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Home  History
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Newsflash |
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Keep up with WFLO now on twitter. Just find wfloradio and follow us!
The WFLO remote team will be at all the Farmville Jaycee's First Friday celebrations at Riverside Park with great giveaways! See you there! |
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Tonight: Clear, with a low around 48. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Labor Day: Sunny, with a high near 86. Calm wind becoming southeast around 6 mph.
Monday Night: Clear, with a low around 56. Calm wind.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 91. South wind between 3 and 7 mph.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 64. South wind around 7 mph.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 93.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 59.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 87.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 58.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 84.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 60.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 86.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 66.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 89.
For up to the minute weather tune to WFLO-FM at 95.7 or WFLO-AM 870. |
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John Wilson
August 12, 1977
Thirty years ago today, August 12, 1947,
WFLO in Farmville became a radio station. For several months, it had
been just an assembly of wires, a tower, studios and technical
equipment. Nevertheless, on this date 30 years ago, the Federal
Communications Commission in Washington sent a telegram to the station
giving it authority to commence broadcasting. At that time, the
station's studios were located on west Third Street in Farmville, and
its transmitter located on the Cumberland Road about a mile and a half
away in a small building on state highway 45. If you've wondered how it
all got started in the first place, then here's the answer.
In the late
1940's the federal government decided to do something about the need
for additional small town radio stations in the United States. Before
that time, a handful of large high powered radio stations had been
allowed exclusive use of all available frequencies, and no space was
left on the dial for smaller local stations. The Communications Act of
1934 was responsible for this, but things had now changed. The Act was
amended in the late 1940's to allow daytime radio stations to come into
being, to operate on the same frequencies heretofore reserved for the
"big boys", but this was for daylight hours only. AM radio waves travel
farther at night. The day timers would have to sign off at night to
avoid interference with the big fellows. That's where WFLO and several
hundred other stations suddenly had their chance. Mrs. Carla Keys of
Johnson City, Tennessee, who had widespread business interests, had an
interest in building a station. She was advised that Farmville,
Virginia would be a good place to do it. And so it happened; an
application was filed, the necessary paperwork and all taken care of,
personnel contacted, engineers, announcers, writers, sales staff,
clerical workers, land was leased, building leased, equipment
purchased, and so on it went. And on this date, 30 years ago, the big
switch was thrown and FLO was on the air. Only one person on the
present staff was there at the time; O.C. Covington, WFLO engineer for
30 years, is the only staff member who remained throughout the three
decades. I was a "johnny come lately", joining the station in 1950,
becoming manager in 1953. There had been three other managers earlier,
including the original the late Harold Gray, an interim manager in 1948
Jimmy Wilson from Johnson City, Tennessee (no relation by the way), and
the popular Chuck Maillet who was my boss until 1953. Chuck now
operates his own station in Portsmouth, Ohio.
Under the continuing
ownership of Mrs. Carla Keys, WFLO slowly grew up. By the time she was
nearly ten years old in 1956, it had become time to construct a new
studio building on the Cumberland Road and consolidate studios and
transmitter under one roof. Since the company operated as Colonial
Broadcasting Company, it seemed logical to follow a colonial style in a
new building. Thus the tall columns and the colonial style porch on the
building that is serving today as studios, office and transmitter
location.
By 1960, it was becoming evident that FM, frequency
modulation, would be helpful to the station. Once again, there would be
the flurry of paperwork for the FCC license, the purchasing of
equipment, not on so grand a scale as the original application, but
steps that were still necessary. And in that year, 1960, WFLO-FM was
born at 95.7 with a power of 6,300 watts effective radiated power. That
means FM coverage about equal to WFLO-AM working out effectively for
maybe 40 -50 miles. The FM operation could sign on early in the
morning...5 am is the present daily starting time... it could stay on
later at night, all night if desired...sign off is 10 pm, except 11 pm
on Saturday, present schedule. Different music and other different
programs could be heard on FM...In effect, a completely new station was
created. Next came mobile units...2 way radios, one mounted in a
four-wheel drive vehicle that was supposed to be able to go most
anywhere to give on the
spot news instantly, fires, accidents, interviews. Today there are
three mobile units in operation.
In 1962, WFLO became the local weather
recording station, succeeding the late E.F. Striplin who had kept daily
weather records for the area since 1930. Today the station has teletype
service directly from the National Weather Service to bring up to the
minute information to the air as rapidly as possible.
For nearly thirty
years, WFLO has broadcast daily programs for local VPI EXTENTION
Agents, alternating from Appomattox, Buckingham, Charlotte, Cumberland
and Prince Edward Counties. These programs continue today. Morning
Devotions is another original program continuing today after 3 decades.
News programs continue to be extremely important, and WFLO news is
followed far and wide throughout this area as one of our most important
features.
