WRFC (AM)
Encyclopedia
WRFC is a sports radio station
licensed to Athens, Georgia
, USA. The format was easy listening until the late 1960s, when it changed to a light rock format. The station was previously owned by Southern Broadcasting of Athens, Inc. until June 2008, when it was purchased, along with its sister station WXKT, by Cox Radio, Inc. in Atlanta. The transmitter site was relocated in the late 1990s due to development of the area where it had been located and a change in antenna pattern which allowed for an increase in power to 2500 watts at night (it had been 500 watts DAN). The founder of the station in 1948 was Mr. L. H. Christian, hence the call sign (after his father, Robert Franklin Christian).
On February 20th, 1971, NORAD at Cheyenne Mountain broadcast a normal required weekly test of the Emergency Broadcast System (EBS). However, AT&T reported that the United States Air Force used the wrong tape for the test by accident, and initiated an Emergency Action Notification, normally issued by the President. This prompted all north Georgia radio stations by order of the FCC to operate under emergency procedures and feed the broadcast from WSB in Atlanta through their transmitters. Everett Langford was at the microphone at WRFC at the time, and he had no idea what was going on. He listened to WSB, but heard no emergency announcements. He was attempting to call the owner, L.H. Christian, when he heard the corrected message from the Air Force; you could hear in his voice that he was very relieved that it was only a mistake.
In 2008, WRFC was sold (along with sister stations WGMG
, WPUP
, WNGC and WGAU
) to Cox Radio in Atlanta. The announcement had been made in January 2008. Southern Broadcasting of Athens and associated owners continue as a wholly owned subsidiary of Cox.
(news, later with CNN) (deceased)
Bill Hartman (sports and news)
Johnny Jay (real name: Howard Toole)
Larry Melear (1965–1975) (was also Chief Engineer 1965-1970 and 1971-1975) (deceased)
Earl Pledger (1969–1971)
Everett Langford (1967–1971) (was also Chief Engineer 1970-1971)
Ed Thilenius
(sports)
A.O. "Red" Healan
Jim Koger
Morris "Night Owl" Knight
Larry Johnson
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
licensed to Athens, Georgia
Athens, Georgia
Athens-Clarke County is a consolidated city–county in U.S. state of Georgia, in the northeastern part of the state, comprising the former City of Athens proper and Clarke County. The University of Georgia is located in this college town and is responsible for the initial growth of the city...
, USA. The format was easy listening until the late 1960s, when it changed to a light rock format. The station was previously owned by Southern Broadcasting of Athens, Inc. until June 2008, when it was purchased, along with its sister station WXKT, by Cox Radio, Inc. in Atlanta. The transmitter site was relocated in the late 1990s due to development of the area where it had been located and a change in antenna pattern which allowed for an increase in power to 2500 watts at night (it had been 500 watts DAN). The founder of the station in 1948 was Mr. L. H. Christian, hence the call sign (after his father, Robert Franklin Christian).
History
WRFC operated for many years at 5000 watts non-directional daytime and 500 watts directional nighttime using a three-tower array northeast of Athens, broadcasting from an impressive mansion in downtown Athens.On February 20th, 1971, NORAD at Cheyenne Mountain broadcast a normal required weekly test of the Emergency Broadcast System (EBS). However, AT&T reported that the United States Air Force used the wrong tape for the test by accident, and initiated an Emergency Action Notification, normally issued by the President. This prompted all north Georgia radio stations by order of the FCC to operate under emergency procedures and feed the broadcast from WSB in Atlanta through their transmitters. Everett Langford was at the microphone at WRFC at the time, and he had no idea what was going on. He listened to WSB, but heard no emergency announcements. He was attempting to call the owner, L.H. Christian, when he heard the corrected message from the Air Force; you could hear in his voice that he was very relieved that it was only a mistake.
In 2008, WRFC was sold (along with sister stations WGMG
WGMG
WGMG is a radio station broadcasting a Adult Contemporary format. Licensed to Crawford, Georgia, USA with studios in Athens, Georgia. The station is owned by Cox Radio, Inc....
, WPUP
WPUP
WXKT is a radio station broadcasting a news talk format. Licensed to the town of Maysville, Georgia, it serves the Gainesville, Georgia metropolitan area. It first began broadcasting in 1989 under the call sign WBIC. The station is currently owned by Cox Radio.-History:WXKT was first assigned...
, WNGC and WGAU
WGAU
WGAU is a radio station licensed to serve Athens, Georgia, United States, that broadcasts a News/Talk format. The transmitter is located at the studios in the Five Points area of Downtown Athens....
) to Cox Radio in Atlanta. The announcement had been made in January 2008. Southern Broadcasting of Athens and associated owners continue as a wholly owned subsidiary of Cox.
Former on-air staff
John HollimanJohn Holliman
John Holliman was an American broadcast journalist. He was a member of the original reporting corps for CNN, serving as its agriculture correspondent after serving in the same capacity for Associated Press Radio in Washington, DC...
(news, later with CNN) (deceased)
Bill Hartman (sports and news)
Johnny Jay (real name: Howard Toole)
Larry Melear (1965–1975) (was also Chief Engineer 1965-1970 and 1971-1975) (deceased)
Earl Pledger (1969–1971)
Everett Langford (1967–1971) (was also Chief Engineer 1970-1971)
Ed Thilenius
Ed Thilenius
Ed Thilenius was an American sports announcer.He served as the play-by-play voice of the University of Georgia Bulldogs football team from 1955 through 1965 and was part of the inaugural Atlanta Falcons radio broadcast team along with Johnny Sauer on CBS Sports televised NFL coverage during the...
(sports)
A.O. "Red" Healan
Jim Koger
Morris "Night Owl" Knight
Larry Johnson