Courtesy Photo

David Hiott, center, watches a new issue of the Pickens Sentinel come off the printing press with his mother, Eunice, and brother, Gary, more than 50 years ago. The Hiott family, which owned the newspaper for more than half a century, made a lasting impact on the news industry in Pickens County that continues to this today.

Former local newspaper owner Hiott dies

David W. Hiott

Pickens — Pickens is mourning the loss of longtime community leader and former local newspaper owner David Hiott, who died Monday at age 89.

A 1942 graduate of Pickens High School, Hiott served in the U.S. Navy before going to printing school in Nashville, Tenn., where he took a linotype course.

He later returned to Pickens to work at the Pickens Sentinel, which his father, Gary, had purchased in 1927.

When the printing process later turned from cold type to offset printing, Hiott went to New York to study offset lithography.

Along with his mother, Eunice, Hiott and his brother, Gary, published the Sentinel following his father’s death in 1950 until it was sold in 1978.

Hiott was also a member of the Lions Club, Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Pickens Jaycees.

Hiott is survived by his wife of 63 years, Sue Churchwell Hiott, as well as four sons, four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, April 29, from 11:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m. at Pickens First Baptist Church, with a memorial service following at 1 p.m. in the church sanctuary.