting and popular figure. Crawford reflects on his time serving as an aide to Brown, offering insight into both the man and the leadership style that earned him such strong local support.

We also look at the rise of Russell Fry — from his early days as a grassroots activist in Horry County politics to his emergence on the national stage.

And we revisit the career of Alan Clemmons, a longtime State Representative and former South Carolina Republican Party Chairman, whose influence on state and local politics remains significant.

In addition, we recognize Joanne Weigand, a longtime founding activist in the Republican Party whose work at the grassroots level helped build and sustain the party’s presence in the region over many years.

Along the way, the conversation expands to include a number of other notable figures — from former Myrtle Beach City Clerk Joan Grove to former Congressman Tom Rice — each contributing to a broader portrait of an era defined by strong personalities and evolving political dynamics.

Part 7 is less about events and more about people — the relationships, the stories, and the moments that don’t always make it into the official record, but help explain how politics really works at the local and regional level.

A conversation of memory, insight, and perspective — from those who were there.

Theme song is Produced by Danya Vodovoz, link to my song https://youtu.be/NRxduUMZcdw

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The John Bonsignor Interview (Part 6 — Special Edition)

A Tribute to Bennie Swan, the Community Law Enforcement Appreciation Committee, and Big Talk

In Part 6 of our John Bonsignor series, we pause to honor a remarkable life of service and community leadership — a tribute to the late Bennie Swan, whose impact on Myrtle Beach continues to be felt to this day.

Bennie Swan was more than an activist — he was a builder of bridges. After a series of shootings in the Myrtle Beach area, he stepped forward at a critical moment, helping to create what would become the Community Law Enforcement Appreciation Committee — an effort designed not only to recognize the work of law enforcement, but to foster real connection and trust between officers and the communities they serve.

Before making Myrtle Beach his home, Swan had spent a lifetime engaged in activism in cities like Philadelphia, Los Angeles, and Chicago. He brought that experience, energy, and commitment with him — and quickly became a driving force for positive change along the Grand Strand.

Working alongside John Bonsignor, and with the support of leaders including host Randal Wallace and the Myrtle Beach City Council, Swan also played a key role in establishing the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday as a recognized citywide observance. What began as an effort to honor the day has since grown into a broader community celebration — a lasting legacy of vision and persistence.

In this special episode, we look back on Bennie Swan’s life and contributions, and then take you back to the beginning — with a rebroadcast of his early appearance on Big Talk with John Bonsignor and Paul Gable, recorded at a time when the Law Enforcement Appreciation Committee was just taking shape — before it even had a name.

It’s a rare and powerful snapshot of a movement in its earliest moments.

We also take time in this episode to recognize Paul Gable — whose steady presence, professionalism, and commitment to meaningful dialogue helped make Big Talk such an important platform for conversations like these.

This is a story of partnership, purpose, and community.

A tribute to Bennie Swan…
and to the voices that helped turn ideas into lasting change.

Theme song is Produced by Danya Vodovoz, link to my song https://youtu.be/NRxduUMZcdw

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The John Bonsignor Interview with Councilman Cam Crawford (Part 5)

Congressman Henry Brown, The South Strand Republican Club, The TDF, & The Media

In Part 5 of our John Bonsignor series, we continue our second day of conversations — this time joined by Horry County Councilman Cam Crawford — as we take a deeper dive into the recent political history of Horry County.

This episode revisits one of the most talked-about and controversial moments in local politics: the press conference surrounding the wildfire that spread from the farm of Henry E. Brown Jr. into the Francis Marion National Forest, and the political firestorm that followed.

At the center of it all was a heated and highly publicized exchange involving a recently retired Democratic forestry official and the congressional campaign of Linda Ketner, just days before the 2008 election. Ketner — an heir to the Food Lion fortune — was attempting to gain traction in Horry County, but what unfolded instead were two disastrous press conferences that would shape the narrative of the race.

In this episode, we take you inside that moment.

Captured on video by the late Herbert Riley — a Jazz Etc performer and Democratic activist — we bring you audio from that day as it happened, followed by a detailed discussion with John Bonsignor and Councilman Crawford about what went wrong, what it meant politically, and how it played across the community.

From there, the conversation expands into broader themes that continue to shape the region today:

• The origins and influence of the South Strand Republican Club
• The debate surrounding the Tourism Development Fee (TDF)
• The evolving role of media — locally and nationally — in shaping public perception

This is a candid, inside look at the intersection of politics, media, and community — told by those who were there as it unfolded.

Part 5 brings history to life — not as distant memory, but as lived experience, captured in real time and examined with the perspective of those who helped shape it.

Theme song is Produced by Danya Vodovoz, link to my song https://youtu.be/NRxduUMZcdw

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The John Bonsignor Interview (Part 4 — Special Edition)

A Rebroadcast of Big Talk with Paul Gable and Guest: Randal Wallace (2018)

In Part 4 of our John Bonsignor series, we present a special edition — a rebroadcast of Big Talk from 2018, featuring Wallace Podcast Network host Randal Wallace in a pivotal moment of transition.

This appearance came shortly after Wallace’s 16-year tenure on the Myrtle Beach City Council came to an end following the 2017 election — a turning point that would ultimately lead to the creation of the Wallace Podcast Network, including Grand Strand Politics, The Randal Wallace Presents Podcast, and The Richard Nixon Experience Podcast.

Hosted by John Bonsignor and cohost Paul Gable, this episode captures Wallace at a crossroads — reflecting on public service, political life, and what comes next after leaving elected office. It’s an honest and revealing conversation about leadership, loss, and reinvention.

It also represents something more.

Because in many ways, the work being done today across the Wallace Podcast Network traces directly back to the influence of Big Talk. Bonsignor and Gable helped pioneer local political television in the Grand Strand — creating a forum where ideas could be debated, leaders could be challenged, and the public could stay informed.

