Beckley Post-Herald The Raleigh Register from Beckley, West Virginia • Page 26

ADVERTISEMENT Post-Herald and Register, Beckley, W. Va. Sunday Morning, Nov. 14, 1971--27 After 25 Years NR Hasn't Said It All Mrs. Verne a i Ellen) Tucker, er hostess of WWNR Women's Angle Program, is shown with Gene Morehouse on remote in the early 1950's.

Mrs. Tucker is now serving as secretary for the First Christian Church in Beckley. Gene Morehouse came to WWNR in 1949 and had lived in Beckley until taking the Sports Information Job at Marshall University. Morehouse was one of 75 persons who died when a DC9 Jet they were riding smashed into a hillside and burned on Saturday, Nov. 14, 1970.

It's What's Up Front That Counts Behind the scenes: All the receptionist; Betsy Hatcher, office duties at WWNR are bookkeeper and office manager; performed by these people. Cathi Lipsinic, traffic director. From left to right: Sandie Lilly, Standing is copy director Fred JPersinger. You Get An far Full On NR WWNR 25th Anniversary Radio Station WWNR was officially licensed by the Federal Communications Commission to begin broadcasting on November 17, 1946. The station! operated with 250 watts at 1450; K.

C. In 1951 WWNR increased its power to 1000 watts and is presently operating at 620 K. HZ. The NR in its call letters represent the initials of Nicki Rahall, Beckley i businessman and the father of the owners--N. Joe, Farris, Deem and Sam.

(Deem was killed in a plane crash in 1952.) N. Joe Rahall continues to live in Beckley. Sam and Farm are located at the parent company's headquarters in St. Petersburg, Florida. In its twenty-five years of operation WWNR has strived to entertain, inform, and serve the listeners of southern West Virginia.

Its programs have been top rated in almost every radio survey taken since 1952, receiving some of the highest percentages in the nation, Some of the old time shows were "Uncle "Women's "Open "Hillbilly and "Polka Time." Many air personalities have appeared on WWNR, but perhaps the most unusual was "Gus" the talking mynah bird who appeared with the morning announcer for almost five years. In the early SO's WWNR broke the tradition of doing all of its programs from the studio and began broadcasting from everywhere in southern West Virginia. It is believed that WWNR has done "remote" broadcasts than any station in West Virginia. The Rahall stations were one of the first in the nation to program "Open Mike" type programs with listeners being able to participate by way of telephone. The idea was so new that the equipment needed by the "NR" engineering department was hand made by the engineers.

Because the station participates in many com- munity affairs, the late Mayor John W. Smith officially proclaimed the staff members as the "WWNR Good At great expense it has brought its listeners every type of sporting event ranging from Little League to high school, college, and professional a baseball, and basketball. The WWNR news department has been honored with state and national awards. The ABC radio network and the wires of the Associated' Press keep its listeners informed of events around the world. WWNR's music has ranged from "hillbilly" to classical and contemporary.

Latest methods are utilized to select the music that the people in our area want to hear most. WWNR appreciates the many fine advertisers and listeners in southern West Virginia who have made what it is and hopes to serve southern West Virginia even better during the next twenty-five years of broadcasting. Rahall Chairman Of The Board The NR Good Guys President of Radio Station WWNR and chairman of the Board of Rahall Communications is a native Beckleyan N. Joe Rahall. With brothers Farris, Sam, and Deem (killed in a plane crash in 1952), he started out in 1946 as a small town radio operator, and Rahall Communications has grown to be one of the most respected corporations in the broadcasting industry in America.

Rahall Communications Corporation with headquarters in St. Petersburg, Florida, is now listed on the stock exchange. Besides WWNR in Beckley, R. C. C.

owns and operates radio stations in Allentown, Pennsylvania; Petersburg, Florida; and are awaiting the federal approval of their newest AM and FM stations in Indianapolis, Indiana. R. C. C. is also in the television and telecable business serving the St.

Petersburg-Tampa areas. The second major field of activity, and one in which R. C. C. expects to show an even ore accelerated growth over the Penney Stores.

N. Joe Rahall, chairman the Board of R. C. C. says "We are building all of our operations on a solid foundation of creativity and quality, am a service which is adaptable to the needs of people." next few years, is the tax return preparation services, a 'wholly-owned subsidiary of R.

C. C. The E. B. S.

Tax Services Inc. has already grown to become the largest of its kind 'in the nation. At present, E. B. S.

Tax Service centers are being operated in Sears, Ward, and J. C. JACK SLYGH Chief engineer Jack Slygh i a twenty-five year broadcaster. Gonzalez Remembers Fvenfs The WWNR staff was officially proclaimed "The Good Guys" in 1964 by the late John Wesley Smith, then mayor of the city. From left to right: Bob Horton who came to WWNR as music director from Bristol, Virginia, in May of 1965; Dick Callaway who joined the "Good Guys" in September, 1966, as news director; Rod O'Dell who joined the staff in June, 1961, and is now program director; D.

S. Goodwin, the Public Service Director for WWNR who started in December of 1969; and Phil Vogel who has been with WWNR since January, 1955 and is currently the production manager for WWNR. Tony Gonzalez arrived on Manager. He can i ArQfJ WWNR scene in 1952 as a staff remember when records were: engineer and now serves in the Qn 7g and recordjngs Radio station WWNR ha capacity of Vice made Qn spools to our area events tead of tape reels. In the 20; which would ordinarily years that Tony has been ati WWR nsors the WWNR, the station has grown Home Show and Outdoor to have one of the largest staffs Livin Exposition" which has in West Virginia and is highly! featured such attractions respected throughout th Flipper II, wrestling alligators broadcasting industry.

