Original Call Letters: WDBO

Originally Licensed: May 19,1924 

Original City of License: Winter Park (Rollins College) 

Original Frequency: 1250, moved to 1040 in 1927, moved to 620 in 1928, moved to 1120 in 1929 then to 580 in 1932

Origin of Call Letters: Slogan; Way Down By Orlando 

Original Power: 50 Watts

Original Location: Rollins College, Winter Park

Original Format: Concert programming and college lectures

                         
                                                                                               WDBO license plates courtesy of Dave Edwards

                                                                                                 WDBO Bumper stickers

                                                             
                                                1990                                                                       1992
                               
                                                 1995                                                                      1996
                                                                              Courtesy of Chris Trenkmann

WDBO Personalities

Charles "Batch" Batchelder

Lionel Nelson

Dorothy Morton Parks-gave 15-minute piano recitals

Walter Kimble -performed 15-minute organ recitals

Ben Aycrigg-A Winter Park High School graduate, joined WDBO in 1944

Herb Oscar Anderson-1948-best known for his successful show on the legendary WABC-AM 77. HOA was crowned the "Morning Mayor of New York." Anderson has also recorded for Capitol, Verve, MGM and Columbia.

Perry Moore-1970-1984  Biography In Memory

Photo courtesy Dave Edwards 

John Martin-1970-1972-News Director Biography

Jim Turner-1972-Present  Biography

Tom McCarthy-1983-Afternoons Biography

Jeff Slater-1989-1997-Producer and co-host with Jim Turner  Biography

Carole Nelson Biography

Bruce Hamilton-1987-1992-9AM-Noon. Left  WDBO in 1992 for a TV spot in Philadelphia. Also was a news anchor for WESH TV 2 in Orlando. Now at Jacksonville's WJXT-TV.

Officer Jim Bishop-1978-present-Traffic Reporter Biography

Clive Thomas-1976-1979 Biography

Tom Marshall-Original Host of WDBO's Niteline In Memory

Bob Raymond-News

Pat Flannagan

Mike Burger-mid day host (see WHOO-AM 990) Besides hosting the mid-days at WDBO, TV station WDBO (channel 6) needed someone to take over the weekend weathercasts. Mike moved to Dallas where he worked for seven years. Mike then returned to Orlando for four years, then back to Dallas at CBS 11.

Mike Miller-Host of "WDBO's Nightline"  Biography
  2005-Mike became the Director of External Affairs for the Jacksonville Transportation Authority.

Morton Downey, Jr.-1982-1983-Host of "WDBO's Nightline"  Biography

Bud Brewer-1978-1979-Host of "WDBO's Nightline" -Replaced by Harry Cup. Biography

Harry Cup-1979-1981-Host of "WDBO's Nightline" 7PM-11PM-Harry was a self-described moderate and attracted 8,000 people to Tinker Field on April 19, 1980 for his "Stand up for America" rally in support of the hostages being held in Iran by Ayatollah Khomeini.  Biography  In Memory
                        

Wayne Weinberg- 1984-1994- -Morning news co-anchor. Wayne also hosted "Ask Disney", a one-hour show airing  live each Saturday morning from Disney-MGM Studios. Wayne's co-host was Walt Disney World Ambassador Kim Hursh Biography

Col. Richard Bouchard-l979-1993 Biography
In Memory

Earl Finkle-Weather  In Memory

                                                                                                           The WDBO Traffic plane

Ron Hill-News reporter                                                                             

Scott Anez- 1991-present-Sports Director
Scott joined Jim Turner  in 1991 as the Sports Director. Scott's a native to the Central Florida area and earned his broadcasting degree from the University of Central Florida. Scott lives in Orlando with his wife and daughter Christine.

Dave Wahl-Reporter/Anchor

Grace Rabold (Carter)-Host of "Grace Under Fire"  Biography

Carson Rennie-1981-1982 Host of "WDBO's Nightline" 

Reagan Smith-Host of "WDBO's Nightline"  Biography

Tom Barry-Host of "WDBO's Nightline"  

Bob Nyles-1993-2003-host and producer of  several "Ask the Experts" talk shows on WDBO each Saturday morning from 6 a.m. till noon.  Biography

Bob Johnson-Weekend newscaster. Bob was also the General Manager at WHOO-AM 990 in 1974

Scott Hasick
Scott and Casey-1997-1998-Afternoon Drive-May of 1997 to February of 1998

Casey Bartholomew
Scott and Casey-1997-1998-Afternoon Drive-May of 1997 to February of 1998

Rebecca Randall-evening anchor Biography

Chris Trenkmann-1992-1997 Biography

Kelly Golden-2004-Kelly came to WDBO from Charleston, South Carolina. In her seven-year news career, Kelly has won several state, regional and national awards including an Edward R. Murrow Award. Kelly was named "Radio News Reporter of the Year" in 2003 by the South Carolina Broadcasters Association. 

