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

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

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

tarting his radio career in 1970 at WSEB in Sebring, Dave quickly moved up the ladder of experience at stations like WINT in Winter Haven, WTAL in Tallahassee, WGTO at Cypress Gardens, WILZ in St. Petersburg, a couple brief stops at WZNG in Winter Haven, and five years at WQPD in Lakeland. In 1978 he joined the air staff of WPCV when the station’s studios were in Winter Haven in the Florida Citrus Showcase (later known as the Orange Dome) on Cypress Gardens Boulevard.

Dave was Program Director and Music Director there for many years. Around 1989 he left WPCV for awhile but returned about two years later. In 2001 the Orange Blossom Country Music Association and the North America Country Music Associations International named him the FM Radio Personality of the Year. The Orange Blossom Country Music Association also named WPCV the FM Radio Station of the Year. Dave left the station again in 2004 – this time to pursue his own production company.

passed away in December 2022. He was 71.

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

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