WMFC (AM)

WMFC was a daytime-only AM broadcasting station on 1360 kHz at Monroeville, Alabama, United States. The station, launched in 1952, was owned by Monroe Broadcasting Company, Inc., and was last managed by David Stewart. It was a sister station to WMFC-FM.

WMFC
CityMonroeville, Alabama
Frequency1360 kHz
Programming
FormatDefunct (was Oldies)
AffiliationsCitadel Media
Ownership
OwnerMonroe Broadcasting Company, Inc.
WMFC
History
First air date
April 1952 (1952-04)
Last air date
October 2010 (2010-10)
Call sign meaning
Monroeville-Frisco City[1]
Technical information
Facility ID43352
ClassD (daytime only)
Power780 watts (daytime only)
Transmitter coordinates
31°30′51″N 87°17′55″W

History

WMFC was owned continuously, in whole or in part, by the Stewart family since its 1952 launch. After station co-founder William M. Stewart died in early 1995, ownership of Monroe Broadcasting Company, Inc., including sister station WMFC-FM (99.3 FM), passed to his widow, Carolyn H. Stewart.[2] The AM/FM station combo was managed by their son, David Stewart, who has been involved with the station since first hosting a weekend radio show at age 10.[1]

The station began broadcast operations in April 1952 with 250 watts of power at 1220 kHz on the AM band.[3] The station was assigned the WMFC call letters by the Federal Communications Commission.[4] Launched by the Monroe Broadcasting Company, Inc., the station was co-owned by James H. Faulkner and by William M. Stewart, publisher of the weekly Monroe Journal and South Alabamian newspaper.[5] In 1959, Stewart assumed sole ownership and operation of Monroe Broadcasting Company, Inc.[6]

In 1956, the station moved to its final 1360 kHz frequency and increased its broadcast power to 1,000 watts.[7][8] In November 1986, the FCC granted the station a construction permit to increase the height of its broadcast tower, reduce power to 800 watts, and relocate the transmitter site to just outside the city limits of Monroeville.[9]

WMFC's original broadcast studios were located in a Quonset hut near downtown Monroeville.[1] The station's final studios were in a brick building on Alabama State Route 21, just northeast of the city.[1]

WMFC last broadcast an oldies music format, with much of the programming fed from Citadel Media's satellite network.[10] In addition to its usual music programming, WMFC aired University of Alabama athletics events including Crimson Tide basketball and football.[11][12]

Monroe Broadcasting surrendered its license for WMFC (AM) on October 12, 2010, and the station license was deleted later that month.[13] The license for WMFC (formerly WMFC-FM) remains in effect, with that station still broadcasting as an oldies station.

References
  1. Hoffman, Roy (December 29, 2008). "Little man, big voice". Mobile Press-Register.
  2. "Application Search Details (BTC-19950427GN)". FCC Media Bureau. May 19, 1995.
  3. "Directory of the AM and FM stations of the United States". 1953 Broadcasting Yearbook. Washington, D.C.: Broadcasting Publications, Inc. 1953. p. 70.
  4. "Call Sign History". FCC Media Bureau CDBS Public Access Database.
  5. "Broadcast Stations Identified with Newspaper or Magazine Ownership". 1967 Broadcasting Yearbook. Washington, D.C.: Broadcasting Publications, Inc. 1967. p. A-102.
  6. "Directory of AM and FM Radio stations in the U.S.". 1960 Broadcasting Yearbook. Washington, D.C.: Broadcasting Publications, Inc. 1960. p. A-109.
  7. "AM History Profile: WMFC". Alabama Broadcast Media Page.
  8. "Directory of AM and FM Stations and Market Data for the United States". 1957 Broadcasting Yearbook-Marketbook. Washington, D.C.: Broadcasting Publications, Inc. 1957. p. 50.
  9. "Application Search Details (BP-19860609AH)". FCC Media Bureau. November 21, 1986.
  10. "Station Information Profile". Arbitron.
  11. "Men's Basketball Radio Network". Rolltide.com - The Official Web Site of University of Alabama Athletics. Retrieved January 27, 2009.
  12. "Football Radio Network". Rolltide.com. Retrieved January 27, 2009.
  13. "Correspondence Folder for Facility ID 43532". Federal Communications Commission. 2010-10-12. Retrieved 2010-11-06.
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