Undoubtedly, the most important asset to the station is its
personnel; and here we truly cannot say enough. After Mrs. Keys death
in 1972, the ownership of the station went to a small corporation
composed of some of the senior employees. The corporation continued the
name Colonial Broadcasting Company, and added Incorporated. And at this
point, we list our most important assets by name and length of service:
O.C. Covington, engineer, 30 years...John Wilson, 27 years...Al Smith,
program and sports director, 24 years...Henry Fulcher, country music,
21 years. Several whose length of staff service range from 15 to 20
years: Ann McGahey, continuity...T.J. Fulcher, sales...Gene Eike,
assistant program director and announcer. Ten years or more: Larry
LeSueur, announcer and sales...Josephine Newcomb, bookkeeping. A little
less than 10 years: Francis Wood, news...Lucille Campbell, traffic. And
part-timers whose combined service average nearly ten years: announcers
David Layne, Bob Woodburn and night man Tommy Jenkins...plus our most
recent assistant, Julie Ryan, part-time bookkeeping. These are the
"lifeblood" of the station. Otherwise WFLO AM and FM would be just
another assembly of building, studio, transmitter, offices, equipment,
and etcetera. However, these are not just "anybody" employees. They're
dedicated and loyal people, solid citizens in the community, each
involved in community activities and ready and willing to help do what
is necessary for the good of the station and the community. We salute
this staff today with pride and pleasure.
That is FLO in a nutshell
today...30 years old now. WFLO is people serving people. With the
Lord's blessing, may this service continue always in a constant effort
to meet the needs and interests of our listeners.
JOHN WILSON
JANUARY 2, 2002
The decades of the eighties and nineties recorded
significant changes at WFLO concerning personnel and growth. Death
claimed O.C. Covington, Al Smith, Larry Leseur, Gene Eike and Tommy
Jenkins. T.J. Fulcher jr. retired as sales manager and Josephine
Newcomb, bookkeeper, also retired. By 1990, Gene Eike was general
manager, as John Wilson had accepted semi-retirement. Gene's term in
management lasted ten years until he was fatally stricken with cancer
in 1999 and John Wilson returned to management. Francis Wood moved from
program director to station manager and eventually to general manager
in 2002, as John Wilson again chose semi-retirement. Polly Davis
succeeded T.J. Fulcher as sales manager and Pat Wilkerson became
bookkeeper and finance officer.
WFLO FM increased power to 40,000 watts
(erp) in the '80s and began full time broadcasting, going to a
syndicated program service by satellite at night. In 1995, the WFLO
parent company (Colonial Broadcasting Company Incorporated) purchased
the assets of WSVS in Crewe and became licensee/owner of the former
major competitor of WFLO. Gene Eike served as manager and engineer for
both stations.
Tragedy struck WFLO in the spring of 1996 when a severe
storm destroyed the station tower, bringing it down completely and
consequently WFLO AM and FM were off the air for a time. However, a
makeshift AM antenna was put into service within a
few days to put Am back on the air at considerably reduced signal
strength. The rebuilding of WFLO FM was another story, but eventually
the tower which supports both AM and FM was rebuilt with an additional
150 feet added to the tower height. In addition, FM power was increased
to 50,000 watts. The complete rebuilding process took nearly a full
year before everything was finalized at a cost of over $100,000.00. The
loss was partially covered by insurance.
The tower rebuilding process
was a story in itself and was successful largely due to the ingenuity
and resourcefulness of Gene Eike who drew important advice and guidance
from some of the broadcast industry's experts in engineering and
construction. Gene had made previous contact with many of these
specialists through the Virginia Association of Broadcasters when he
served as president of that organization several years earlier.
WFLO FM
"emerged from the ashes" of tower destruction with a prestigious
500-foot tower and an operating power of 50,000 watts, thus becoming
one of central Virginia's most powerful and widely heard radio
stations. This was a landmark accomplishment for Gene and for those who
worked with him.
WFLO's strength today still rests with its outstanding
staff. Special mention should be made here of Henry Fulcher whose tour
of duty at WFLO began in the mid 1950's and continues today as one of
the most popular figures in the area of country music in Virginia. His
love for country music, his quick wit and natural ability to entertain,
captured the hearts of listeners from the beginning and today. Henry
continues to delight his loyal audience of morning radio listeners. He
is also a part owner in Colonial Broadcasting Company Incorporated and
WFLO Real Estate.
The staff has been greatly strengthened by program
staffers like Chris Wood, who is the station program director; by
people like Elliott Irving, news director; Chris Brochon, traffic and
production engineer; Bill McKay, on air announcer and bluegrass show
host. Weekenders help balance the staff; William Lynn, Sunday morning
instrumental music, Novey Wiley and Wendy Jones, Sunday morning gospel
program, Janet Stuart and Drew Newton, afternoon, night, and weekend
announcers. Cannon Watson, former UNC football player, who covers
Hampden-Sydney football, has enhanced sports coverage and basketball
broadcasts. Donnie Turlington and Winning Queensbury host the WFLO high
school football games.
Today, WFLO continues its leadership in the
community as a full service radio station, with the highest audience
ratings in the area despite the fact that several other stations have
come on the air in recent years in Farmville and the vicinity. The
station has consistently been a major factor in the lives and
activities of south central Virginians. As a local minister stated on
Morning Devotions recently, "Without WFLO, things would be vastly
different in these counties. This station is a great asset." |
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