In April, 1964, WJLE Radio in Smithville first went on the air as an AM only station at frequency 1480. Some seven years later, WJLE added an FM frequency at 101.7, and this year, 2014, WJLE Radio is celebrating it’s 50th anniversary on the air.
On July 26, 2014, the station held a golden anniversary celebration, in which many of the station’s former personalities, managers, employees and friends stopped by to reminisce about their years and memories at WJLE.
The event, hosted by former station manager, Ralph Vaughn, and current station manager, Dwayne Page, was filmed by DTC TV, and will be aired on DTC3 and DTC3 HD (channel 303), beginning Saturday, September 27. Three one-hour episodes were produced from the all-day radio special, featuring interviews with former WJLE employees, as well as other friends of the station. The episodes will air multiple times during late-September and October, exclusively on DTC3.
Episode 1 features interviews with the following people:
– Phillip “Fluty” Cantrell
– Bill Austin
– Bro. Royce Moore
– Coach Harold Luna
– Jeff Barnes
– Former TWRA officer Ben Franklin
– Tom Miller
– Trent Miller
– Elaine Rigsby
– Tim Harvey
Episode 1 will air on the following dates and times on DTC3:
Saturday, September 27 – 1:00 p.m.
Sunday, September 28 – 1:00 p.m.
Tuesday, September 30 – 6:00 p.m.
Saturday, October 4 – 3:00 p.m.
Sunday, October 5 – 5:00 p.m.
Wednesday, October 8 – 9:00 p.m.
Saturday, October 11 – 2:00 p.m.
Sunday, October 12 – 2:00 p.m.
Episode 2 features interviews with the following people:
– Dean Estes
– Bro. Ricky Arnold
– Randy Vaughn
– Shawn Jacobs
– Tony Glen Rast
– Wanda Redmon
– Ginger Fedak Wenger
– Jack Atnip
– Bradley Johnson
– Deana Cantrell Colwell
– Plus the WJLE Birthday cake cutting ceremony
Episode 2 will air on the following dates and times on DTC3:
Saturday, September 27 – 2:00 p.m.
Sunday, September 28 – 2:00 p.m.
Wednesday, October 1 – 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, October 4 – 1:00 p.m.
Sunday, October 5 – 1:00 p.m.
Tuesday, October 7 – 6:00 p.m.
Saturday, October 11 – 3:00 p.m.
Sunday, October 12 – 5:00 p.m.
Episode 3 features interviews with the following people:
– Ken Underhill
– Karl David Smith
– Dennis Stanley
– Tom Duggin
– Darvin Gill
– Nick Nokes
– Jeff Nokes
– Ronnie Young
Episode 3 will air on the following dates and times on DTC3:
Saturday, September 27 – 3:00 p.m.
Sunday, September 28 – 3:00 p.m.
Wednesday, October 1 – 9:00 p.m.
Saturday, October 4 – 2:00 p.m.
Sunday, October 5 – 2:00 p.m.
Wednesday, October 8 – 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, October 11 – 1:00 p.m.
Sunday, October 12 – 1:00 p.m.
Other interviews that were not included in any of the episodes will be released prior to the airings each week.
Again, WJLE: A Golden Celebration will air on DTC3 and DTC3 HD, available exclusively on the DTC TV service
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