WLBG Long Time Radio Host Randy ‘Steam’ Stevens Dies In Friday Morning Crash

WLBG’s morning show host, Randy Stevens died last Friday morning following a wreck on his motorcycle. At about 4:40 am Friday, while on his way to work at WLBG from his home south of Whitmire, Randy was turning his motorcycle from Highway 176 to Church Street in Whitmire when his motorcycle collided head-on with a car. He was thrown from his motorcycle. EMS rushed Randy to Columbia for emergency care, but he died there of injuries from the wreck.
Randy would acknowledge that riding a motorcycle to work that distance before sunrise, through the Sumter National Forest, had it’s risks; but he loved riding the motorcycle. So much, that he would ride even when temperatures dipped below freezing. He would sometimes even ride to work in rain, thinking the skies would clear for an enjoyable ride back to Whitmire that afternoon.
Just a few weeks ago on April 1st, Randy celebrated the passages of thirty years of his talk show, “Good Morning, Up-Country.” In that program, Randy was known to make comments that sometimes pushed up against the perceived limit of what should be said. He also sometimes took on many important issues that needed honest discussion.
 In addition to serving the community with honest conversation on important issues on the air, Randy also served the community off the air. He was very active with the Patriot Guard motorcycle riders, who honored veterans of military service at their death. He also worked in the Greater Laurens County Community for projects ranging from support of veterans to first responders. Randy’s community service began long before his career with WLBG. While operating his family insurance agency his community service included work on the first Board of Directors for the Main Street Laurens program. He was currently serving on the Board of Directors of the Laurens County Humane Society. Giving animals proper treatment was always a topic he spoke out about.
While Randy was best known for his work from WLBG on “Good Morning Up-Country,” he also hosted the Morning News Magazine weekday mornings from 6:00 to 8:30 over the past several years.
Even before hosting the Good Morning Up-Country talk show, Randy would occasionally be heard on WLBG as he joined Emil Finley to provide live election coverages of local elections across Laurens County, which they continued doing over recent decades.
    According to his wishes, after harvesting of his organs for transplants, Randy’s remains will be cremated. A Community Service to remember Randy Stevens is being planned at a location to be determined in the Laurens area. While the date has not been set as of last report, if may be this Saturday. All friends and listeners are invited to attend. We’ll have details on this program once they are confirmed.