That legacy lives on here.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• Randal Wallace’s reflections following the 2017 city council election
• Insights into his 16 years of public service
• Early hints of the path that would lead to the Wallace Podcast Network
• The kind of thoughtful, substantive conversation that defined Big Talk

This is more than a rebroadcast.

It’s a bridge — from local television to modern podcasting…
from one generation of political conversation to the next.

And at the center of it all is the influence of John Bonsignor and Paul Gable — the foundation on which so much of today’s local political media was built.

Theme song is Produced by Danya Vodovoz, link to my song https://youtu.be/NRxduUMZcdw

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The John Bonsignor Interview (Part 3)

Broadcasting, Paris, the Philippines, and Betty Sue Bonsignor

In Part 3 of our ongoing series, we explore the most personal chapter yet in the life of John Bonsignor — the early experiences that shaped the broadcaster, public figure, and storyteller behind the microphone.

Before Big Talk and Talking Politics, Bonsignor’s journey began in New York City, where he worked in radio at WOR Radio. His path then took him far from home — serving in the Philippines during his military years and later spending time in Paris, France, experiences that broadened his perspective and helped shape the voice he would later bring to the airwaves.

After returning home to New York, Bonsignor entered a new chapter of service as a New York City police officer. And it was during this time — just after coming back home — that a chance encounter would change his life.

While on duty, he stopped a young woman for jaywalking.

That woman was Betty Sue, from Salisbury, North Carolina.

What could have been a routine ticket became something entirely different. A conversation turned into lunch… and lunch turned into a lifelong partnership. It’s a story that perfectly captures the unexpected nature of life — and the idea that opposites truly do attract. A New York City policeman and broadcaster with a love of opera meets a Southern woman who didn’t quite share that passion — and yet, it worked beautifully.

In this episode, Bonsignor shares:

• His early broadcasting days in New York
• His experiences in the Philippines and Paris
• His transition into police work after returning home
• The unforgettable story of meeting Betty Sue
• Warm and often humorous family stories from their life together

Part 3 offers something deeper — the human story behind the public life.

Before the career…
before the cameras…
there was a young man returning home, finding his footing — and unexpectedly finding the person who would share the rest of his life.

Theme song is Produced by Danya Vodovoz, link to my song https://youtu.be/NRxduUMZcdw

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The John Bonsignor Interview (Part 2 — Special Edition)

A Rebroadcast of Big Talk with Paul Gable and Guest: Former Congressman John Jenrette

In Part 2 of our John Bonsignor interview series, we present a special edition — a rebroadcast of Big Talk, featuring a memorable conversation with former South Carolina Congressman John Jenrette.

This episode offers a rare window into the style and substance that made Big Talk a cornerstone of political dialogue along the Grand Strand. Hosted by John Bonsignor, the program brought together candid discussion, sharp questioning, and a willingness to engage complex and often controversial topics head-on.

Joining Bonsignor is cohost Paul Gable, a respected Myrtle Beach journalist whose thoughtful, measured approach helped elevate the conversation. Gable’s ability to ask incisive questions while maintaining a sense of balance and professionalism is on full display here — a reminder of the important role strong journalism plays in local media.

Together, Bonsignor and Gable guide a revealing discussion with Congressman Jenrette, touching on politics, public service, and the realities of life in elected office.

This special rebroadcast is more than a look back at a single episode — it’s a snapshot of an era when local television provided a vital forum for political discourse, driven by voices deeply connected to their community.

Part 2 continues our journey into the life and legacy of John Bonsignor — by revisiting the work that made him a defining figure in Grand Strand broadcasting.

Theme song is Produced by Danya Vodovoz, link to my song https://youtu.be/NRxduUMZcdw

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The John Bonsignor Interview (Part 1)

Big Talk, Politics, and The Grand Strand Opera Workshop

In this first installment of our eight-part interview series, we sit down with a true pioneer of local media and civic life in the Grand Strand — John Bonsignor, longtime host of Big Talk and Talking Politics, and a voice that helped shape political conversation in Myrtle Beach for decades.

At 94 years old, Bonsignor reflects on a remarkable life spent at the intersection of broadcasting, public service, and community leadership. Often described as the “grandfather” of local political talk television in the Grand Strand, he created a platform where ideas, candidates, and debates could reach everyday citizens long before the rise of modern digital media.

In Part 1, we begin at the heart of his legacy:

• The origins and evolution of Big Talk and Talking Politics
• What it meant to host political television at the local level
• The role of media in shaping informed communities
• His involvement in the Grand Strand Opera Workshop and its cultural impact

This episode sets the stage for a deeper exploration of Bonsignor’s life — from politics to the arts, from local activism to national campaigns — and the enduring influence he’s had on the civic fabric of the Myrtle Beach area.

A broadcaster. A community builder. A witness to history.

This is where the story begins.

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In our final episode in this special series we will listen in as Mayor Hirsch talks about his wife of many years, Ethel Hirsch. Her many contributions to his successful life, and career, and the raising of 10 children. The real keys to happy life are right here to be learned in this special story.

We will also listen , in its entirety, to the speech that inspired this special series in the first place. When Mayor Bob Hirsch addressed the ceremony at the Grand opening of the Myrtle Beach World War 2 Memorial. It was an extraordinary address that captured all the high points, emotions, and the sense of adventure that came from the generation that fought this horrific War.

We then switch gears to hear some advice for the future leaders who are now taking their seats at the table of government and for the next generation of young people who are just starting out in life too.

It is an episode of sound advice from our local example of all the great lessons of leadership we should be learning from the example set by the Greatest Generation.

It has been an honor to produce these seven episodes.