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WSPF - Hickory
- Thread starter JimA
- Start date
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gymbeaux120
Guest
I worked there in the eighties when Mr. Willis (?) owned the place. Called it "Channel One Country," and played what could be best described as "Album" country. We stayed away from the traditional releases and played the deep cuts from Hank Williams, Jr, Waylon, Willie and so on. One of the best crews I've ever worked with: Scott Hubbs, LA Freeman, Tom McRae and Tim Andrews and Marty Todd in sales. I remember Hickory being one of the most ratings concious small towns I have ever seen.
Went dark in the early 90's, I think. Mr. Willis had died by then. Doubt the frequency is available since it was a daytimer only, but I could certainly be wrong.
Anyone hear from Scott and LA? I speak to Tom from time to time - he's living in Gastonia now.
Went dark in the early 90's, I think. Mr. Willis had died by then. Doubt the frequency is available since it was a daytimer only, but I could certainly be wrong.
Anyone hear from Scott and LA? I speak to Tom from time to time - he's living in Gastonia now.
WSPF was owned by Willis Deal and its last day on the air was Dec 31, 1987. Deal sold the real estate (everything but the license) and equipment to then owners of WIRC-WXRC -- someone can chime in with who owned WIRC-WXRC at the time, I've forgotten. The WSPF license was turned in and the frequency went dark. Why he did not sell the station (license) I don't know, nor understand. With 5kw at AM 1000, the signal was pretty awesome albeit a daytimer. A short time later, WIRC-WXRC moved its operations to the WSPF building. WIRC abandoned its tower off Lenoir-Rhyne Blvd at I-40 and began transmitting from the old WSPF site on Tate Blvd. WIRC's old tower site was cleared for commerical development.
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LaidBackJack
Guest
I believe WIRC was by then owned by Dave Lingafelt. If not, it was a group led by Jerry Oakley, Wade Hargrove, and others.
What ever happen to Jerry Oakley - recall him yrs ago at WCOG, Greensboro & Radio Smiles & then the supposed sexual lawsuit at WIRC. I recall the first owner hated WSPF - rumor was WSPF wanted to buy them out when her husband died - she said she'd call after her husband passed and called and told them WIRC was sold to get even. Hickory has always been a very competitive market. Then WNNC woke up and it was worse 
in the competition. WHKY always stayed aways from the dog fights and look at what those properties are worth now!
in the competition. WHKY always stayed aways from the dog fights and look at what those properties are worth now!
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LaidBackJack
Guest
Jerry retired from radio, took what little money he got from the sale of the stations, relocated to the carolina coast, bought into a fishing boat, and lived happily ever after.
eacalhoun1 said:
I had a very good friend working there during thier last days and this is what I heard.
Willis Deal was in bad health, and had decided to retire. He didn't want to deal with piece and parcel of all the properties that he owned, but wanted to sell everything in one package. He owned a lot of rental properties in Hickory as well as the station.
As I heard the story, Mr. Deal got a lot of offers for the station, and turned them all down because he wanted to sell everything as a package. I don't know if he actually turned the license in himself, or if his estate did it after his death.
I wish that he or the estate had kept the license alive and sold the station to someone who would hav kept it alive, but 20 years later, it's too late for any of that to happen now. Not likely the FCC would allow anyone to file for it as they are not approving any new daytimers I understand.
gymbeaux120 said:
I have asked the question numerous times about Scott Hubbs AKA Scott Connlley! I have known him since 1964 when we worked in Florida Radio and saw him several times at Channel 1 in Hickory when they rocked..Someone told me he died?? I ran into his exwife that lives in Charlotte and she asked also! BIG APE!
Ape, was that around '73-'75? I was at WHKY at the time.
I don't know where Scott is but I might know someone who will. Keep check on here next weekend in case I come up with something.
Waiting on a phone call. Hope to know something soon.
Spoke with Gene Crawley tonight. He says Scott is alive and well, living in Granite Falls, NC for an alarm company.
I know this is two and half years behind and don't know if anyone will actually see this, but I may be able to clear up a couple of the statements made in this thread.
Someone referred to the wife of the original owner (meaning WIRC I think), who "hated WSPF". This may have been the late Margaret Smith. WIRC was founded in 1948 by Edmund "Ed" Smith. That part of the thread is hard to follow but it sounds like the writer is saying she sold WSPF to WIRC/WXRC ownership out of spite. I knew her...she might have.
The partners at WIRC at the time it purchased WSPF from Mr. Willis Deal would have been Jerry Oakley, former Hickory mayor Bill McDonald and the late Tom Swatzel. I do not believe Jerry Oakley's Raleigh group, which included Wade Hargrove, were owners at the time although they could have been. This was all before a program director convinced Jerry to attempt to position WXRC as a Charlotte station while keeping it in Hickory, which led to years of difficulties because none of the owners had pockets deep enough to play in Charlotte. And the present owner still does not.
But what of this "sexual lawsuit" involving WIRC? I was there for 11 years and never heard any such thing. Unless that poster is referring to Harold Witherspoon, who did work at WIRC on Sundays and later was convincted on child pornography charges?
Someone referred to the wife of the original owner (meaning WIRC I think), who "hated WSPF". This may have been the late Margaret Smith. WIRC was founded in 1948 by Edmund "Ed" Smith. That part of the thread is hard to follow but it sounds like the writer is saying she sold WSPF to WIRC/WXRC ownership out of spite. I knew her...she might have.
The partners at WIRC at the time it purchased WSPF from Mr. Willis Deal would have been Jerry Oakley, former Hickory mayor Bill McDonald and the late Tom Swatzel. I do not believe Jerry Oakley's Raleigh group, which included Wade Hargrove, were owners at the time although they could have been. This was all before a program director convinced Jerry to attempt to position WXRC as a Charlotte station while keeping it in Hickory, which led to years of difficulties because none of the owners had pockets deep enough to play in Charlotte. And the present owner still does not.
But what of this "sexual lawsuit" involving WIRC? I was there for 11 years and never heard any such thing. Unless that poster is referring to Harold Witherspoon, who did work at WIRC on Sundays and later was convincted on child pornography charges?
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