WTRR-AM 1400 
Sanford                       

History of WTRR

       
  This is where WTRR first broadcast from, when it was called the Mayfair Inn.                                       The New Tribes Mission today.

In June of 2003, I had the pleasure of speaking with Mr. Bill Reck. He was a partner along with his father, Myron Reck in the ownership of WTRR. He gave me invaluable "first hand" information which you'll find here. 
The origin of the call letters: Named for first owner, Mr. Rivers son, Tolliver R. Rivers. Originally broadcast from the Mayfair Inn on 1st Street in Sanford.³  Now the New Tribes Mission. The station had "block programming", which meant blocks of time were set aside for a variety of programming that spanned the musical spectrum. There was a slot for popular music, a slot for easy listening, a slot for country, and, as a sound called rock 'n' roll percolated, a slot for rhythm and blues. There were also live broadcasts on election nights and "Sanforama,'' a three-day trade show for local merchants broadcast live from the Sanford Civic Center.
In the early 1950’s the station was moved from the Mayfair to a building  “across the side street” from the "old" Central Florida Regional Hospital, which now is the Seminole County Services Bldg. In 1968 WTRR moved to Celery Ave. The first building built by Myron, then later a second building built by Bill Reck.
                   
                                                               Station as it appears today on Celery Ave.

Formats: Block programming. 1947-1967 "Pop" in the A.M., Easy listening mid days, and a Country/Western program called the “Bar None Ranch”. After school hours “pop” skewed toward a younger audience. “The Rhythm Hour” would be on the air from 5 to 6PM nightly. This was the first African American oriented program and would run from 1949 until the 1960’s. 1967 would see a more standard format of Adult contemporary, news and Seminole High School Football. 

WTRR Personalities

Gilbert D. Brooks-1947-Program Director-Southern Broadcasting System

Julian Stenstrom-1947-Sports Director-Radio Station WTRR In Memory

Marion Harmon-1950-Program Director-Radio Station WTRR

Nick Pfeifauf-1954-1964-News Director/Program Director-Radio Station WTRR   In Memory

Gil Luck-1959-1970-Radio Station WTRR   From an email from Gil "... I worked every shift on the station at various times. Did Seminole Junior College and Seminole High School play-by-play..."

Harry Elwood (Harry Bierly)-1966-Air Personality/Chief Engineer In Memory

Tim Trott-1971-1977-Program Director/Mornings/News Director-Radio Station WTRR

George Crossley-1970-1971-Air Personality/Sales-Radio Station WTRR  Biography     In Memory

Jerry Allen (Terry Stuhr)-1974-1977-Afternoon Drive/Program Director/Music Director/Play-by-play announcer of the Friday night football games for the (Sanford) Seminole High School "Fighting Seminoles".  They were in contention for the state championship in those years. David Schulz ran the board during those broadcasts

Beau Taylor-1974-1976-Captain in the Seminole County Sheriff's Department-Communico Broadcasting

Chuck Thomas-1975-1977-Mornings

David Schulz-1976-1978-Evenings

Len Russell-1977-Program Director-Seminole Radio Corp.

Jim Sandridge-1977-Music Director-Seminole Radio Corp.

Mel Clark-1977-News Director/Program Director-Seminole Radio Corp.

Ken (K.P.) Manning-1979-1982-Program Director-Seminole Radio Corp Biography

Larry Edwards-1979-1983-Seminole Radio Corp

Bob Anthony-1979-1983-Seminole Radio Corp

Patricia Madden-1980-Seminole Radio Corp.

Rick Padilla-1982-Program Director-Seminole Radio Corp.

Darren Chase (Bill Klinger)-1990-Talk Show Host-River Country Broadcasting

Jimmy V.-1992-6AM-9AM-Metro-Orlando Broadcasters Inc.

Homan Machuca-1992-News Director-J&V Communications Co.

Cmdr. Bill Hasson of The Sanford Police Department-1993-Noon-1PM Fridays-J&V Communications

Joe Episcopo-1994-1999-Air Personality/General Manager-J&V Communications

Kathy Llamas-1995-1998-Sales Manager/Host of "Info Line"-4PM-5PM-J&V Communications

Dominic Anthony-1995-2000-Host-"The Unexplained"-J&V Communications

Kimm Fisher-1996-Host-"For Women Only''-J&V Communications

Connie Fishbaugh-1997-"Town Talk"-1PM-2PM Monday through Friday-J&V Communications

Mickey Gold-2000-Co-host-Ages of Rock-9PM-Midnight Saturdays

Tom Borkes-2000-Co-host-Ages of Rock-9PM-Midnight Saturdays

Wayne Trout-News Director Biography

Arthur Beckwith-Clerk of the Seminole County Court

Sal Tee (Salvatore Taglireno)-"Solid  Gold Reunion"-weekdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.-see WDBO-AM 580 and WHHL-AM 1190

Russ Ross  Biography

Nancy Ramsey who later went on to be "Lisa Young" at WWKA-FM 92.3

Jack Smith-Seminole Radio Corp

Bruce Schirard

Ken Dixon

Dave Hammond

Mike Creiger

Bill Bauman-News Director  Biography