Original Call Letters: WMEG

Originally Licensed:  Jan 4, 1956

Original City of  License: Eau Gallie

Original Frequency: 920

Origination of Call Letters: Location; Melbourne/Eau Gallie

Original Power: 1,000 watts daytime      

Original location: 512 Riverview Drive

Original Format: Full Service   

Network Affiliation(s):

History Of  Call Letters and Formats:

WMEG History 
WMEG, named for the cities of Melbourne and Eau Gallie, was co-founded by Victoria Raymond and A.V. "Chick" Catterton, the former general manager at WMMB-AM 1240. The two cities Eau Gallie and Melbourne would become one "Melbourne" as a result of a consolidation in 1969. The station's call letters later became WMEL-AM 920.  Ms. Raymond, whose maiden name was Martin, was a pioneer in Brevard's radio history. She and her parents, John and Anne Martin, were winter residents who began coming to Melbourne from their home in Amityville, N.Y. in 1923. In 1940, Victoria moved to Melbourne after graduating from Cornell University and landed her first job at the Melbourne Naval Air Station in 1941. In 1948, Raymond became acquainted with John Turner and others who were involved in starting Melbourne's first radio station, WMMB-AM 1240. Victoria was hired to answer the telephones, among other small tasks. By the end of the year, she had become the advertising director for the station and, in time, became program manager. By 1955, Raymond and Catterton decided to start their own radio station, and in 1956, WMEG was on the air. In those days, announcers faced rattlesnakes in the studio and the early astronauts came in for interviews. The station sits at 1800 Turtle Mound Road. In a 2003 interview with Florida Today  John Harper told the reporter; "We've modified the station over the years, but the original building is still at the same location". "In the 1956, there were far fewer people in Brevard." At the time, WMEG played hits from Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra and Benny Goodman. Radio shows included "The Lone Ranger." The call letters were changed in January of 1961 to WMEL to give it a broader appeal in Brevard, Harper said. Victoria Raymond retired from radio in the late 1960s and died at the age of 100 in 1993. 

Mr. John Harper, Owner/President of WMEL-AM 920 was kind enough to supply us with the history of WMEG. From Mr. Harpers email; "...WMEL Radio signed on the air New Years Day 1956. It actually started with the call letters of WMEG (for Melbourne/Eau Gallie) WMEG is the second oldest station in Brevard County. The station was a full service station in those days airing music programs during its day time operation. In the mid 60's the station changed call letters and became WMEL Radio."

Names In WMEG History

Norman E. Jorgensen-1956-President-Mel-Eau Broadcasting Corp.

A.V. "Chick" Catterton-1956-Vice President/General Manager/News Director/1958-President/General Manager/News Director-Mel-Eau Broadcasting Corp.

Victoria Raymond-1956-Treasurer/Sales/1957-Assistant Manager/Program Director/1958-Secretary Treasurer/Assistant Manager/Advertising Manager-Mel-Eau Broadcasting Corp. Biography

Dean Wilson-1956-Commercial Manager/1960-Vice President/General Manager/1963-General Manager/1964-Executive Vice President/General Manager/1964-News Director-Mel-Eau Broadcasting Corp.

Robert Whitley-1956-Cheif Engineer-Mel-Eau Broadcasting Corp.

Bill Hampton-1965-News Director-Mel-Eau Broadcasting Corp.

Maurice Gralla-1967-President/General Manager-Mel-Eau Broadcasting Corp.

Norman Doyle-1967-Comercial Manager-Mel-Eau Broadcasting Corp.

Richard Faque-1967-Program Director/Operations Manager-Mel-Eau Broadcasting Corp.

Edward Williams-1968-Sales Manager-Mel-Eau Broadcasting Corp.

Ernest Legge-1968-Operations Manager/Chief Engineer-Mel-Eau Broadcasting Corp./1969-News Director-WMEG, Inc.
In Memory

Barbara Bancroft-"Talk of the Town" 

Norman Protsman

Other Programs In WMEG History

The Lone Ranger

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