WMFJ-AM 1450
Daytona Beach 

Original Call Letters: WMFJ

Originally Licensed: Apr. 16, 1935

Original City of License: Daytona Beach

Original Frequency: 1450

Origin of Call Letters:

Original Power: 250 watts

Original Location: Studio: 444 N. Beach St.  Transmitter: 126 1/2 Magnolia Ave.

Original Format: Block Programming

Network Affiliation(s):
Radio News Assoc.
NBC Blue Network
Transradio Press
ABC
Associated Press
United Press International

ABC Contemporary
Moody Bible Institute

Owner(s):
1935-W. Wright Esch

1955-WMFJ, Inc.

1956-WMFJ, Inc. (New Ownership)
1965-Daytona Broadcasting Inc. 
1965-Walter-Weeks Broadcasting Company
1996-Cornerstone Broadcasting ($250,000)

History Of Call Letters and Formats: 
WMFJ-1935-Block Programming "The Tops In Programs At The Top 
                                                                Of Your Dial"
WMFJ-1972-Top 40
WMFJ-1981-Contemporary Christian  "Son Shine radio"
WMFJ-1996-Religious


WMFJ History
1957 Plaza Hotel.jpg (81677 bytes)WMFJ took to the air in April of 1935 as Daytona Beach's first radio station by owner W. Wright Esch. The original studios were located at 750 Root Street. 
By 1956 the studios were moved to the basement of the Daytona Plaza Hotel at 600 N. Atlantic Ave. In the 1980's the offices and studios would be built on Beach Street near the Daytona Beach Marina.
Thanks to Brian Douglas for the following information. "...WMFJ was Top 40 from the late 50s into the early 80s(?), but flipped to Contemporary Christian around 1981-83(?) Jim Walter owned the station in the early 60s.  It was originally 100 watts, later 250, later 1,000 with 250 at night, now 1,000 full-time (the FCC kept raising power limits on the six "local" frequencies, 1230, 1240, 1340, 1400, 1450 and 1490).  A few, like 1340, Clermont were held back for specific reasons. Originally, the owners requested the calls WMFB for "World's Most Famous Beach", but the calls were not available.."

WMFJ Personalities  
Ray Clancey-1937-Chief Announcer/1944-Station Manager/1951-News/Sports Director-W. Wright Esch Ownership
Jack Winfree-1943-Program Director-W. Wright Esch Ownership
Oliver Thornburg-1946-Program Director-W. Wright Esch Ownership
Mildred Mullins-1953-Program Director-W. Wright Esch Ownership
William Hall-1955-1957-Program Director-WMFJ, Inc.
Harry Brown-1955-1958-News Director-WMFJ, Inc.
Richard Marcellan-1957-Program Director-WMFJ, Inc.

Dick Y. Clark-1957-1962-Mornings/Program Director/1958-General Manager/Program Director/1959-General Manager/1961-Station Manager/Program Director/1964-Commercial Manager-WMFJ, Inc./1966-Station Manager/Mornings-Daytona Broadcasting, Inc./1972-General Manager-Walter-Weeks Broadcasting Company
Milt Roth-1958-1962-News Director-WMFJ, Inc.
Kenny Mercer-1962-1965-Program Director-WMFJ, Inc.
George Allen-1962-1963-News Director-WMFJ, Inc.
Don Skylar-1963-News Director-WMFJ, Inc./1964-Promotions Manager-WMFJ, Inc.
Bob Walters-1964-Program Director-WMFJ, Inc.
Frank Northrup-1964-News Director-WMFJ, Inc.
Dusty Miller-1964-While still a junior in high school and was the school reporter-WMFJ, Inc.
Dave Randall-(Cleveland Wheeler)-1965-Nights-Daytona Broadcasting, Inc./1968-Program Director- Walter-Weeks Broadcasting  Biography
“Skinny” Don Green-1965-Daytona Broadcasting Inc. 
Jim Shirah-1965-Nights-Daytona Broadcasting Inc. 
George Barber-1966-Program Director-Daytona Broadcasting Inc.
Jack Armstrong-1966-News Director-Daytona Broadcasting Inc.
Brad Cowell-1966-Chief Engineer/Nights-Daytona Broadcasting Inc. Brad's daughter, Martha, writes about  "My Daddy the DJ"
Bruce Bower-1966-General Manager/Nights-Daytona Broadcasting Inc.
"Honest John" Feree-1966-Music Director-Daytona Broadcasting Inc.
Corky Dee-1966-Nights-Daytona Broadcasting Inc.
John Holiday (Clyde Thodey)-1967-Program Director-Daytona Broadcasting, Inc.


