WPFD

[firepoint525]

This probably doesn't even register on the radar screens of most of you, and for good reason. But I thought I would mention that the tiny little AM station in Fairview, WPFD, recently shifted formats from classic country (and I mean the really old stuff) to Spanish. This station has a very weak signal, and I doubt that it could be picked up much further away than the next town in any direction. Their studios are on highway 96, about halfway between highway 100 and exit 182 off of I-40. I have never seen any sign of life at their studios. In fact, there is an emergency number in the window to call if anything should happen!

What I am curious about is, are there enough hispanics living within range of their signal to make this a feasible format for them? I'm aware that WIZO in Franklin sold out to WHEW and became all-Spanish about 10 years or so ago, but I'm wondering if there is enough hispanic population in Williamson County to support two Spanish-language stations.

I think my dad misses the old country that AM 850 used to play. I told him they might still play Freddy Fender for him! ;D (My parents live about a mile from me.) They used to have an announcer who referred to them as "WPF&D." Kinda reminded me of that old USF&G insurance company that used to sponsor films we saw in grade school. (Remember, Hugh Downs was their announcer?)

Back around 1995, I saw WPFD listed in one of those real estate for sale guides that you can find (right alongside those apartment guides) in front of most convenience stores. I have no idea if it sold back about that time, or what price they were asking for it, or if they even got that price.

I realize this is not much, but I hope it will give you something to chew on while our board remains slow. At least slow in relation to all the other local boards on here! ;D

 

[knoxbob]

At only 500 watts the coverage area is going to be limited but the way you described it as being totally unmanned the equipment, tower and ground system might be in need of repair. As for the switch to spanish format the owner might have gotten an offer to broker out the time to someone that wants to try the format to see if it will fly or not. You could always call the emergency number and ask.

 

[courier37027]

WPFD Fairview and WHLP AM-FM were once owned by Paul F. Durham (hence the Fairview call letters). Durham was pastor at Nashville's Radnor Baptist and had a hand in the Radnor Towers on Nolensville Road. Steve Turner bought the Centerville stations somewhere back in the 1990's. I don't know the Fairview ownership or maintenance saga since then.

I worked for the Centerville stations around 1986-7. It was not uncommon to see frayed wires around the three stations. One time my mic was open and a turntable went aflame. A seven-second delay would have come in handy that day.

 

[knoxbob]

Here's a e-mail address listed aon the FCC renewal license;

[email protected]

SAMUEL B WARDEN is the name listed as President of Fairview Broadcasting Inc.

In 2006 they had an STA dismissed and it stated that they went silent in 1989. That can't be right.

 

[firepoint525]

WPFD Fairview and WHLP AM-FM were once owned by Paul F. Durham (hence the Fairview call letters). Durham was pastor at Nashville's Radnor Baptist and had a hand in the Radnor Towers on Nolensville Road. Steve Turner bought the Centerville stations somewhere back in the 1990's. I don't know the Fairview ownership or maintenance saga since then.

I worked for the Centerville stations around 1986-7. It was not uncommon to see frayed wires around the three stations. One time my mic was open and a turntable went aflame. A seven-second delay would have come in handy that day.

Radnor Baptist still had his name as pastor on the sign out in front of their building for many years after he died. They have moved out of that building and sold it to St. Edwards, so it is now Our Lady Guadalupe Catholic Church, the first all-hispanic Catholic church in Nashville. So Dr. Durham's former church and his former radio station have both become all-hispanic.

 

[scottwmro]

This is some info I got from a "local" Fariview Resident I know personally, Terry "Piggy" Lankford:

First, Terry's info is accurate, due to he hug around the station some. Sam Warden was the Owner and Licensee of WPFD. His GM, named Chuck (I forget his last name) had passed away, leaving Sam with nobody to run the station. Terry called me about buying WPFD, but I was never able to reach Sam. Some months passed and Terry told me Sam had passed away. The station went under the trustee of Sam's estate.

Now as far as the agreement the trustee has made with the hispanic orgainzation, I don't know nothing about it.

Now my personal opinion: Why in the hell do we need another hispanic AM station on the dial. We have enough. Some of those people that get on the air at these stations are illegal immagrants, in my opinion. The PEOPLE of Fairview need to stand up against this. Williamson County already has 1 Spanish Station (1380 WHEW). It does not need another. WPFD needs to go back to being Classic Country.

