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Jim Wilder

J

Jim Wilder

Guest
Gentleman and Ladies I have just found this website and just wanted to say thank you for the nice things you have said about my Grandfather the late Jim Wilder of WBIE-FM in Marietta. Yes I am his Grandson who was in Radio for many years myself. I started in 1978 at WRBN-AM/FM in Warner Robins Ga. In 1980 I when down to Bainbridge Ga to jock for Charlie Rowe at WJAD-FM 97 Rock after a year there, back to Gordon Ga for WIZY-FM which was owned by Marshall Rowland who also had WQIK-FM in Jacksonville fl. Marshall s sons ran the station in Gordon Ga. After a year there I went to WQBZ-FM in Ft Valley Ga to work the the Morning Rooster Nathan Hale. Now all this time I was in radio I had been flying too. My Grandfather was a pilot and my Dad was in the AIRFORCE so I got the flying bug at a very early age. After I finished jocking in the mid 80s I started working at a Ad Agency in Macon Ga for Allen Gaugh. Late 80s came along and I said it was time to go get a flying job. So I did. I flew corporate a few years then went to work for a commuter of USAIR and then in 2001 came to AirTran Airways where I am now a Boeing 717 Captain. I know both my Father and Grandfather would both be proud of me and my aviation career. My Dad passed away in 1970 and my Grandfather in 1981. I was there for the induction ceremony in 2008 for the GRHOF awards. It was awesome and I got to meet some of my favorite jocks over at Z-93 and some good folks over at WSB like Scott Slade. Once again thanks for the nice things said about my Grandfather. Yes he was a heavy smoker that's what killed him. And yes he did have some old equipment but up until the few days before being put in the hospital before he passed he was up at 4am going to the station to get ready for his morning show. I really miss him and he was so proud to have his grandson in radio. My other brother Gary was also in radio for many years too. Once again thanks and if your ever on a AirTran flight ask for me , the other crew member know me as Radioman!!! Jim Wilder Newnan,Ga
 
My dad used to love to listen to WBIE-FM, switching over from AM WPLO. He also died from the cancer sticks, a lot younger than he should have.

Question: Was your grandfather's passing the impetus for the sale of WBIE-FM to Cap Cities/ABC and the imaging change from WBIE to WKHX/Kicks?

What happened to WBIE-AM (1080 IIRC)? I know the station is still around but...
 
I remember listening to the morning show when Mr. Wilder was in the hospital the last time. The morning guy that was filling in called Mr. Wilder at the hospital and had him on the air for a few minutes. I am guessing this was probably one of the last times he was live on WBIE. I do remember that his voice was heard for a long time on the automation system. That was WBIE's signature, hearing Mr. Wilder 24/7. :)
 
No when my Grandfather died the family thought my Grandmother would continue running the station with her son Bill. But when the will was read it made a local CPA his executor of the state and
he saw an opportunity to sell out and not only give himself a nice bonus but for the family to have some money. It sold for a little over 8.5 million. A sad day when it sold. I still believe that if the family had kept the station it would of run just fine. Plus my Brother and myself thought we might have a chance to come in and help run the station. It had a awesome staff like Roger Allison and many others whom my Grandfather trusted totally. Now the good thing is that I have many reel to reels of music he played with his distinctly gravely voice on them. I listen to them from time to time and I loved the country music he played in the 70s. Many times in the mid 70s I would come spend a few weeks each summer with my grandparents and hang out with Grandaddy. He helped me buy my first new car. A 1977 Camaro at Anderson Chevrolet in Marietta . I think I paid $5300. I met a lot of country music singers who would come to the station. Even some game show hosts stopped by, would just walk in to the studio and ask for him personally. Grandmother passed a few years ago and we miss her to. WBIE-FM was ahead of its times and my Grandfather was a pioneer in it. I remember when Charlie Daniels "The devil went down to Georgia" my Grandaddy said he would not pla yit until they took out the line .."you son of a bitch". When a clean version came out which said.."You son of a gun" he started playing it. I had a lot of respect of him for that. Dont know what happend to the AM I think its Spanish now. The only Radio I do now is on the PA in the plane.
 
It would be great if you could post some of those reel-to-reel tapes somewhere for us to hear. I would love to hear some of the old WBIE.
 
I used to work in downtown Atlanta in the 70's and there was a store that used to play WBIE all the time. Never got tired of hearing his voice.
 
I worked at WPLO in the early seventies and of course was familiar with all the other country stations. Jim Wilder and WBIE was anti anything involving updating country music and on air presentation. I loved him for just that reason. I particularly liked to listen to his midnight show on Saturday nights. I think that was the only time the station was live.

I worked at WKHX in the early 80's , there were only a couple of sales people left that were brought over from WBIE, but as far as I could tell they thought Jim was one of a kind.

JAY WEST
 
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