So not true. I was one of the staff let go at the staff meeting where we all got fired. We did not get a choice! Leonard Chess himself was there to do it. Vi, the front desk secretary/bookkeeper had our checks ready as we left. I guess it's true you couldn't call it a mass firing as there weren't many of us at the time. The two engineers (Ed & Robert), Vi, me & the afternoon guy, and I think a total of 2 salesmen.
Leonard Chess explained the call letters. WVON, their Chicago station, was the Voice of The Negro. Since WFOX soon-to-be WNOV was competing against WAWA the new call WNOV stood for the Negroes Other Voice.
The only one I stayed in touch with was engineer Ed who bought Ken-Com and operated it. I went over to WMIL (when it was still owned by the Posners) and within a few months it was sold to Malrite.
Dave