WTBO
Encyclopedia
WTBO is an Adult Standards
/Sports Talk
formatted broadcast
radio station
licensed to Cumberland, Maryland
, serving Cumberland and Frostburg
area. WTBO is owned and operated by WTBO-WKGO Corporation, LLC.
WTBO's studios are located above I-68
in Cumberland, right next to neon "W-T-B-O" letters.
's first broadcast station was granted the call letters WTBO and authorized by the Federal Radio Commission
in October 1928 to operate on 1420 kilocycles with a power of 50 watts. The Cumberland Electric Company placed WTBO on the air Thursday, December 13, 1928, from 138 Virginia Avenue, site of the station as well as the retail shop of the station owner, William McKinley Dailey, Sr. Two masts were erected on the roof of the structure to support the station's antenna.
Frank V. Becker died in 1942. Mrs. Aurelia S. Becker became President of the Associated Broadcasting Corporation and Station Manager of its WTBO.
issued a permit to change frequency from 820 kilocycles to 1450 kilocycles (unlimited hours). On January 1, 1944, WTBO changed frequency and became a full-time 250 watt station; concurrently joining the National Broadcasting Company
network.
In early 1961, the FCC authorized WTBO to increase daytime power to 1,000 watts with night power of 250 watts to continue as before. Power was raised in 1962.
(FM) affiliate WKGO at 106.1, were acquired from David P. Welborne's Welborne Broadcasting Inc., by Wooster Republican Printing Company, owned by Dix Communications.
The WTBO-WKGO Corporation was formed by the new owners to be the WTBO licensee. The officers were: Raymond E. Dix, President; E.B. Evans, Vice President and General Manager; Albert E. Dix, Vice President; E.S. Dix, Treasurer; R. Victor Dix, Assistant Secretary; Timothy V. Dix, Secretary.
At that time WTBO, Maryland's fifth oldest continuously licensed broadcast station, operated on 1450 kilohertz with a day power of 1,000 watts (night power of 250 watts) and served the three-state area from 350 Byrd Avenue, Cumberland, Maryland.
The format was Adult Contemporary. The staff consisted of 18 full and part-time people. Roy H. Knotts - Assistant Manager, Beda M. Riley -Office Manager .
in the evenings and continued to air local programming and Adult Standards
in the mornings. WTBO would also pick up the affiliation of FOX News Radio
. During this same time sister WFRB-AM would drop the simulcast of WTBO and begin a talk format.
"I was listening to Chazz and all of a sudden there was just nothing," said Joanne Van, mother of Jim Van, one of Offutt's co-workers, told the Cumberland Times-News. "The mike was open and I heard somebody say 'Chazz,' then I heard them say 'Call 911,' then Jimmy called and gave me the bad news. People will miss Chazz. He is a wonderful man."
Offutt has worked at Cumberland radio stations since the 1950s and his late-night show, "The Night Owls Club," on WCUM
was popular with rock-and-roll fans in the 1960s.
On December 27, 2006, fellow morning DJ Dave Norman was talking about Chazz and taking calls from listeners on crosstown station, WCBC. One caller told of a time when Offutt went to a funeral in Baltimore where doves were released. Offutt liked that so much, that he did that at funerals of Cumberland-area residents, when requested. Norman, talking to Upchurch Funeral Home where Offutt's arrangements are being made (as part of a normal monthly call-in), asked that if Offutt's family would allow, that WCBC would pay to have doves released at his funeral. Many, many listeners told of stories from the 60's, when Offutt was at WCUM (now WCMD-AM) and when he was at WTBO, of how he was just a "kind and gentle person, with a quick wit".
Offutt was laid to rest on Friday, December 29, 2006, outside Saints Peter and Paul Church in Cumberland.
Adult standards
Adult standards is a North American radio format heard primarily on AM or class A FM stations.Adult standards is aimed at "mature" adults, meaning mainly those persons over 50 years of age, but it is mostly targeted for senior citizens...
/Sports Talk
Sports radio
Sports radio is a radio format devoted entirely to discussion and broadcasting of sporting events. A popular format with an almost exclusively male demographic in most areas, sports radio is characterized by an often-boisterous on-air style and extensive debate and analysis by both hosts and...
formatted broadcast
Broadcasting
Broadcasting is the distribution of audio and video content to a dispersed audience via any audio visual medium. Receiving parties may include the general public or a relatively large subset of thereof...
radio station
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 Cumberland, Maryland
Cumberland, Maryland
Cumberland is a city in the far western, Appalachian portion of Maryland, United States. It is the county seat of Allegany County, and the primary city of the Cumberland, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area. At the 2010 census, the city had a population of 20,859, and the metropolitan area had a...
