WMFJ-AM 1420   
Daytona Beach 

Original Call Letters: WMFJ

Originally Licensed: Apr. 16, 1934

Original City of License: Daytona Beach

Original Frequency: 1420 moved to 1450 in 1941

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):
1934-W. Wright Esch

1955-WMFJ, Inc. ($4000)

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 1934 as Daytona Beach's first radio station by owner W. Wright Esch. The original studios were located at 750 Root Street. The station would move to the 1450 in 1941. 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.."

Change Authorized
The Orlando Sentinel Jun 30, 1955
Washington (AP) 
The Federal Communications Comm. yesterday authorized a corporate change for Radio Station WMFJ, Daytona Beach, Fla., to assignment of its license to WMFJ Inc., for $4,000.

FCC Rejects Protests Over WMFJ
The Orlando Sentinel 1956
Powell-Hooper WASHINGTON (UPI)
The Federal Communications Commission, yesterday refused to upset the operating management of radio station WMFJ in Daytona Beach, pending its final decision on sale of the outlet in 1955. The station's sale by W. Wright Esch to WMFJ Inc. in 1955 was approved as a routine transaction by the FCC without hearing. But Radio executives Theodore Granik and William H. Cook later protested the sale, charging they had a prior option. The commission said it will let the present management of the station by WMFJ Inc continue until it finally decides on the protest by Granik and Cook.

Station Return Delay Granted
The Orlando Sentinel Sat, Sep 29, 1956
Washington (AP)
The Federal communication commission yesterday gave WMFJ, Inc., additional time, to Nov. 1 to return Daytona Beach, Fla., Radio Station WMFJ to W. Wright Esch. The commission authorized Esch to sell the station in June but the transfer authority was temporarily set aside after Theodore Granik and William H. Cook protested they had a prior option to buy WMFJ. The return of the station to Esch, pending a hearing on the protest, was set for Oct. 1. The commission said the extension was ordered while it further studies the diverse pleadings and briefs filed in the case. · 

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 Clark (Kenny Mercer)-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/Mornings-"Roll Out To Rhythm"-WMFJ, Inc.
George Allen-1962-1963-News Director-WMFJ, Inc.



Don Skylar-1963-News Director-WMFJ, Inc./1964-Promotions Manager-WMFJ, Inc.   In Memory
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.



Michael St John (Jerry L. Reed)-1964-1965-Midnight-6AM/10PM-3PM-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.    In Memory



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


Brent Alberts-1968-1969 Biography


Kris Earl Phillips-1970-1972-6PM-Midnight-Daytona Broadcasting Inc.  Biography     In Memory
Al Connors-1971-Daytona Broadcasting Inc. 



Bobby Mitchell-1973-Walter-Weeks Broadcasting 
Dane Eric-1973-6AM-10AM/1976-Program Director-Walter-Weeks Broadcasting-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
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
Bulldog Hesters (Terry Wayne)-1979-Weeks Broadcasting      Terry was killed in a car accident in 1983 at the age of 25.
Mike Tes (Michael Tesmacher)-1981-1984-Overnights/Fill-in 



Dean O'Neal-1987-Weeks Broadcasting-Weeks Broadcasting
Bob Neimeyer
Art Andrews


Bill Andrews   Biography


Paul Delaney   Biography 
Mike Jay-6AM-10AM
Doug James-10AM-2PM
Gerry Peterson (Gerry Cagle) "The Mississippi Hippie" -2PM-6PM 
Rob Thomas-Midnight-6AM
Doug Montgomery
Bobby Holiday-Weekends
Johnny Donovan
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
Art Moore
Michael Jay (Mike Helminski)
Dave Archard
Gil Cabot
Don Allen


1936 QSL Card

 courtesy of Larry Flegle

Other Names In WMFJ History
W. Wright Esch-1934-1955-Owner/Station Manager
Mrs. Billie B. Esch-1934-General Manager-W. Wright Esch Ownership
Ed Sims-1934-Commercial Manager-W. Wright Esch Ownership
Ray Clancy-1934-Chief Announcer/1942-General Manager/Chief Engineer-W. Wright Esch Ownership
W.K. Ellenwood-1934-Chief Engineer-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
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


Daylon Rushing    In Memory
Mary Jo Bledsoe
Ron Samuels-Sales
Jack McClure-Chief Engineer    In Memory



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)

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