WROD-AM 1340  
Daytona Beach

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


Network Affiliation(s):

NBC
Associated Press
United Press International
Mutual Broadcasting System
RKO
ABC Information
Westwood One
Jones Radio Network

Owner(s):

1947
-Daytona Beach Broadcasting, Corp.
1958-Radio of Daytona, Inc.
1959-Daytona Beach Broadcasting, Corp.
1967-WROD, Division Of Elyria-Lorrain Corp.
1967-Daytona Beach Radio Ltd
1982-First Daytona Investment Corporation
1986-LaPaz broadcasting  ($1.2 million)
1999-Gore-Overgaard Broadcasting  ($1.1 million)
2008-Volusia Broadcasting Company, LLC  ($775,000)

History Of Call Letters and Formats
:

WROD-
1947-MOR
WROD-1967-Beautiful Music
WROD-1986-Big Bands  "Music of Your Life"
WROD-2007-Adult Standards "America's Best Music" (Westwood One Network)


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 Crosley - Rich Campbell.jpg (365828 bytes)
                                                                      click photo for full sized view
               Thanks to Rich Campbell for this photo of the 1948 Crossley Station Wagon used as the WROD Mobile Unit

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

Susan Baldwin-1951-Program Director-Daytona Beach Broadcasting Corp.
S.P. Wilds-1952-Sports Director-Daytona Beach Broadcasting Corp.
Joseph Stierli-1956-Sports Director-Daytona Beach Broadcasting Corp.
Jack Arnold-1957-Farm Director-Daytona Beach Broadcasting Corp.
Genie Hodges-1958-Women's Director-Radio of Daytona, Inc.
Roger Lambert-1959-News Director-Daytona Beach Broadcasting, Corp.
Robert Kulz-1959-Farm Director-Daytona Beach Broadcasting, Corp.
Bill Powell-1960-News Director-Daytona Beach Broadcasting Corp.
Mike Addams (Mike Harvey)-1964  Biography

Dan Hogan
-1968
-Afternoons 
Biography
Chuck Johnson-1972-Mid-days/Afternoon Drive News/"Open Phone Forum"   Biography  
K.P. Manning-1975-1976  Biography
Bob Andrews  Biography
Lynn Younger
Bob Edwards-News Director-Daytona Beach Radio Ltd
Richard Cox
Ron Kocher-Music Director
Robert W. Bingo


Diane Prior
-1979
Lee Phillips
Dick Fellows-Program Director                                                                          Bill Wathen, Bill Matthews & Tony Welch
Sid T. Surf
Bob Voss-"Happy Rabbits" era, also hosted dances at the "Ocean Pier Casino". Thanks to Don Williamson for this info.
Tracey Young


Kris Earl Philips
Biography


Bill Matthews
-
1989-2008-"Matthews in The Morning"-Weekdays- 6AM-Noon/Program director
Rick Martorano-2006-"Art, Entertainment and Lifestyles"
Jim Vandergrifft-2007-New Smyrna Beach Mayor -Community Information
Ben Taylor
Ron Fraiser-Music Director


Cadillac Jack Stevens--2008-Mornings


Bill Wathen
-Noon-6PM
Sophie Kay-"Cooking with Sophie Kay"-Mon-Fri-10:15AM
Sylvia Bailey-"Let's Talk About Pets''


Roland Via
-2008-
Host/Producer of “Volusia Citizens Forum”
David Schulz-2009-4PM-6PM-Volusia Broadcasting Company, LLC
Bob Belz-Mornings/Program Director-Daytona Beach Radio Ltd
Bob Soos-Afternoons-Daytona Beach Radio Ltd
Rob Jacobson-Mid-days-Daytona Beach Radio Ltd
Jo Christie-Evenings-Daytona Beach Radio Ltd

                                         
                                               WROD staff at Disney World "Radio Fun Days" on March 2, 1975
         L to R: Bob Belz (Mornings/PD), Bob Edwards (News director), Bill Stipsits (GM), Mickey, Bob Soos (Afternoons), 
         Rob Jacobson (Mid-days) and Jo Christie (Evenings). The format  would be considered a "mix" type by 2009   
         standards. The  "KFJ style" jingle package was  from Gwinsound of Dallas and was followed by "Simple and 
         Free" from Pepper Tanner. The station was heavy on spring break poolside promotions with Hawaiian Tropic suntan   
         products prior to MTV taking over the show.  
courtesy of Rob Jacobson


Other Names in WROD History

Edgar J. Sperry-1947-President/General Manager/Commercial Manager/Promotions Manager-Daytona Beach  Broadcasting Corp. 

F. A. Scott-1947-Cheif Engineer-Daytona Beach Broadcasting Corp. 

Lee Menard-1949-Program Director/Chief Engineer-Daytona Beach Broadcasting Corp. 

Ted Wilds-1950-News Director-Daytona Beach Broadcasting Corp.

Amy Lewis-1950-Farm News Director-Daytona Beach Broadcasting Corp.

Ruth Mosak-1950-Women's Director-Daytona Beach Broadcasting Corp.

R. C. Fellows-1947-Program Director-Daytona Beach Broadcasting Corp.

Lyman Menard-1947-Cheif Engineer-Daytona Beach Broadcasting Corp. 

J. P. Frady-1947-Office Manager-Daytona Beach Broadcasting Corp.

S. P. Wilds-1947-Sports Director-Daytona Beach Broadcasting Corp. 

R. Y. Huffman-1947-Commercial Manager-Daytona Beach Broadcasting Corp. 

Earle Young-1947-Program Director-Daytona Beach Broadcasting Corp.

Norman Lemstrom-1953-Commercial Manager-Daytona Beach Broadcasting Corp.
Walter Collier-1954-Program Director/Chief Engineer-Daytona Beach Broadcasting Corp.
Myrna Monaham-1955-Program Director-Daytona Beach Broadcasting Corp.
Alexander Sims-1956-Commercial Manager-Daytona Beach Broadcasting Corp.

Bob Andrerws
-1956
-Chief Engineer
-Daytona Beach Broadcasting Corp. Biography

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.

Ray Ovington-1957-Publicity Director-Daytona Beach Broadcasting Corp.

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

Robert Miller-1957-Production Manager-Daytona Beach Broadcasting Corp.
Eugene Hill-1958-President/General Manager-Radio of Daytona, Inc.
Al Sims-1958-Commercial Manager-Radio of Daytona, Inc.
Carl Abel-1958-Promotion Manager-Radio of Daytona, Inc.
Frank Russell-1959-President-Daytona Beach Broadcasting Corp.
James Crist-1959-Commercial Manager-Daytona Beach Broadcasting Corp.
Robert Voss-1959-Promotion Director-Daytona Beach Broadcasting Corp.
Ken Steale-1960-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

Winnie Brown-Traffic Director/Copywriter
John Stearns-Chief Engineer

Tony Welch
-1986-1989
-President/General Manager-LaPaz Broadcasting/1999-2007-General Manager-Gore-Overgaard Broadcasting

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 

Chet Smith-Program Director
Gerald Bell

John McCollister

Stuart "Stu" Calgut
Don O'Reilly


Other Programs In WROD History

Bandshell Live!-2008-A Friday summer concert series-8PM-9PM from the Daytona Beach Bandshell


                                     
                                                      
Thanks to Phil Beckman for these Survey photos


   

                                                             
     


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