 

[Tibbs4]

Scott --- how do you say "disco" en espanol?

 

[romer979fm]

Scott --- how do you say "disco" en espanol?

is it 'la obsoleto'?
perhaps 'thumpo-de-mayo'?

 

[Evangelist]

The guy's name was Chuck Hussey. At one point, he was one of our affiliates at Metro, although we faxed him reports. I think that at one point, Mack Sanders was at least a part-owner of the station.

Radnor Baptist Church is currently meeting in a school that is closer to where most of its members live. The majority of them had moved away from the neighborhood where they had been, hence the decision to sell the Woodbine campus. It's my understanding they've purchased several acres in Nolensville and will build a new facility there.

 

[scottwmro]

The guy's name was Chuck Hussey. At one point, he was one of our affiliates at Metro, although we faxed him reports. I think that at one point, Mack Sanders was at least a part-owner of the station.

Radnor Baptist Church is currently meeting in a school that is closer to where most of its members live. The majority of them had moved away from the neighborhood where they had been, hence the decision to sell the Woodbine campus. It's my understanding they've purchased several acres in Nolensville and will build a new facility there.

That's him, Chuck Hussey. Piggy Lankford told me he had passed away, along with Sam Warden. I don't know too much about the station, but I do know that Jim Turbo told me that Steve Turner worked sales there, I think he said back in the 80's. The station was a Hard Sell. At one time, it was an affiliate of ABC's "Real Country" Format.

I tried to do some research in the FCC's public files on the net. According to the FCC's CDBS database, there have been some STA's filed, but they were paper filed and not viewable to the public, so I can't tell what is going on.

My gut feeling is this, the trustee has it leased to a hispanic bunch AND..... I have an idea who this guy is and he has no money. I worked for him as his engineer in "04", before Mr. Deck sold WYXE to the hispanic church on Trinty Lane, off of Gallatin Rd. This guy leased WYXE-AM back in 2004 from Richard Deck, the former owner of the station for about 6 to 8 months or so.

For some of you looking to buy a station, I suggest you go to the FCC's CDBS Website, get the attorney's name and number and call the him. I have this feeling WPFD can be bought and saved for the community of Fairview, which is NON-HISPANIC. You NEED to get in touch with the trustee that has control of the station right now!

Firepoint: I'm not understanding Radnor Baptist Church's involvement in WPFD. Did they have some agreement with Sam Warden? Do you still work for metro/westwood?

 

[scottwmro]

Scott --- how do you say "disco" en espanol?

is it 'la obsoleto'?
perhaps 'thumpo-de-mayo'?

Gee, I don't know......I wasn't required to take Spanish Classes in school back in the 70's, but I can say in english, SAVE THE DISCO DUCK! (ha!) I love the night live, I love to Boogie, at the DISCO!

 

[radiofan4life]

May want to hold off for a while on that call to the Warden estate. Mr. Sam says that rumors of his death have been greatly exaggerated. Knowing Mr. Sam I would guess that some Mexicans came by and offered him cash money and he said "sold". Nothing has been filed with the FCC. In his mind as well as the Mexicans it was as simple as buying an old used car.

 

[radiofan4life]

I thought I heard someone say "We don't need to file no stinkin FCC Form Tres Uno Quattro".

 

[firepoint525]

Firepoint: I'm not understanding Radnor Baptist Church's involvement in WPFD. Did they have some agreement with Sam Warden? Do you still work for metro/westwood?

Scroll back up to the top of the page and read courier37027's reply. I did not know about the Durham/WPFD connection until I read that.

There was talk of Durham running for mayor, or at least metro council, back in the day. But I don't think anything ever came of that.

I agree with you that WPFD should not be a Spanish-language station. Fairview is about 98.5% white. Even if they were simulcasting WHEW's signal, it still would not make sense. WHEW has a strong signal, and already covers that area quite nicely, I'm sure. Unless WPFD is programming to construction workers in that immediate area, it doesn't make any sense. And I'm guessing that most of them already bring their own mariachi music CDs with them to their worksites anyway.

 

[Evangelist]

I'm no longer at Metro--have been gone 2 1/2 years. I may have talked to the GM at WPFD a half-dozen times at most. Our daily contact was by fax. They didn't use our on-air talent for traffic or news.