Because Sparky the seal, and recording of WWNR's tremendous service artist Tommy Cash, to the area and the state, Tony; yea WWNR ides was appointed by Governor nnn Moore to the Citizens Advisory: 20 000 ma of the Cltv of Cutting their way into another 25 years of broadcasting are from left to right Farris E. Rahall, financial vice president and treasurer, Nick Rahall (father) for whom NR is named, and Sam Rahall, vice president and secretary of Rahall Communication Corporation. Nick Rahall is a prominent resident of Beckley and is still active in local affairs. Farris and Sam Rahall live in St. Petersburg, where the home office of Rahall Communications is located.

WWNR's Little Blue Bus, a Studio on wheels, has been bringing results to advertizers in this area since the early 1960's. WWNR, A Pioneer In Radio Radio Station WWNR proving radio is been a pioneer in Broadcasting'every where. Through-out from the beginning. In the mid 60's, and now the SO's WWNR erected a tent on the Court House lawn for a week Long Marathon Broadcast. The Broadcast was planned to promote Beckley Bargain the 70's WWNR has improved on the techniques of doing remote broadcasts.

The early tent has now become a bus with the necessary equipment to broadcast from any spot in the area Days, but was received so well; 1 'vertisers matter of seconds. Ad- have found WWNR Award Winning News Since 1964 WWNR news has won 9 major news awards. Two of the Awards were presented nationally and the other 7 were awarded on the state level. The latest National Award was presented in Chicago July of 1971. In late February of 1970, the National Associated Broadcasters Association announced from New York awards to 27 of the AP's 3,300 broadcast members for extraordinary by the public the remote remo tes to be very effective 'cooperation in the coverage of of Broadcasting regular part of became a reaching the public for over the stations 20 years, Commission to the legislator; served a two year term as president of the West Virginia Broadcasters Association and Beckley to tourists, conventioneers, and new comers.

Every spring the "NR" Good Guys present the "Battle of the TONY GONZALEZ Vice-President-General Mgr. was presented the "Dist- Bands" with all the proceeds inguished Service Award" by going to the American Cancer the Beckley Jaycees. WWNR is Society. During the next 25 looking forward to WWNR pledges to conti- to serve our area and Westinue to do everything possible Virginia for another 25 years. I to help fill our area needs.

A Sale Staff That's Hard To Beat The WWNR a i i a a Standing left to right: department is headed by LylejPat Roach, Bob Skaggs, Danny 0. Weagel (seated), sales Tilson, and WWNR sportscaster I Tom Hicks, the news. Two of the 27 stations given news awards WLCY--St. and WWNR-Beckley, W. Va.

part of the Rahall Communication Corporation. WWNR was awarded for its cooperation in the innovation of a new system of handling audio news actualities. WWNR news director Dick Callaway, who also serves as president of the West Virginia A. P. Broadcasters Association, said in October of 70 that WWNR would handle all audio news feeds for the state of West Virginia on the Audio Exchange System.

WWNR began in November of 1970 to feed audio news reports around the state. Several other Associated Press Associations across the country are now considering implementation of the system begun in the news department of WWNR as a method of providing better news service to other broadcasters and the public, who has a right to know. TO: BIRTHDAY CLUB 8:10 A.M. DAILY On WWNR 620 ON YOUR DIAL 5:50 P.M. DAILY WIN A FRK CAKE From QUALITY PASTRY SHOP NofHing To fre Prtwnt To Win 435 NtVIUI ST.

IICKIIY SHOPF1NG CfNtfft EARL NIGHTINGALE WITH "CU3 CHANGING WORLD" Brought To You By BECKLEY NATIONAL BANK WISHING RADIO STATION WWNR HAPPY 25th ANNIVERSARY JIMMY FIDLER FROM HOLLYWOOD 10 TIMES DAILY ON WWNR COURTESY OF Alan Susman AND CITY FINANCE BECKLEY OAK MILL SOPHIA OCEANA WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY SPORTS WOODROW WILSON HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS JACK TENNANT VOICE OF THE MOUNTAINEERS LILLY'S DRUG 329 N. Eisenhower Dr. SALUTES RADIO STATION WWNR ON 25 YEARS OF OUTSTANDING SPORTS TOM HICKS VOICE OF THE FLYING EAGLES WWNR CELEBRATES 25 YEARS OF AREA SPORTS WITH SPONSORS SUCH AS DEARING BROTHERS Your "JEEP" Dealer Prosperity, W. Va. 9:15 A.M.

DAILY ON WWNR 62 On Your Dial BEAUTIFUL ISLE OF SOMEWHERE SACRED MUSIC PRESENTED BY AMOS QUESENBERRY Rose and Quesenberry FUNERAL CHAPEL 1901 S. KANAWHA ST. HALL FURNITURE CO. 1101 VALLEY DR. N.

PRESENTS HAPPY SILVER ANNIVERSARY WWNR ABC NEWS PRESENTED BY EAREHART AMERICAN 1195 VAUEY DR. N. HOWARD COSELL 'SPEAKING OF SPORTS" ABC NETWORK 5:25 P.M. DAILY "BIG BAD DAVES" HOME OF THE UNJROYAIS.