Gina Jordan-1995-2008 Biography

Rob Newton

Donna Kelley

Tom Fallin-News Director

Tracy Dent-Orlando's first radio sports talk show host. "Sports Line with Tracy Dent" debuted in the late 1960s. There was no method of screening calls back then, just a seven-second delay button. Tracy interviewed such guests as Mickey Mantle, Richard Petty, Jack Nicklaus and Johnny Unitas. In 1977, while at WDBO he helped start an independent running-shoe store that consultants told him could not possibly succeed. By the time Dent sold his share of the Track Shack in 1983, the Orlando store was a full-blown success, and continues to thrive celebrating 30 years in Orlando. Dent hit the big time in 1979 when he was named evening sports anchor at WDBO-TV Channel 6.  TV took up much more of his time than radio so in 1983, choosing family over fame, Dent retired from broadcasting.

Marsha Taylor-1985-Midday Anchor/Street Reporter/ 1988-News Director

Scott Harris-News

Bob Hazen-News

Elizabeth Arenas-2006-2008-News

Dick Batchelor-Political Consultant

Jamie Dupree-News

Joe Ruble-2005-News

                                                                                                        WDBO towers and transmitter building

Kirk Healy-Producer                                                                                  

Marva Hinton-News

Nikki Pierce-News- 2008-Nikki returns to WDBO news after a stint at WFLF-AM 540

Tico Perez-Political consultant Host of "Talkin' with Tico"

Roger Mann

Donna Howell-News

David Brandau-News

Lee Hall-News Director

Dave Matthews

Diana Bosch-2006-News

Eric Brown-Airborne traffic reporter 

Jack Boston-Accuweather

Steve Craig (Steve Biddle) 

Dutch Shaffer-Interesting story about his part in the "takeover" of  WDBO-FM

Steve Morris-1994 (Jun)-1994 (Aug)

Bill Stamper-1964-1991-Sports Director/1989 winner of the Green Eyeshade Award for Sports Reporting

George McNeilly-News/Sports Reporter

Wayne Trout-News director for 7 years Biography   In Memory    

Keith Altiero-news anchor-Keith died Dec 19. 2004 after a two-year  fight with cancer. He was 51. In 2001 he won five awards for his work from the Florida Associated Press and a regional Edward R. Murrow Award for his political reporting.  Biography    In Memory

"Blue Collar" Bob Rose-now morning man at WSKY-FM 97.3 in Gainesville

Bill Gephart In Memory   
Here's Bill as well as the late Tom Blair

Bill Thompson-News In Memory

Mike Synan-Afternoon Reporter/Political Reporter

Frank Samandari-Afternoon Reporter-Frank began his news career reporting and producing TV News in Northeastern Vermont. Frank then moved to Southern Ohio, where he was Assistant News Director for six radio stations in the region, followed by a stint as Public Information Officer in San Diego, California, before his final move to Orlando.

Jeff Marshall -Afternoon Anchor-formerly of WMEL-AM 920

Michelle Wright -Reporter/Anchor for both WDBO-AM and WCFB-FM 94.5 "Star 94.5" now at CNN Radio in Atlanta

Mike Murillo -Weekend Anchor-Mike started his radio career at age fifteen, working at WMEL-AM 920 in 1998. Mike became operations manager by age eighteen. In 2002 he hosted "Underground Radio", a weekly talk show. He also produced many of WMEL's local talk shows. Mike serves as producer of the "Andrea Shea King Show" on Sundays, as well as a part time reporter and weekend news anchor on WDBO. Mike is pursuing his degree at UCF.                   Biography                

Andrea Shea King-Sunday Nights at 9 PM

Pete Simonson-1972-1978 and 1995-1996 Here's Pete in 1976  

Mark Hellinger-1983-1998-Mark worked with Jim Turner, Perry Moore, Bill Stamper, Tom McCarthy and
Morton Downey Jr.

Bill Frangus

Jim Hession

Dave Carter

Dennis Moore

Bill Patti-1985-1990-9AM-11AM-Program Director/Operations Manager

Ellen McFarlane-Consumer reporter

Jim Barroll

Sal Tee’s Solid Gold Reunion (see WHHL-AM 1190)

Tom Blair-1982-News-Tom passed Jan. 10, 2007 at the age of 68.  In Memory
Tom Blair reporting on traffic

Bob Brown-1976-1980-First airborne traffic reporter for WDBO. From 1952 to 1957, he did the Skipper Bob Show on WDBO-TV.  Bob was also a member of the Blue Angels Flight Team from 1964 to 1967. 

