Photo source: dignitymemorial.com
John Fredric Bolin, former General Manager of the University of South Carolina’s Carolina Coliseum, passed away Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at the age of 81.
Bolin was born to parents Ambers Lee and Elizabeth Gold Bolin on November 12, 1944, in Gaffney, S.C. “He was often described as ‘a boy of high adventure,’” according to his obituary. “His constant delight in learning about life’s bounteous opportunities to grow in knowledge, savor experiences, and discern differences in how other people move through life, made John a happy and delightful person to know.”
He began his professional career in education, teaching children with special needs. After a few years, he returned to his alma mater of North Greenville Junior College as Associate Director of Admissions, where he was later promoted to Director of Admissions. Bolin was then invited to the University of South Carolina (USC) in Columbia, S.C., to serve as Director of Undergraduate Admissions and Administration Projects Manager.
In 1993, Bolin became General Manager of USC’s Carolina Coliseum and an Adjunct Professor of Sports and Entertainment.
Michael Marion, CVE, GM of Simmons Bank Arena in North Little Rock, Ark., was Director of the Tupelo Coliseum at the time. Marion, who worked as a talent agent before becoming a venue manager, recalls Bolin fondly.
“In my agent days, Columbia was always on the route,” he said. “When I started in Tupelo, we stayed in touch. In 1996, we had Reba and Brooks & Dunn do rehearsals for three weeks. At the end she did a press conference that made the national AP, talking about how nice the Tupelo Coliseum was.”
Bolin responded via fax:
“It is unusual for me to get exercised over such — tolerant and thick skinned arena manager that I am — but there comes a time when even I — John Bolin (aka Master of the House, Promoter, Presenter and Hey You, Yeah You the Short Guy) HAS IT UP TO HERE WITH ALL THIS MICHAEL MARION STUFF. It’s bad enough that I have to see you in ABOUT EVERY [expletive] POLLSTAR AND AMUSEMENT BUSINESS because you’ve SOLD ALL THE FRIGGING TICKETS IN MISSISSIPPI AND CONTIGUOUS STATES to some attraction that I can’t give away but now I pick up my own State Newspaper in my own hometown and I GET TO SEE YOU ONE MORE [expletive] TIME.
Please take this in the spirit in which it is scrawled — and go play golf or something and GIVE IT A REST.”
It is a testament to Bolin that Marion has held onto the letter for the past three decades — and serves to reinforce that “the ‘boy of high adventure’ enjoyed it all and loved being a part of something greater than himself,” according to his obituary. “He loved the work and the people who shared his work until the end of his life.”
He is survived by his wife, Patricia Pearce; two daughters, Angela Nichole (Niki) and Heather Dawn Bolin Francis; a son-in-law, John Francis; and grandson, Niko Francis.
Bolin’s Celebration of Life will be held at Trenholm Road United Methodist Church in Columbia, S.C., on July 12, 2026, at 3:00 PM with a reception to follow.
