WLQM (AM)

Infobox Radio station
name = WLQM


city = Franklin, Virginia
area = Norfolk-Virginia Beach-Newport News
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frequency = 1250 kHz
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format = Gospel Music
power = 1,000 watts day
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haat = 143.0 meters
class = D
facility_id = 52368
coordinates = coord|36|40|57.00|N|76|55|43.00|W|region:US_type:city
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owner = Franklin Broadcasting Corporation
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WLQM (1250 AM) is a radio station broadcasting a Gospel Music format. Licensed to Franklin, Virginia, USA, the station serves the Norfolk-Virginia Beach-Newport News area. The station is currently owned by Franklin Broadcasting Corporation. [ cite web|url=http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/fmq?call=WLQM |title=WLQM Facility Record |work=United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division ] [cite web|url=http://www1.arbitron.com/sip/displaySip.do?surveyID=SU08&band=fm&callLetter=WLQM|title=WLQM Station Information Profile|publisher=Arbitron]

WLQM-FM's parent station was WYSR-AM (now WLQM-AM), a mainstay of the Franklin Southampton area since it first signed on the air in 1957. Founded by Thomas Clark, WYSR stood for "We're Your Southside Radio (station)" The station has had four locations--its original location in a converted house on Fourth Ave., in the Franklin Shopping Center, which was destroyed by a 100 year flooding of the Blackwater River, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackwater_River_%28Chowan_River%29] the home of Peter Clark, and its present location in downtown Franklin.

On-air personalities

*Ted Tatar (1957-1959?),
*Don Burnett (mid 60s?),
*Linda Burnett (mid 60s?),
*Augie Bender (deceased)(1960-1988) ["source: the Virginian Pilot"] , [http://content.hamptonroads.com/story.cfm?story=97566&ran=22428]
*Pete Clark (deceased) (1960s-1980s),
*Johnny Hart (deceased) (1960s-1970s),
*Wally Bruner (gospel through 1990s?),
*Don Bridges (late 60s), and
*Pat Collins (deceased) (late 60s?).

Teenage announcers trained by Pete Clark (in the late 60s) included Susan "Sweet Pea" McKenzie (Alabama Public Radio), [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WLRH-FM] [http://www.wlrh.org/About/staffdetails.asp?StaffID=19] , Tom (Chase) Whitfield, Isaac Lawrence (Chief Journalist, USCG), and (in the 1970s) Mark Richard (BBC London). [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Richard] The stations are currently managed by the grandson of Thomas Clark, Michael Clark, son of Peter Clark. fact|date=August 2008

External links

*AM station data|WLQM
* [http://www.sgnthelight.com/ Sheridan Gospel Network website]