Bill Berry

Leonard Birdsong-2000-Sundays-Noon-2PM

Rod Grant (aka Shadow)-1983-1985-Production Director/air personality

Dan Shaffer-1987-1992-Biography  -The original Good Samaritan van driver/a producer, Music Director and Traffic reporter/even hosted an overnight show for a while Saturday night/Sunday morning/Bruce Hamilton’s midday show producer

Drew Petrimoulx-2007-Weekend Anchor/News

Rozzie Franco-2007-Weekend News Anchor Biography
2007-Within three months, Rozzie moves up to become part of the morning news team as a reporter/producer.
2008-Rozzie leaves WDBO for WFLF-AM 540

Heather Jackson-2005-Overnight News Anchor/Board Operator/Producer of the Andrea Shea King Show
On September 13th 2008, Heather married Bob Hazen  and became Heather Hazen. In December Heather moved up to mid-day producer.

Levi May-Associate Program Director/Afternoon Producer/Board Operator

Mike Mundrick-Evening Producer/Board Operator

Beth Perrell-Public Affairs Director/Host of "Retrospect"

Tiffany Griffith

Natasha Vukelic 

Jack Nelson-2000-"Dollars and Cents"

Jack Kelly-Evening news anchor 

Madalyn Woods-News Reporter (Former BET TV Reporter                                 courtesy of Mark Logas

Marcie Elliot-Traffic Reporter

Ron Bison-Traffic Reporter

Glenn Victor-Traffic Reporter

Dave Lopez- Afternoon Traffic Reporter

Andrew Giles-Fill-In Associate Producer for Jim Turner       

John Fusco- Neal Boortz Show Producer

Bobby Mitchell-Nighttime Producer

Larry Gibson

Zach Stein-2008-News

Dave Matthews

Kevin Baldinger-Traffic Biography

Dana James

Mark Williams  Biography

Monica Stein

John Weyrick

Eileen Byrne-1998-7pm - 9pm, Monday - Friday

                                                     

                                                           courtesy of Mark Logas             click photo for full sized view

Other Names In WDBO History

Arnold "Doc" Schoen, Jr.-1959-VP/General Manager at WDBO AM/FM/TV (Channel 6)

Violet Osborn-bookkeeper/secretary

Joseph Sinclair-1963-Chairman of the Board-Outlet Company

David Shurtleff-1963-Vice President-Broadcast Division

Carl Hallberg-1963-Vice President/General Manager/Commercial Manager-Outlet Company

Bill Taylor-1963-Program Director-Outlet Company

Fred Bradshaw-1963-News Director-Outlet Company

Chalmers Stromberg-1963-Chief Engineer-Outlet Company

Robert Barager-1969-nightly newscaster/sales

Tom Kennington-1979-1983

Glen Lewis-Program director

Steve Holbrook-Program director

David Bernstein-Program Director/Operations Manager

Kipper Watson-2001-Program Director

Tom Doyle-Manager

George Crossley-Sales

Steve Fluker-Director of Engineering for Cox Radio/Orlando 

Susan Larkin-Vice President/General Manager

Paul Duckworth

Other Programs Carried by WDBO

Godfrey's Last Program

Paul Harvey
In Memory

Gene  Burns-Syndicated program from WOR-New York Biography

Ray Durkee’s "Sunday at the Memories"

Larry King-Mutual

Bill O'Reilly-2002-"The O'Reilly Factor"

Rush Limbaugh-syndicated

"Have Gun Will Travel"-broadcast 106 episodes on CBS between 1958 and 1960. It was one of the last radio dramas featuring continuing characters. John Dehner played Paladin. Many episodes were adapted from the TV programs while others were written specifically for the radio version. 
Have Gun Will Travel opening

Tom Snyder and Elliott Forrest-1995-"The Late Late Radio Show"-2AM-5AM

The Outlet Company History
The Outlet Company, was a department store started in 1894 by Joseph and Leon Samuels, located in Providence, Rhode Island. The Outlet Department Store sold clothing and accessories at a discount. In 1963 Outlet would acquire the Cherry Broadcasting Company and WDBO. In November of 1980 the department store, which had grown to occupy an entire city block in downtown Providence, was sold. Outlet Communications was now solely involved in commercial broadcasting.

                                                     Sounds of WDBO
               Thanks to Chris Trenkmann for the sound files. The voices are Tom McCarthy and James Earl Jones.
                                                                  These are circa 1992-1993

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