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WBJW History

1973-Rounsaville Broadcasting based in Atlanta, signs-on WBJW-AM 1440 and FM from a small studio near the Dubsdread Golf Course in Orlando. The broadcast tower was located off of Turkey Lake Road near (the as yet to be built) Universal Studio's Florida.

1974-WBJW-FM decides to take on Orlando's Top 40 powerhouse WLOF-AM 950 under the guidance of Jerry Peterson, Tom West and M.F. Kershner. The slogan "BJ105" came from the owner Robert Rounsaville's wife Betty Jane Rounsaville.
 
1976-"BJ-105" continues to dominate Orlando radio, taking the number one spot in the ratings, and would stay there for many years. 

1980-"BJ-105" buys WLOF-AM 950 and it's sister station WLOQ-FM 103.1.  WLOF is retained.  WPRD-AM 1440 and WLOQ-FM 103.1 are sold off separately due to government regulations at the time that allow only one AM and one FM station to be owned by the same person, in the same city at one time.

1982-Nationwide Communications purchases "BJ-105" and WLOF-AM 950 from Rounsaville Communications. "BJ-105" relocated it's tower to Christmas, FL. The tower was built by WOFL-TV Channel 35.




From Dave Edwards "...here's a night shot of BJ-105 located at 222 Hazard Street, same location as all (or most I guess) of the stations on 1440...That would be WABR and on through the years..." "... The parking lot was in back of the building.  The new addition to the building is where the "FM Stereo" sign in the picture is located and was completed around 1977?..." "...There was a window to the front of the operator in the control room with an easterly view, if you could call it a view since in looked into the hedges of the neighboring house. In the picture we are looking N.N.E toward the area where Fairbanks goes under I-4.  After the addition to the building the window remained in place and looked into the program directors office  :-)  Back then, management had a great sense of humor or budget."

Brian Thomas- 2PM-4PM/Program Director-1985-1987/1988-1991-Program Director-Nationwide Communications
Brian programmed "BJ105" and was on-air from May ' 85-May ' 87 and came back to program it again. Brian was the last voice heard on "BJ105",  “Thanks for the memories…it’s been a great ride” when they morphed into Mix 105.1 in the Fall of 89. Brian continued to program "Mix 105.1" until June of 1991. Brian went on to program B97 New Orleans, Q105 Tampa and KFRC-San Francisco. Then in 2006 he became the program director  at  Jack-FM, WCBS-FM 101.1,in New York.  Brian oversaw the return of "New York's Greatest Hits" to WCBS-FM 101.1

Tracey Young-1986-Mid-Days/"Community Tapestry"-Nationwide Communications   Biography  

 

John Summers-1986-1989-Nights/1988-Host of ''Affection Connection''-Monday-9PM-Nationwide Communications  Biography

Debbie & Dan-1986-Nationwide Communications

Terry Foxx-1986-1988-Overnights-Nationwide Communications

 
Bethann Shaffer-1989-1990-News-Nationwide Communications

Mitchell Stone-6AM-10AM

Tom West-Program Director/10AM-Noon

photos courtesy of Barry Michaels

Other Names in WBJW History

Brian White-1987-1987-Program Director-Nationwide Communications

Rick Weinkauf-1988-2007-General Manager. Rick announced his retirement in 2007  Biography

QSL Card courtesy of Larry Flegle

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