Dan Hogan-1967-Overnights-Daytona Broadcasting Inc. Biography


Kris Earl Phillips-1970-1972-6PM-Midnight-Daytona Broadcasting Inc.  Biography
Al Connors-1971-Daytona Broadcasting Inc. 
Dane Eric-1973-6AM-10AM-Walter-Weeks Broadcasting
Doug Carter-1973-10AM-3PM-Walter-Weeks Broadcasting
Eddie Beacon-1973-7PM-Midnight-Walter-Weeks Broadcasting
Mike Nelson-1973-Midnight-6AM-Walter-Weeks Broadcasting
Jack Stevens-1973-Weekends-Walter-Weeks Broadcasting
Russ Morley-1975-Promotions/Music Director-Walter-Weeks Broadcasting
Dain Eric -1976-Program Director-Walter-Weeks Broadcasting
John Scott-1978-Program Director/Music Director-Walter-Weeks Broadcasting
Charles Neald-1978-News Director-Walter-Weeks Broadcasting
Rick Stone-1978-Walter-Weeks Broadcasting
Rick Taylor (Rick Morgan)-1979-1980-Walter-Weeks Broadcasting
Bob Stephenson-1979-1981-Program Director-Weeks Broadcasting
Dean O'Neal-1987-Weeks Broadcasting
Bulldog Hesters (Terry Wayne)-1979
Bobby Mitchell
Bob Neimeyer
Art Andrews


Bill Andrews Biography


Paul Delaney Biography 
Mike Jay-6AM-10AM
Doug James-10AM-2PM
Gerry Peterson "The Mississippi Hippie" (Gerry Cagle)-2PM-6PM
Rob Thomas-Midnight-6AM
Doug Montgomery
Bobby Holiday-Weekends
Johnny Donovan (NOT the one from WABC)
Don Shoe
Rick Wagner-Weekends
"Long John" Wade
Jack McCoy
George McGovern-Afternoons
"Good Guy Gordie" (Gordy McNeill)-Played progressive music in overnights in the very late 60s
Joanne Ares
Mayor John-Overnights
          Courtesy of Phil Beckman WMFJ.jpg (160484 bytes) Click for full sized view
Michael Jay (Mike Helminski)

