WDRK (defunct)

WDRK (106.5 FM) was a small FM radio station which served Greenville, Ohio, and the surrounding Miami Valley. It had a life of nearly two decades before the broadcast license was challenged and finally denied by the Federal Communications Commission.

Personnel

A unique aspect of the small 20 KW station was the quality of broadcast talent that began careers there. Program Director Ron Rumley and General Manager Lee Rutherford were former newsmen at WIFE-AM, Indianapolis during the height of its 1970s success. The pair brought a major market quality to the sound of the small station, attracting talent from larger nearby markets such as Dayton, Ohio. Rumley and Rutherford were quite skilled at discovering and developing talent locally. Broadcasters such as Dave Thomas (Denver, Colorado newscaster), Chris Graves (Columbus, Ohio broadcast executive), Doug Ritter (Doug Ritterling - San Francisco, California radio and TV broadcaster), Mark Bixler (Dayton, Ohio newscaster) started their careers at WDRK.

History

The broadcast studios were located on the outskirts of Greenville, at 1625 Dayton Road. During the 1960s, the programming was decidedly small market fare, but after being purchased by Lewell Broadcasting in the early 1970s, Rumley chose Drake-Chenault's "Hit Parade" automated format to significantly upgrade the sound. The equipment was bargain-basement, yet sounded much better than its humble price tag.

Rumley and Rutherford's relationship faded during the late 1970s, about the time the FCC cited the station for a multitude of operating violations. The pair would mend their friendship during the early 1980s, but not in time to save the stations license. WDRK went off the air for the last time in 1989 after pleading with the FCC in 1983 to remain on the air indefinately until a construction permit was granted for its successor WLSN. The 106.5 frequency remained silent until 1990 with the emergence of WLSN(later,WBKI and WDJO) currently WDSJ.

106.5 FM is now occupied by WDSJ with a smooth jazz format. Although still licensed to Greenville with the transmitter location moved to the north near the rural communities of Pikeville and Stelvideo,WDSJ...curently owned by Clear Channel Communications is now for all intents and purposes a Dayton station.

WTGR 97.5 FM licensed to and transmitting from Union City on the Ohio-Indiana state line remains locally originating with a studio in Greenville.

The WDRK callsign is now used by an FM station licensed in Cornell, Wisconsin.

References