Original Call Letters: WHYS

Originally Licensed: May 1958 

Original City of License: Ocala 

Original Frequency: 1370 

Origin of Call Letters: 

Original Power: 1,000 Watts

Original Location: 

Original Format: Adult Contemporary

History Of WOCA
Thanks to Marc Tyll for this history of WOCA.
WOCA began operations in 1957 as WHYS, a variety formatted station. Two years later the station switched to "Urban Contemporary" under the calls letters WKOS until the FCC revoked the station license due to an incident that happened one afternoon. See more here. The station went silent for two years until a buyer could be found. Robert Hauck and his partners, who also owned WKKE-AM 1380 Asheville, North Carolina, formed the Greater Ocala Broadcasting Corporation, who purchased WKOS, changed the call letters to WWKE - to reflect the slogan "Key Radio" - and changed the format to top 40. "Key Radio" remained a driving top 40 force in Ocala for 18 years until FM competition in 1983 forced "the Key"  to reformat as an adult contemporary station. The call letters WOCA were implemented to reflect 1370s commitment to Ocala as a community leader. Four years later WOCA became an oldies station, finally switching to "News/Talk", becoming one of the first 50 station in the nation to carry Rush Limbaugh in 1988. Greater Ocala Broadcasting sold WOCA to Westshore Broadcasting in 2000 after 35 years of ownership. WOCA was co-owned with WMFQ - FM 92.7 (now 92.9) from 1977 until 1995.
2010-Tampa based Westshore Broadcasting, Inc. (Ron Roseman, Ed Roseman, Mike Smith) has sold WOCA to Orlando, Florida based Generations Broadcasting Corporation (Joseph Martone, Dan Martone, Patsy Martone, Melisa Martone) for undisclosed price and terms. Mark Tillery of J. M. Tillery & Associates, P. A. represented the buyer and assisted in the negotiations in this transaction. 

Names In WOCA History

Robert "Bob" Hauck-1965-2000-President/General Manager-Greater Ocala Broadcasting Corporation 

Christopher Cod-1977-News Director-Greater Ocala Broadcasting Corporation

Lynn Miller-1977-News Director-Greater Ocala Broadcasting Corporation

Mariynn King-1978-News Director-Greater Ocala Broadcasting Corporation

Sean Smith-1977-1978-Operaions Manager-Greater Ocala Broadcasting Corporation

Bob "The Weird Beard"' Beard-1979-News Director-Greater Ocala Broadcasting Corporation

Bill Patten-1979-1989-News Director-Greater Ocala Broadcasting Corporation

Gil Johnson-1977-Weekends-Greater Ocala Broadcasting Corporation

Ann Hulton-1978-Weekends-Greater Ocala Broadcasting Corporation

Gary Kruger-1980-1985-General Sales Manager-Greater Ocala Broadcasting Corporation

Michael Solt-1980-1984-Local Sales Manager-Greater Ocala Broadcasting Corporation

Larry Whitler-2002-Operations Director/Host of “AM Ocala Live"-Westshore Broadcasting Corporation

"Big Bad" John Lunde-2002-2007-5PM-6PM-“The Big Bad John Show”-Westshore Broadcasting Corporation

Ken Steele-Program Director/Mornings

Greg Richards

Nat Travis

Jay Marks

Bill Early-Program Director/Mornings

Fred Petty-Program Director/Mid Days

Rick James-Program Director/Mornings/Later Sales Manager

Earl Knight

Tish Moeller-Station Manager

Steve Mack

Dick Warn

Father Patrick J. O’Doherty-"Burning Hearts” -Sundays 7:30AM 

Hank Wittier-“Veterans News”-Thursdays 9AM 10AM

Greg and Peggy Pittas-“Real Estate with Greg and Peggy Pittas” Fridays 9AM – 10AM

Suzanne Shuffitt- “You’ve Got To Garden”-Tuesdays 9AM–10AM

Dr. Michael Lange-“Ask The Doctor”

Chip Morris-Mornings

Paul Delaney Biography

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