WVFM-FM 94.1  
Lakeland

Original call Letters: WVFM

Originally Licensed: Sept. 11, 1967

Original City of License: Lakeland

Original Frequency: 94.1

Origin of Call Letters: 

Original Power: 27,100 watts

Original Location: 

Original Format: Easy Listening/Classical 3 hrs weekly


Network Affiliation(s):


ABC


Owner(s):
1967-Lakeland FM Broadcasting, Inc.
1983-Root Communications  ($3.1 Million)
1993-Paxson Communications  ($4.75 Million)
1997-Commodore Media
1997-Clear Channel
1998-Capstar
1998-AMFM
1999-Infinity (CBS Radio)


History Of Call Letters and Formats:
WVFM-1967-Easy Listening
WVFM-1972-Beautiful Music
WEZY-1988-Easy Listening
WEZY-1995-Soft Adult Contemporary (All vocals)
WSJT-1995-Smooth Jazz
WLLD-2009-Rhythmic Contemporary


WVFM History
WVFM was the first stereo station in Lakeland. It signed on in 1967. Bud Kurtz along with partners Duane McConnell and Herb Todd, sold WVFM in 1983 to Root Communications.

      


Names In WVFM History

Frank M. "Bud" Kurtz, Jr.-1967-1991-President/General Manager/Commercial Manager/Program Director/Mornings-Lakeland FM Broadcasting, Inc.    In Memory



Duane McConnell-1967-1983-Vice President/Operations Manager-Lakeland FM Broadcasting, Inc.



Arnold Silvert-1967-1983-Partner-Lakeland FM Broadcasting, Inc.  In Memory

 

Herbert Todd-1967-Lakeland FM Broadcasting, Inc.
Jim Maloy-1967-News Director-Lakeland FM Broadcasting, Inc.

Garland Burt-1967-Operations Manager/Middays-Lakeland FM Broadcasting, Inc.
Orden Craig-1967-Chieg Engineer-Lakeland FM Broadcasting, Inc.

Bill Montgomery-1967-Operations Manager-Lakeland FM Broadcasting, Inc.

Bob Shoopman-1967-Chief Engineer-Lakeland FM Broadcasting, Inc-Lakeland FM Broadcasting, Inc.  

Dan Miller (A. J. Anello)-1968-1969-Chief Engineer-Lakeland FM Broadcasting, Inc.
Jerry Wallace-1970-Opertations Manager-Lakeland FM Broadcasting, Inc.
Ken Rand-1970-Chief Engineer-Lakeland FM Broadcasting, Inc.
Joe Boyd-1972-News Director-Lakeland FM Broadcasting, Inc.

Murray Goldsborough-1972-Commercial Manager-Lakeland FM Broadcasting, Inc.

John Taylor-1973-Program Director/1974-Operations Manager-Lakeland FM Broadcasting, Inc.
Bruce Weaver-1973-1974-Lakeland FM Broadcasting, Inc.


Thanks to Bruce Weaver. "I was a radio announcer at WVFM from 1973-1974. I went off to college out of state and returned during college breaks to sub part time. Found these 3 pics taken of me at the WVFM studio in downtown Lakeland on January 1, 1975. I was home from college during winter break and filled in some shifts. It was upstairs on the second floor as they’d relocated from their location in the orange grove near Lakeland Highlands Road."


Bruce Weaver, far left. Bud Kurtz in the center. Tom Wilnau (just behind Bud) John Taylor standing at far right. Duane McConnell holding the 100,000 watts signal



Ken Simmons-1974-1977-News Director-Lakeland FM Broadcasting, Inc.

Bill Burnett-1976-News Director-Lakeland FM Broadcasting, Inc.



Dave Edwards-1977-1978  Biography

Dave Charles-1979-News Director-Lakeland FM Broadcasting, Inc.
Gene Barry-1981-Program Director-Lakeland FM Broadcasting, Inc. 
Leroy Bradley-1982-Commercial Manager/1986-General Manager-Lakeland FM Broadcasting, Inc. 
Dixie Bingham-1982-Promotion Manager-Lakeland FM Broadcasting, Inc. 
Paul Hershey-1982-News Director-Lakeland FM Broadcasting, Inc. 


Jim Greenfield-1982-News-Lakeland FM Broadcasting, Inc.

David Silvert

Vic Dodzweit-Nights

Charles Hasbrouck

Dave Campbell

Cliff Shilling-Operations Manager



Tom Anthony    Biography

Tom Wilnau



Frank Berry-Engineer  In Memory



"Dangerous" Dan E. Miller



Dave Lane

Dave Harrell

Bob McCarthy

Allen Ross McVicker

David Charles-News

Rose Nutley

Marcia Miller

Joyce Robbins

Marji Bedgood

Jim Carey-Engineer

Eldean Truax

Del Quary

Jeri Yoders

Paul Rebbman-Engineer

Cené Dillemuth

Jay Kuppers

Treva Surrency

Mike Helminski

Tom Reynolds

Lindsay Yates

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