WONN-AM 1230 Lakeland

WONN History Duane McConnell, Ted Covington, and Robert Taylor formed the Coastal Broadcasting Company in 1949 and WONN was put on the air. The original studios were located in Lakeland’s Florida Hotel. Garagiola Buys Station WONN Sentinel Bureau Lakeland May 22, 1971 © Orlando Sentinel Radio station WONN has been sold to Joe Garagiola, retired St. Louis Cardinals catcher and co-host of NBC's Today show. The sale was announced Friday and is subject to approval by the Federal Communications Commission. Duane McConnell, who founded the station in 1949, will remain as consultant. John Gilman, vice president, will become station general manager. Garagiola said he plans no major changes in the operation of the station. McConnell said the actual transfer will take place later this year. Garagiola said he also had looked at stations in Orlando, Sarasota and Cocoa and if he purchases additional stations, they will he in the Central Florida area. Sale price was not disclosed.
WONN Personalities
Graham Mela-1949-Farm Director-Coastal Broadcasting Company
Bill Snyder-1949-Sports Director-Coastal Broadcasting Company
Gloria Revels-1949-Womans Director-Coastal Broadcasting Company
Bill Davis-1966/1973-Coastal Broadcasting Company Thanks to Larry Flegle for this info on Bill. "Bill began his radio career as a high school senior in 1966 when he convinced , owner of Lakeland’s WONN, to schedule a half hour each Sunday night for the Key Club of Lakeland High School. McConnell agreed, under the provision that he (Davis) produce the shows and be responsible for their content.
Pat "Banana Man" Morgan-1967-1976-Coastal Broadcasting Company
Terry Allen-1971-Program Director-Telefan, Inc.
Dave Day-1984-Program Director-Hall Communications
Jim Greenfield-1995-News-Hall Communications
Jim Hendrick-2005-2017-"Jim Hendrick in the Morning" 6AM-10AM-Hall Communications *In Memory*
Tim Kase-Mornings-Syndicated
Bud Buschardt-Mid Days
Jeff Rollins
Scott Reese-Afternoons
John Gleason
Carl Hampton
Mike Matthews-Evenings
Jack Grady-Overnights
Woody Wooden-Sales
Steve "Moose" Howard
Jim Maloy
Dick Goleno
Gary Dennis
Bob Crews
Brian Bruchey-Program Director
Ron Fraiser
Ed Cain
Jim Stevenson
Buddy Penn
Al "Zany" Dohany
Dulaurence Miller
Dan Sanborn-News Director-Telefan, Inc.
Mike Helminski
Bob Wayne
Other Names In WONN History
Robert Taylor-1949-1957-Partner/President/General Manager/Program Manager-Coastal Broadcasting Company
John Gilman-1949-1957-Vice President-Coastal Broadcasting Company/1971-General Manager/Commercial Manager-Telefan, Inc.
Ted Covington-1949-1957-Partner/Program Director/News Director-Coastal Broadcasting Company
Duane McConnell-1949-1957-Partner/Business Manager/Chief Engineer-Coastal Broadcasting Company *In Memory*
Thomas Barber-1949-1957-Commercial Manager-Coastal Broadcasting Company
Larry DeVore-1964-1970-Sales-Coastal Broadcasting Company
Joe Garagiola-1971-1976-President-Telefan, Inc *In Memory*
Art Rowbotham-1971-General Manager-Telefan, Inc.
Bob Shoopman-1971-Chief Engineer-Telefan, Inc.
Garland Burt-1971-Operations Manager-Telefan, Inc.
Leonard Marks-1976-Vice President-Telefan, Inc.
Herbert Stewart-1976-Telefan, Inc.
Steve Tuzeneu-2023-Chief Engineer-Hall Communications
Joyce Robbins-Station Manager-Telefan, Inc.
Frank Berry-Engineer *In Memory*
Chris Harwell-Operations Manager
Pat Morgan

Network Affiliation(s):	1949-Mutual Broadcasting System
	1949-Associated Press
	1969-ABC Contemporary Radio Network
	1972-NBC Radio Network
	1981-CNN and Associated Press
	1984-America's Best Music
	2024-Fox Sports

Owner(s):	1949-Coastal Broadcasting Company
	1957-Noyes Enterprises, Inc
	1959-Duane McConnell
	1971-Telefan, Inc
	1976-Leonard Marks & Herbert Stewart
	1981-Hall Communications
	2026-Marc Radio Group

History Of Call Letters and Formats:	WONN-1949-Block Programming
	WONN-1957-Top 40
	WONN-1966-Adult Contemporary
	WONN-1979-MOR
	WONN-1980-Adult Contemporary
	WONN-1981-Adult Standards-Drake-Chenault-Hit Parade
	WONN-1984-Pop "America's Best Music"
	WONN-1985-Music Of Your Life
	WONN-1989-Adult Standards/MOR "The Spirit of Lakeland"
	WONN-2024-Sports "Fox Sports Lakeland"