WQPD-AM 1430
Lakeland

Original Call Letters: WLAK 

Originally Licensed: May 1936  

Original City of License: Lakeland  

Original Frequency: 1430 

Origin of Call Letters: 

Original Power: 5,000 watts daytime/1,000 watts nighttime

Original Location: 

Original Format: Rock/Top 40


Network Affiliation(s):

ABC
ABC Entertainment
ABC Contemporary

Owner(s):

1936-Lake Region Broadcasting Co.
1941-Bradley R. Eidmann ($13,000)
1942-Lakeland Broadcasting Corp.  ($23,000)
1958-Florida Central Broadcasting Co. ($300,000)
1963-Sentinel Broadcasting Co.
1971-Hugh Holder Enterprises
1979-WQPD Inc.
1983-Root Communications, LTD
1996-Hall Communications

History Of Call Letters and Formats:

WLAK-1936-Variety on 1310
WLAK-1946-MOR  (Moved to 1430)
WQPD-1971-Top 40
WQPD-1975-Adult Contemporary
WQPD-1979-Top 40
WLKF-1983-Adult Contemporary
WLKF-1983-News/Talk

Radio Station WQPD Changes Hands
The Tampa Tribune  Aug. 09, 1979
Radio Station WQPD has been sold for $630,000 by Hugh Holder Enterprises Inc., to WQPD Inc., a local group.  The Federal Communications Commission granted formal approval for the sale of "Polk County's first radio station." Bob Kelly, president of WQPD, will continue to run the station. Involved in the new group are Jim Quinn, president of DeSears Appliances; John Mack, president of John Mack Insurance; Harold Spears, president of Floyd Entr. Inc.; John Shearer, general manager Florida Equipment and Service Inc., Bartow; Fred Gregg, president of Florence Corp.; W. Fred Smith, partner in Little & Co., Bartow; and Tom DiCesare, chairman of Student Services, Plant City Campus of Hillsborough Community College.


WQPD Personalities

Les Howard-1974-Program Director/Music Director/1975-Operations Manager/Sales Manager-Hugh Holder Enterprises
George McGovern-1975-Program Director-Hugh Holder Enterprises
Rick White-1975-News Director-Hugh Holder Enterprises



Gary Van Allen (Gary Warne)-1975-Overnights/1979-1981-Mid-day/Music Director /Mornings /Program Director/Program Director-Hugh Holder Enterprises




Tom Anthony-1976-1979-Hugh Holder Enterprises Biography

Mark Dempsey-1979-WQPD Inc

Steve Michaels

Bob Kelly-General Manager

Bill Early

Bill Stuart

Tommy Edwards

Jay Kuppers-Station Manager/Morning partner of Tom Anthony

John Jenkins-Program Director

Roscoe P. Goodtyme (Paul Gilmore)-Morning partner of Tom Anthony 




Dave Wright (David Lee Wright) 
In Memory


Other Names In WQPD History

Hugh Holder-1971-President/General Manager-Hugh Holder Enterprises
Downey Hughey-1973-Station Manager/Commercial Manager-Hugh Holder Enterprises
Hal Paul-1974-Commercial Manager-Hugh Holder Enterprises


Frank Berry-1974-Chief Engineer-Hugh Holder Enterprises   
In Memory
Robert Ottinger-1974-Chief Engineer-Hugh Holder Enterprises

Bob Kelly-1979-President/General Manager-WQPD Inc

Jim Quinn-1979-WQPD Inc
John Mack-1979-WQPD Inc
Harold Spears-1979-WQPD Inc
John Shearer-1979-WQPD Inc
Fred Gregg-1979-WQPD Inc
W. Fred Smith-1979-WQPD Inc
Tom DiCesare-1979-WQPD Inc
Debra Porte Bobier

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