South Carolina Hall Of Fame: Rudy Mancke

Rudolph Ernest Mancke III served as naturalist and co-host of South Carolina ETV's NatureScene, which began its long run in 1978. His field trips, broadcast nationwide, earned him a legion of dedicated viewers. Rudy's knowledge of the complex inner-workings of different ecosystems and his great admiration for the natural world make him the perfect guide. In fact, the National Wildlife Federation and the Garden Club of America honored his commitment to resource conservation with special awards. After retiring from SCETV, Rudy went on to become naturalist-in-residence at the University of South Carolina.

Before his work in public broadcasting, Rudy served as the natural history curator at the South Carolina State Museum for 10 years and was a high school biology and geology teacher.

Mancke grew up in Spartanburg, South Carolina and was the eldest of four children. He earned a degree at Wofford College, attended graduate school at the University of South Carolina, and received honorary doctorate degrees from the College of Charleston, Winthrop College, and Wofford College.

He hosted SC Public Radio's NatureNotes from 1999 until his death in 2023 at age 78.