WTRR-AM 1400 Sanford

WTRR-AM 1400
Sanford

Original Call Letters: WTRR
Originally Licensed: May 20, 1947
Original City of License: Sanford
Original Frequency: 1400
Origin of Call Letters: Named for first owners son, Tolliver R. Rivers
Original Power: 250 Watts
Original Location: Mayfair Inn, on Lake Monroe
Original Format: Block Programming

Network Affiliation(s): Keystone
                                  Associated Press
                                  FRN
                                  ABC
                                  NBC
                                  American Radio Network
                                  Sun Radio Network

Owner(s): 1947-(May 20) James Rivers
                1947-Radio Station WTRR
                1977-Seminole Radio Corp
                1982-
              1984-Seminole-Orange Broadcasting ($325,000)
                1987-Metro Orlando Broadcasters
                1988-John Torrado
                1989-River Country Broadcasting
                1992-Metro-Orlando Broadcasters Inc.
                1992-J&V Communications ($300,00)

History Of Call Letters and Formats :WTRR-1947-"Block" Programming/Pop
                                             WTRR-1971-Top 40 "The Rock On The River"
                                                         WTRR-1978-MOR   "TR14"
                                                         WTRR-1979-Country   "1400 Radio"
                                                         WWJZ-1983-Oldies
                                                         WUEZ-1984-Big Bands
                                                         WUEZ-1986- Adult Contemporary "Z-14"
                                                         WKUS-1987-Adult Contemporary/MOR, Country
                                                         WTRR-1998-Christian, News/Talk
                                                         WNSI-1988-Adult Contemporary "News, Sports & Information"
                                                         WTRR-1991-Adult Standards ABC "Stardust" format
                                                         WTRR-1993-Oldies/Talk
                                                         WTRR-1994-Talk "Power Talk"
                                                         WTRR-1998-Spanish
                                                         WSDO-1999-Spanish

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 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.³Now 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.

Early 1950’s-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.

1968- moved to Celery Ave. First building built by Myron, then later a second building built by Bill Reck.

Station as it appears today on Celery Ave.

1977-Myron Reck would retire, Bill was in full partnership with his dad, and sold the station to Smith Broadcasting
out of Wisconsin. Bill would move to Canton, North Carolina and open WPTL-AM 950, which he continues to
own and operate.

1981-Bill Reck moved back to Sanford and managed Sanford's WTRR for Bob Smith who wanted to move back to
Wisconsin.

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
Bill Bauman-News Director Biography
Nick Pfiefauf-1955-1965
Wayne Trout-News Director Biography
Arthur Beckwith-Clerk of the Seminole County Court.
Sal Tee-"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
Larry Edwards
Bob Anthony-1979-1983
Ken (K.P.) Manning-1979-1982-Biography
Jack Smith
Rick Padilla
Pat Madden
George Crossley-1970-1971-Air personality/sales
Len Russell
Bruce Schirard
Tim Trott-1971-1977-Program Director/Mornings
Ken Dixon
Julian Stenstrom-1945-First Sports Director-Radio Station WTRR In Memory
Jimmy V.-1992-6AM-9AM
Dave Hammond
Beau Taylor-1974-1976
Jim Sandridge
Kim Fisher-1996
David Schulz-1976-1978-Evenings
Jerry Allen (Terry Stuhr)-1974-1977-Afternoon Drive/Program 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
Chuck Thomas-1975-1977-Mornings
Mike Creiger
James Sandridge
Cmdr. Bill Hasson of The Sanford Police Department-1993-Noon-1PM Fridays
Harry Elwood (Harry Bierly)-1966-Air Personality/Chief Engineer In Memory
Joe Episcopo-1996-Air Personality/General Manager
Kimm Fisher-1996-Host-"For Women Only''
Dominic Anthony-1996-Host-"The Unexplained"
Connie Fishbaugh-1997-"Town Talk"-1PM-2PM Monday through Friday
Mickey Gold-2000-Co-host-Ages of Rock-9PM-Midnight Saturdays
Tom Borkes-2000-Co-host-Ages of Rock-9PM-Midnight Saturdays
Kathy Llamas-Host of "Info Line"-4PM-5PM
Morgen Aiken
Darren Chase (Bill Klinger)-1990

Other Names IN WTRR History
Myron Reck-1947-Co-Owner-Radio Station WTRR
Bill Reck-1947-Co-Owner/General Manager-Radio Station WTRR
Edna "Mickie" Reck-1947-Assistant Manager-Radio Station WTRR In Memory
Emerson Browne-Chief Engineer-Radio Station WTRR
Harry Bierly, Jr.-Chief Engineer.
Johnny Popp-1977-Chief Engineer-Seminole Radio Corp-Engineer
Bob Smith-1977-Owner/President-Seminole Radio Corp
Jack Weible-Sales Manager
Terry A. Stuhr-Program Director
Larry Hadley-1989-President/General Manager-River Country Broadcasting
William Massi-President/ General Manager-Metro-Orlando Broadcasters Inc.
John Torrado-1992-Co-owner-J&V Communications Co.
Virgen Torrado-1992-Co-owner-J&V Communications Co.
Frank Vaught-1992-General Manager-J&V Communications Co.

3. From The Sanford Historic Preservation Board web page http://www.ci.sanford.fl.us/wt/wt26.html Popularly called the "Mayfair," this huge brick and stucco hotel was designed by Sanford architect Elton J. Moughton. The hotel was built in 1925 for Forrest Lake, the Mayor of Sanford, and was part of the waterfront beautification plans, which led to the construction of Seminole Boulevard. Like the boulevard, the hotel sits on reclaimed land in an area that once separated the city of Sanford from the town on Mellonville. In 1930 the failed hotel was purchased by the City and renamed the Mayfair Hotel. In 1948, the hotel was purchased by the New York Giants. From 1963 to 1977 the building housed the Sanford Naval Academy and the interior was significantly altered. The hotel is now the international headquarters of the New Tribes Mission. The exterior is largely original.

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