, serving Cumberland and Frostburg
Frostburg, Maryland
Frostburg is a city in Allegany County, Maryland, United States located at the head of the Georges Creek Valley. It is part of the Cumberland, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 7,873 at the 2000 census...
area. WTBO is owned and operated by WTBO-WKGO Corporation, LLC.
WTBO's studios are located above I-68
Interstate 68
Interstate 68 is a Interstate highway in the U.S. states of West Virginia and Maryland, connecting in Morgantown to in Hancock. is also Corridor E of the Appalachian Development Highway System. From 1965 until the freeway's construction was completed in 1991, it was designated as...
in Cumberland, right next to neon "W-T-B-O" letters.
1928
CumberlandCumberland, Maryland
Cumberland is a city in the far western, Appalachian portion of Maryland, United States. It is the county seat of Allegany County, and the primary city of the Cumberland, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area. At the 2010 census, the city had a population of 20,859, and the metropolitan area had a...
's first broadcast station was granted the call letters WTBO and authorized by the Federal Radio Commission
Federal Radio Commission
The Federal Radio Commission was a government body that regulated radio use in the United States from its creation in 1926 until its replacement by the Federal Communications Commission in 1934...
in October 1928 to operate on 1420 kilocycles with a power of 50 watts. The Cumberland Electric Company placed WTBO on the air Thursday, December 13, 1928, from 138 Virginia Avenue, site of the station as well as the retail shop of the station owner, William McKinley Dailey, Sr. Two masts were erected on the roof of the structure to support the station's antenna.
1929-30
In March 1929, the Cumberland Broadcasting Company was formed by the Cumberland Electric Company and became WTBO's licensee. The Associated Broadcasting Corporation acquired the station in November 1929. In early 1930, WTBO was moved from its original site on Virginia Avenue to the Commercial Bank Building, on the southwest corner of Frederick and Liberty streets.1931-33
Power was increased to 100 watts in June 1930. In August 1930, WTBO's transmitter was relocated to the area now known as Constitution Park. Daytime power rose to 250 watts (nights 100 watts) in February 1931. In September 1932, WTBO was leased by the Interstate Broadcasting System, Inc. The Associated Broadcasting Corporation, Licensee, again assumed control of the independent station from the former lessee on January 31, 1933.1934-42
In 1934, controlling interest in the Associated Broadcasting Corporation was acquired by Herbet Lee Blye, who then became Station Manager of WTBO. In late 1935, Mr. Blye sold WTBO to Roger W. Clipp and Frank V. Becker.Frank V. Becker died in 1942. Mrs. Aurelia S. Becker became President of the Associated Broadcasting Corporation and Station Manager of its WTBO.
1943-44
On October 26, 1943, the Federal Communications CommissionFederal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
issued a permit to change frequency from 820 kilocycles to 1450 kilocycles (unlimited hours). On January 1, 1944, WTBO changed frequency and became a full-time 250 watt station; concurrently joining the National Broadcasting Company
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
network.
1946-53
In 1946, WTBO's ownership was reorganized. Becoming a co-owner and partner was Charles Z. Heskett with Aurelia S. Becker remaining managing partner. The station's licensee name was then changed to the Cumberland Broadcasting Corporation. Mrs. Becker became both President and General Manager of the NBC station in 1947. The Maryland Radio Corporation acquired WTBO from the Becker and Heskett interests in early 1951. Charles E. Smith, owner, then became President and General Manager of the station.1954-71
In late September 1954, the station was again sold. WTBO was purchased by the Tennessee Valley Broadcasting Corporation. A. William German then became both President and General Manager of WTBO after the sale was consummated. In 1955, the licensee name of the station was changed to the Cumberland Valley Broadcasting Corporation. On April 26, 1956, the station was authorized to change studio and transmitting locations to 350 Byrd Avenue (the present site).In early 1961, the FCC authorized WTBO to increase daytime power to 1,000 watts with night power of 250 watts to continue as before. Power was raised in 1962.
1977-1978
In late 1977, WTBO and its frequency modulationFrequency modulation
In telecommunications and signal processing, frequency modulation conveys information over a carrier wave by varying its instantaneous frequency. This contrasts with amplitude modulation, in which the amplitude of the carrier is varied while its frequency remains constant...
