WPER-AM 1310 
Deland

Original Call Letters: WPER  (Construction Permit)

Originally Licensed: Nov. 26, 1940

Original City of License: Deland

Original Frequency: 1310

Origin of Call Letters: Initials of owner Paul E. Raymond

Original Power: 250 Watts

Original Location: South Alabama Ave

Original Format:

Network Affiliation(s):                                                                                                                                                                                              WPER Studios were on the 3rd floor


Owner(s): 1940-Tropical Broadcasting

History Of  Call Letters and Formats:
WPER-1940-On 1310
WPER-1941-Frequency changed to 1340
WPER-1942-Construction permit returned to the FCC


History of WPER
 On November 26, 1940 a construction permit was granted by the FCC to the Tropical Broadcasting Company of DeLand. The company consisted of Paul E. Raymond, the Dean of the Law College at Stetson University, later assistant state attorney general, G. Medwin Peek, an architect, Charles K. Tribble, a physician, E. K. Jones, a building contractor, V. M. Fountain a clothing merchant, W. H. Acree, a local Ford dealer, R. B. Lipscombe, bank cashier, and J. Phil Wahle, a local merchant.  WPER, which was yet to take to the air, was required to change frequencies from 1310 to 1340 in 1941. The plan was to broadcast from 1050 Woodland Blvd. Due to the uncertainty of operating during war time, Tropical Broadcasting returned their construction permit to the FCC in 1942.

DELAND RADIO STATION WILL START IN FEB
The News -Journal Bureau DELAND, Dec. 9, 1940
A 250-watt radio station backed by DeLand business men who composed Tropical Broadcasting corporation will open here about February 1, President Paul E. Raymond announced today. Permit for the station was issued several weeks ago, giving it the call letters of WPER and permission to operate on unlimited time. Raymond said other officers and directors were looking for a suitable site for the station and studio and that the personnel would be chosen within the next month. Under consideration is the third floor of the Dreka building.


Names In WPER History
"Paul" Carl E. Raymond-1941-(Dean of the Law College, Stetson University)-President-Tropical Broadcasting Co.
G. Medwin Peek-1941-(Deland Architect/President of the Deland Baseball Association)-Tropical Broadcasting Co.
V.M. Fountain-1941-(clothing merchant at Victor Fountain Building 850 N. Woodland Blvd,)-Vice President-Tropical Broadcasting Co.
W.H. Acree-1941-(local Ford dealer)-Secretary Treasurer-Tropical Broadcasting Co.
R.B. Lipscombe-1941-(bank cashier)-Tropical Broadcasting Co.
J. Phil Wahle-1941-(Local retailer)-Tropical Broadcasting Co.
E. K. Jones-1941-(a building contractor)-Tropical Broadcasting Co.
Charles K. Tribble1941-(a physician)-Tropical Broadcasting Co.

What's New

Biographies

In Memory


Sounds
 AM / FM

Misc.

Chronology

What's News?