Victoria Raymond was a radio pioneer. Born on June 29, 1903, her passion was
always broadcast radio.
She's was a resident of Brevard County for 63 years, and on Jan. 4, 1956,
co-founded WMEG-AM 920 with A.V. "Chick"
Catterton,
the former general manager at WMMB-AM 1240.
The radio station's call letters later
became WMEL-AM 920. At a time when women
were rarely in the business, she was making huge strides in a male-dominated
industry. Raymond and was as a co-owner and disc jockey.
She and her parents, John and Anne Martin, were winter residents who started
coming to Melbourne in 1923. In 1940, she 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. She 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 came to be. In January 1961, Raymond and Catterton changed the station's call letters to
WMEL to give it a broader appeal in Brevard county. Ms. Raymond died at age
100 in 1993.
|
Victoria Martin Raymond
Victoria Martin Raymond, 100, passed away peacefully in her sleep on
Thursday, October 9, 2003. Although Victoria was born and raised in New York,
her family wintered in Melbourne starting in 1923, and moved to Melbourne
permanently in 1940. In 1948, Victoria became the first woman advertising
director and program manager for WMMB, Melbourne's first radio station. She is
credited in making WMMB one of the top radio stations during the 1950's. In
1955, she and Chick Catterton started their own radio station named WMEG(-AM
920) (after Melbourne Eau Gallie), later named WMEL Victoria was a strong willed
and determined woman. She was adamant about being independent, staying in her
own apartment until age 95. She was preceded in death by her husband, Guy
Raymond. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., Monday, October 13th at Holy
Trinity Episcopal Church in Melbourne. South Brevard Funeral Home is in charge
of arrangements.
|