(FM) affiliate WKGO at 106.1, were acquired from David P. Welborne's Welborne Broadcasting Inc., by Wooster Republican Printing Company, owned by Dix Communications.
The WTBO-WKGO Corporation was formed by the new owners to be the WTBO licensee. The officers were: Raymond E. Dix, President; E.B. Evans, Vice President and General Manager; Albert E. Dix, Vice President; E.S. Dix, Treasurer; R. Victor Dix, Assistant Secretary; Timothy V. Dix, Secretary.
At that time WTBO, Maryland's fifth oldest continuously licensed broadcast station, operated on 1450 kilohertz with a day power of 1,000 watts (night power of 250 watts) and served the three-state area from 350 Byrd Avenue, Cumberland, Maryland.
The format was Adult Contemporary. The staff consisted of 18 full and part-time people. Roy H. Knotts - Assistant Manager, Beda M. Riley -Office Manager .
1984
Roy Knotts retired as General Manager in March 1984. Mrs. Beda M. Riley, Assistant Manager became General Manager.1987
The format on WTBO became Adult Standards. WTBO continued to broadcast Baltimore Orioles Baseball, University of Maryland Football and Basketball and high school football. Shortly after 1987, WTBO was granted permission to broadcast at full power, 1000 watts, 24 hours a day.1992
Chazz Offutt returned to radio on WTBO with the "Chazz Offutt Morning Road Show" in December.2000
Mrs. Beda M. Riley, General Manager, retired. Richard Cornwell is named General Manager and Tim Martin, Asst. Manager.2003- December 13, 2003
The 75th Anniversary for WTBO and the station began a year long celebration of the event marked by many promotional give aways. Commemorative promotional announcements for each year of broadcasting were aired along with celebrity anniversary greetings.2008
In Mid July 2008, WTBO picked up FOX Sports RadioFox Sports Radio
Fox Sports Radio, abbreviated FSR, is an international radio network consisting of sports talk programming. The network is a service of Premiere Networks...
in the evenings and continued to air local programming and Adult Standards
Adult standards
Adult standards is a North American radio format heard primarily on AM or class A FM stations.Adult standards is aimed at "mature" adults, meaning mainly those persons over 50 years of age, but it is mostly targeted for senior citizens...
in the mornings. WTBO would also pick up the affiliation of FOX News Radio
Fox News Radio
Fox News Radio is an American radio network programmed by Fox News Channel.- History :In 2003, Fox News began syndicating one minute radio updates to radio stations via syndication service Westwood One. On June 1, 2005, Fox News Radio employed 60 people and provided five minute newscasts at the top...
. During this same time sister WFRB-AM would drop the simulcast of WTBO and begin a talk format.
Chazz Offutt
Chazz Offutt collapsed and died at 8:23am on December 26, 2006, during his daily "Morning Road Show" on WTBO-AM/WFRB-AM. Offutt was a popular local disc jockey for decades in Cumberland. The death was confirmed by Richard Cornwell, the station's manager during an interview with WCBC. Offutt had apparently suffered a fatal heart attack. He is survived by his wife and five children. He was 66."I was listening to Chazz and all of a sudden there was just nothing," said Joanne Van, mother of Jim Van, one of Offutt's co-workers, told the Cumberland Times-News. "The mike was open and I heard somebody say 'Chazz,' then I heard them say 'Call 911,' then Jimmy called and gave me the bad news. People will miss Chazz. He is a wonderful man."
Offutt has worked at Cumberland radio stations since the 1950s and his late-night show, "The Night Owls Club," on WCUM
WCUM
WCUM is a radio station broadcasting a Spanish Tropical format. Licensed to Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA, it serves the Bridgeport area. The station is currently owned by Radio Cumbre Broadcasting....
was popular with rock-and-roll fans in the 1960s.
On December 27, 2006, fellow morning DJ Dave Norman was talking about Chazz and taking calls from listeners on crosstown station, WCBC. One caller told of a time when Offutt went to a funeral in Baltimore where doves were released. Offutt liked that so much, that he did that at funerals of Cumberland-area residents, when requested. Norman, talking to Upchurch Funeral Home where Offutt's arrangements are being made (as part of a normal monthly call-in), asked that if Offutt's family would allow, that WCBC would pay to have doves released at his funeral. Many, many listeners told of stories from the 60's, when Offutt was at WCUM (now WCMD-AM) and when he was at WTBO, of how he was just a "kind and gentle person, with a quick wit".
Offutt was laid to rest on Friday, December 29, 2006, outside Saints Peter and Paul Church in Cumberland.