Original Call Letters: WROD 

Originally Licensed: Nov 1947  

Original City of License: Daytona Beach  

Original Frequency: 1340

Origin of Call Letters:  

Original Power: 250 watts

Original Location: Wilder Blvd. and Beach St.

Original Format: MOR

History of WROD 
WROD, Daytona Beach's third AM radio station, went on the air for the first time at 7:45PM on Nov. 7, 1947 joining 
WNDB-AM 1150 and WMFJ-AM 1450.

From Brian Douglas "...In my early youth it was an MOR (Middle of the Road) station... full service.  I remember billboards around 1962 with the slogan Hot Rod Radio... WROD 1340. I'm thinking WROD flipped to Top 40 in early 1963.  I remember "Denise" and "Rip Van Winkle" playing there.  Timing's everything and WROD went from a second-tier station to #1 after the British Invasion hit.  WMFJ was much slower to react to this music... they added it later and their chart was usually a month behind 'ROD's.  They focused on teens and 18-24 year olds. WROD was called "Rabbit Radio" at first.  Remember the jingles "the station with the happy difference"?  WROD's said "the station with the happy rabbits".  They used a sound effect that said "Sha-bop sha-bop" just the way WLOF used the tones for "WLOF Much More Music Time".  Of course, the inspiration for the sha-bops was the song, "I Only Have Eyes For You", from the Flamingos (which, as I understand, apparently did not say sha-bop, but instead said "so much in love" reaaalllll quickly"). 
My understanding is that the station was sold in 1967.  Although it was solidly #1, the lady who bought it wanted to flip it... and did.  It went to Beautiful Music in the summer of 67.  Later, in the early/mid 70's, the station reverted to a faux-Top 40 format... sort of Hot AC or "Chicken Rock".  It was much more adult.  I think Doug Montgomery was in charge.  It stayed with that format until the very successful late 70s flip to Big Band/Nostalgia (Music of Your Life)..."
Marc Tyll adds to the history of WROD.
Between 1982 and 1984, WROD was owned by First Daytona Investment Corporation (known as FDIC to parody the Federal Depositors Insurance Corporation). The principle owner was Frank D. Ward and his wife Linda Jackson-Ward. It was under Ward's direction that WROD changed format from Adult Contemporary to Al Ham's "The Music of Your Life". 
At that time MOYL programming was broadcast using reel-to-reel tapes from the WROD studio, later switching to satellite operations. Additionally WROD broadcast Paul Harvey News and Comments and the Rest of the Story along with the Wall Street Journal Report. WROD was also an RKO affiliate in addition to being an ABC/Information affiliate.
In 2001 and 2002, the station was selected as a finalist for the radio industry's prestigious Marconi Award for Adult Standards Station of the Year. In 2005 the station moved from the original studios to Sunshine Park, a mall in South Daytona. 

WROD Personalities   
                                     
Ken Knight (Adrian Kenneth Knight)-1947-Ms.Marsha W. George tells about her uncle, Ken Knight. "...WROD was his first break into radio in 1947 and later after opening WERD in Atlanta in 1949, he came back to Florida and remained in Jacksonville where in 1962 they named a street Ken Knight Drive after him. He passed away in 1973. 
Ken Knight with Miss Sarah Vaughn
photo courtesy of Marsha George

John S. Murphy-1957-President/General Manager-Daytona Beach Broadcasting Corp.

James McDonough-1957-Vice President/Program Director/Chief Engineer-Daytona Beach Broadcasting Corp./1958-Vice President/Chief Engineer/News Director-Radio of Daytona, Inc./1959-General Manager/Program Director/Chief Engineer-Daytona Beach Broadcasting Corp.

Ed New-1957-Sales/Promotions Manager-Daytona Beach Broadcasting Corp.

Otto B. Schoepfle-1968-President WROD, Division Of Elyria-Lorrain Corp.

William A. Stipsits-1968-General Manager In Memory

Paul Nakel-1968-Vice President/Group Operations Manager WROD, Division Of Elyria-Lorrain Corp.

Dale Wright-1968-Operations Director

George Winslow-2007-General Manager

Jerry Kiefer-Station Manager

Jim Mitchell-News Director

Joseph Weikel-2002-Marketing/Sales

George Winslow-2007-General manager

Doug Montgomery-Program Director

David Kaesemeyer-Operations Manager 

Eileen Sheldon-Promotions Manager

Julie Silver

Michael Buckley-1967-Vice President-Daytona Beach Radio Ltd 

Frank D. Ward-1982-First Daytona Investment Corporation 

Linda Jackson-Ward-1982-First Daytona Investment Corporation

Tony de Haro Welch-1986-LaPaz Broadcasting 

Joseph Hopkins-2008-Volusia Broadcasting Company, LLC 

John McCollister

Other Programs In WROD History

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