Other Names In WMFJ History
W. Wright Esch-1935-1955-Owner/Station Manager
Mrs. Billie B. Esch-1935-General Manager-W. Wright Esch Ownership
Jackie Seymour-1935-Traffic Manager-W. Wright Esch Ownership
Larry Roller-1935-News Editor-W. Wright Esch Ownership
Floyd Dillingham-1935-Publicity Director-W. Wright Esch Ownership
Skeets Wolfe-1935-Chief Announcer-W. Wright Esch Ownership
Ed Oversby-1935-Musical Director-W. Wright Esch Ownership
John S. Pitts-1935-Commercial Manager/1944-Sales Manager-W. Wright Esch Ownership
Mary Josephine Bledsoe-1935-Program Director-W. Wright Esch Ownership
Webster Ellenwood-1935-Chief Engineer-W. Wright Esch Ownership
Ed Sims-1937-Commercial Manager-W. Wright Esch Ownership
W.K. Ellenwood-1937-Chief Engineer-W. Wright Esch Ownership
Ray Clancy-1942-General Manager/Chief Engineer-W. Wright Esch Ownership
John Pitts-1942-Commercial Manager-W. Wright Esch Ownership
William M. Johns-1942-Program Director-W. Wright Esch Ownership
William Shelton-1943-Chief Engineer-W. Wright Esch Ownership
Crystal Palmer-1944-Promotions Manager-W. Wright Esch Ownership
Walter Strouse-1951-Traffic Manager/Promotions Manager-W. Wright Esch Ownership
Mildred Mullins-1953-Program Director-W. Wright Esch Ownership
W. K. Ellenwood-1953-Chief Engineer-W. Wright Esch Ownership
Harold Kaye-1955-President-WMFJ, Inc.
Joseph Matthews-1955-General Manager/Sales Manager-WMFJ, Inc.
Saul Kay-1955-Promotions Manager-WMFJ, Inc.
Jack Siegel-1955-Chief Engineer-WMFJ, Inc./1958-Secretary/Treasurer-WMFJ, Inc./1961-General Manager/Chief 
Engineer-WMFJ, Inc./1963-General Manager-WMFJ, Inc.
Emil J. Arnold-1956-President-WMFJ, Inc.
Jack Seigel-1956-General Manager/Chief Engineer-WMFJ, Inc/1959-Vice President-WMFJ, Inc.
Lee Menard-1956-Station Manager-WMFJ, Inc
Carl Abel-1956-Commercial Manager-WMFJ, Inc.
Ben Taylor-1956-Sales/Program Manager-WMFJ, Inc.
Richard Marcellen-1956-Program Director-WMFJ, Inc.
Ben W. Taylor-1956-Promotions Manager-WMFJ, Inc.
Dale Phares-1957-General Manager-WMFJ, Inc.
L. L. McGrath-1957-CommercialManager-WMFJ, Inc.
Sari Smith-1957-Promotions Manager-WMFJ, Inc.
John Creutz-1958-President-WMFJ, Inc.
L.L. McGrath-1958-Sales Manager-WMFJ, Inc.
Jay Caldwell-1958-Commercial Manager-WMFJ, Inc.
Jerry Norman-1958-Chief Engineer-WMFJ, Inc.
Robert Neimeyer-1962-Promotions Manager-WMFJ, Inc.
Charles Weiler-1962-Chief Engineer-WMFJ, Inc.
George Weiler-1963-Chief Engineer-WMFJ, Inc.
Robert Council-1964-Chief Engineer-WMFJ, Inc.


Robert Weeks-1965-President/General Manager-Daytona Broadcasting, Inc./1972-President-Walter-Weeks Broadcasting In Memory
Al Setzer-1965-Commercial Manager-Daytona Broadcasting, Inc./1972-Commercial Manager-Walter-Weeks Broadcasting
Roy Gallagher-1965-Chief Engineer-Daytona Broadcasting, Inc./1972-Chief Engineer-Walter-Weeks Broadcasting
Jack Hayward-1967-Station Manager-Daytona Broadcasting, Inc.
William Martin-1967-Chief Engineer-Daytona Broadcasting, Inc.
Jim Walter-1972-Partner-Walter-Weeks Broadcasting Company                     
Bill Kirk-1975-General Manager-Walter-Weeks Broadcasting Company 
Jim Palmer-Vice President/General Manager-Walter-Weeks Broadcasting Company
Bob Stevenson-1979-Walter-Weeks Broadcasting Company
William Powell-1996-General Manager-Cornerstone Broadcasting
Joel Hollander-Sales Manager-Walter-Weeks Broadcasting Company
Ron Samuels-Sales
Jack McClure-Chief Engineer


1973 WMFJ Survey from Jack Stevens via Kris Earl Phillips

 WMFJ Survey.jpg (65735 bytes)  WMFJ survey2.jpg (86467 bytes)
Click for a full sized view   
   
                                                             Photos Courtesy of Bruce Bower
               
                 Miss WMFJ and Dave Randall		      
    Dave Randall, Eric Burdon, Cheryl Delaughter & 
                            Gordie McNeal
  Gordy McNeal, Dave Randall, Bruce Bower
                         & Corky Davis		   
                                  Bruce Bower on the board

                                                                   
                                                         
                                                                               WMFJ Scrapbook
             Courtesy of Robert Weeks, the son of Robert Weeks from (Walter-Weeks Broadcasting)


What's New   Biographies  In Memory  Sounds  Misc.  Links  Chronology  What's News?