South Carolina broadcasters have honored an attorney who's led freedom of information efforts for decades, a longtime television station general manager and an award-winning television meteorologist.

The South Carolina Broadcasters Association honored recipients at their annual winter meeting in Columbia Thursday night.

Columbia attorney Jay Bender received an honorary life membership for work on open records issues, electronic access to state courts for journalists and representing broadcasters in various important court cases. Bender also represents a number of the state's newspapers.

The chief meteorologist of Greenville's WYFF-TV, John Cessarich (SES-uh-rich), was given the 2018 Masters Award. Cessarich has been with the station for nearly 27 years.

Richard O'Dell, president and general manager of WLTX-TV in Columbia, was named to the Hall of Fame. He's led that station for 19 years.