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WMOP-AM
900
Ocala
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Original Call Letters: WMOP |
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Originally Licensed: Dec. 18, 1953 |
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Original City of License: Ocala |
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Original Frequency: 900 |
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Origin of Call Letters: |
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Original Power: 1,000 Watts Daytime |
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Original Location: 311 Robertson Building |
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Original Format: Gospel, Country and Ethnic music |
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ABC |
| Southeastern Key | |
| ESPN |
Owner(s): |
1953-A.B. "Ben" Letson |
| 1963-WMOP, Inc. | |
| 1993-WMOP Broadcasting, Inc. | |
| 1996-Florida Sportstalk ($350,000) |
History of Call Letters and Formats: |
WMOP-1953-Gospel, Country and Ethnic music |
| WMOP-1954-Variety "Dixie's Dandiest" | |
| WMOP-1954-Country "All America Country" "Central Florida’s Country Legend" | |
| WMOP-1996-Sports Talk "ESPN Sportsradio AM 900" |
History of WMOP Thanks to Marc Tyll for this history of WMOP WMOP began broadcasting in 1953 at 900 kHz with 1,000 watts daytime. The format was a combination of black gospel, country and ethnic music in it's first year of operations. In 1954, WMOP changed to a variety format, before finally becoming "Central Florida’s Country Legend", a title WMOP would hold for 41 years. WMOP was Florida's longest continuously programmed country station until Jim Kirk sold it in 1996. In 1996, long time owner James Kirk ("Country Jim" as he was most noted) retired and sold the Country legend to a local business owner, Richard Andrews, Jr. Andrews, who was 28 at the time, is the son of Richard Andrews, Sr., president of Barnett Bank of Marion County, a pioneer Marion County family. The younger Andrews graduated from Ocala's Forest High School and later from Florida State University in 1988. He returned to Ocala and was in the real estate business for two years before becoming part of corporate management with Chili's restaurant chain. "I grew up listening to WMOP. I have been a longtime country music fan," Andrews said. "I don't plan any changes," he said. "It has had a successful format for 40 years, and it should continue for a long time with a commitment to do so." Andrews sold WMOP in 1996 to its current owners, Florida Sportstalk Radio, who changed the format from Country to Sports programming, later becoming the ESPN affiliate in Ocala. WMOP currently re-broadcasts its programming on Gainesville sports station WGGG-AM 1230,and both stations are marketed as one metro sports station. WMOP was co-owned with WFUZ-FM 93.7 (now WOGK) from 1961 until 1985. |
WMOP Personalities |
| Art Creamer-1955-Program Director-Ben Letson Ownership |
| Ed Sherer-1955-News Director/1956-News Director/Farm Director-Ben Letson Ownership |
| Ward Goodrich-1955-Sports Director-Ben Letson Ownership |
| Helen Kirsh-1955-Women's Director-Ben Letson Ownership |
| Gene Turner-1956-Program Director/1962-Farm Director/Chief Engineer-Ben Letson Ownership |
| A.E. Turner-1959-Program Director-Ben Letson Ownership |
| Shirley Cowden-1959-Women's Director-Ben Letson Ownership |
| Al Lee-1960-News Director-Ben Letson Ownership/1968-News Director-WMOP, Inc. In Memory |
| Helen Helvenston-1960-Program Director-Ben Letson Ownership |
| Bill Mansfield-1964-News Director-WMOP, Inc. |
| Stan White-1964-Promotion Manager/1966-Program Director-WMOP, Inc. |
 Al Roberts-1968-1976-WMOP, Inc. |
| Mark Clark-1972-Music Director-WMOP, Inc. |
| Wesley Unold-1973-Program Director-WMOP, Inc. In Memory |
| Tim McCoy-1991-"Souvenirs of Yesterday"-Sundays at 12:05PM |
| Brady Ackerman-Sports |
| Jack Cowden (In 1962, Jack and his brother-in-law Ricou Browning wrote a story about a boy and his relationship with a dolphin. Later that story was developed into a heart-warming movie by the summer of 1963. The movie was called "Flipper", and it would be converted into a popular television series.) |
| Buddy Martin |
| Diane Dudley |
| Glen Gallivan |
Ed Smith-News director |
| Larry Vettel-Sports call in show |
| David M. Lopez-Baseball talk show |
| Rev. Harold Damon-Gospel program-6 a.m. Sundays |
 Kathryn Adkins Biography |
Other Names In WMOP History  |
| A.B. "Ben" Letson-1953-1963-Owner/General Manager |
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James "Country Jim" Kirk-1953-Program Director/Assistant Manager/1955-Sales
Manager/1956-General Manager-Ben Letson Ownership/1964-1993-President/General
Manager/1966-General Manager/Commercial Manager/1978-President-WMOP,
Inc. Kirk's professional radio days began at FSU, where he earned the university's first degree in speech with a broadcasting emphasis. He worked as a staff announcer at WCNH-AM in Quincy, and he and station owner Ben Letson began what would became the Seminole Sports Network. In 1953 Letson asked Kirk to manage WMOP, a new 1,000-watt station. Ten years later, Kirk bought the station. And while running Florida's oldest country and western music station, he also served as Ocala's mayor for three terms. Kirk sold WMOP in 1993. |
| E. Vernon Arnette-1955-Commercial Manager/Promotions Manager/1962-Asssistant Manager/Commercial Manager-Ben Letson Ownership/1964-Vice President/Station Manager-WMOP, Inc. |
| Lloyd Lutz-1955-Chief Engineer-Ben Letson Ownership |
| Jack Cowden, Jr.-1959-Promotions Manager-Ben Letson Ownership |
| Helen Halverston-1960-Program Director-A.B. "Ben" Letson Ownership/1968-Operations Manager-WMOP, Inc. |
| Harry Dickinson-1964-Chief Engineer-WMOP, Inc. |
| Bill Pack-1966-Chief Engineer-WMOP, Inc. |
| Carol Carpenter-1972-Commercial Manager-WMOP, Inc. |
| Terry Reaves-1972-Chief Engineer-WMOP, Inc. |
| Tom Catalano-1978-General Manager-WMOP, Inc. |
| Betty Gray-1978-Promotions Manager-WMOP, Inc. |
| Joan Becker-1982-1996-Sales |
| Richard Andrews, Jr.1993-President/Owner-WMOP Broadcasting, Inc |
| Gordon Smith-General Manager-Florida Sportstalk |
| Augie Greiner-General Sales Manager-Florida Sportstalk |
| Jeff Frances-Operations Manager/Program Director-Florida Sportstalk |
| Bill Boyer-Chief Engineer-Florida Sportstalk |
| Tom Catalano-General Manager |
| Rick Sprinkles-Music Director |
| Charles Goston |
| Craig Baggs-Sales Manager/Program Director |
| Capps Sutherland-Operations Manager |
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