|
| |
The People of Jones
College Radio
|
Wayne Mashburn
1932-2003 |
|
WKTZ & WJAX
General Manager for more than 20 years. |
|
Jack H. Jones
1912-2003
 |
As the President and
Chairman of Jones College for many years,
Jack H. Jones operated business colleges in Jacksonville and throughout the
southeast United States. In 1964 he was approached with a donation from the
Rahall family of the Radio Station, WKTZ-FM. At that time FM radio was not
well known. FM radios were not yet popular, and not many had been installed
in automobiles at this point. FM radio was just getting started.
After taking over the
station, Mr. Jones appeared at the studio with a hand full of albums from
home. "Put these on and nothing else." he said. "But sir" said the
announcer, "If I put these on, you won't have any listeners by the end of
the first song." "You don't have any listeners now." Mr. Jones said. After
changing the music format to Beautiful Music, similar to what you hear
today, WKTZ, then at 96.1 on the FM dial began broadcasting its now
trademark sound.
For many years Jones
College Radio developed its format. Mr. Jones would call in to the station
on a two-way radio and tell them to pull that song off the air. He would
later go to the station and use nail polish on the album to cover over the
songs he didn't like, just to make sure they weren't played. WKTZ FM became
the number one station, bar none, in Jacksonville FL. It remains the number
one Beautiful Music Station in Jacksonville to this day.
|
- Top -
|
|
Wayne was our general manager
here at Jones College Radio for many years. He worked more than 20 years
developing our music content and format. He is the sound of Beautiful Music
that's on Jones College Radio. His voice can still be heard today with many
of the announcements he recorded over the years. His legacy will live on in
the music you enjoy every day on Jones College Radio. |
The following is an announcement by our
Commentator Dick McMeekin.
This aired on Monday, May 12, 2003.
His name was Lawrence W.
Mashburn - and those who worked with him daily called him by his preferred
middle name, "Wayne."
He was a man seldom seen by
listeners, but his mellow voice was heard daily for decades. He was a first-rate
administrator and served as general manager of WKTZ FM and WJAX AM. His
sometimes-gruff exterior masked a heart as big as Jacksonville, maybe bigger. As
a host - your daily radio host - he was always gracious, caring and
professional. His career in radio began many decades ago. He was signally
responsible for bringing Norm Vincent and his Saturday swing time show to Jones
College Radio.
He was also directly
responsible for bringing yours truly with my daily commentaries, to the weekday
programming on Jones College Radio.
His particular genius lay in
taking patches of music and putting them together to make a quilt of easy
listening musical broadcasts a thing to behold, a marvel to hear. The joining of
various artists and musical styles was seamless. His music intellect spanned
decades of recorded works, and he was an authoritative and informative voice.
Wayne was responsible for
taking WKTZ-FM to the Internet where it can be heard by listeners, hungry for
good music, worldwide.
Wayne passed away last week. He will be missed,
dearly missed by all of us at Jones College. You see, in addition to friendship
and respect - many of us loved the man and are not the least bid hesitant to
openly say so. I am certain of one thing, the elevator he got onto was
definitely headed up, and I believe he is now up there orchestrating the music
of the angels. God bless and good-bye to Lawrence W. Mashburn.
Dick McMeekin
Florida Times Union Story on Wayne Mashburn
- Top -
|
WKTZ FM & WJAX AM
Jones College Radio
Music Director, Producer, & Announcer
tbuetow@jones.edu
|
Tom is an
announcer and the Music Director for WKTZ & WJAX. He grew up in Denison,
Iowa where he worked part time at the local radio station KDSN. He wanted to
serve his country so he enlisted in the Army and spent one year in Vietnam.
He then went on to study broadcasting at Northwest Missouri State University.
After graduation he spent several years at KKJO radio in St. Joseph,
Missouri. in 1977 he had the opportunity to move to Florida. He was hired by
Jones College Radio and has enjoyed working for WKTZ ever since.
If you are a music
producer or record company please send promotional copies of your music to
our
address.
And as long as our listeners continue to support us, it is our plan to
continue to play the Beautiful Music you love on WKTZ for many years to
come.
Our listeners appreciate
hearing Tom's smooth voice along with the beautiful music of WKTZ. He will
continue to refine our trademark sound.
Tom insures that our format remains truly your favorite music. Thanks Tom! |
- Top -
|
Kenneth L. Jones
General Manager
WKTZ FM & WJAX AM
Jones College Radio
kjones@jones.edu
|
July 7, 2003: Jones College
has appointed Kenneth L. Jones as the new General Manager of Radio Stations
WKTZ-FM and WJAX-AM. Kenneth has been working at the station on and off for
many years and has assisted with the recent transition.
Kenneth stated, "The policies and
traditions of Jones College Radio will remain. There is always room for
improvement in operations, but our trade mark sound of Beautiful Music is
here to stay. I look forward to working with the community, businesses, and
local interests. I hope to foster new relationships where WKTZ can bring
attention to our fine community and its local area organizations and
businesses." |
- Top -
mcmeekin@jones.edu
Air
Times for: Comments by Dick McMeekin (Instructions
to Get a Script Copy)
| WKTZ
90.9 FM |
| Monday-Friday |
10:15 AM and
3:15 PM |
| WJAX
1220 AM |
| Monday-Friday |
7:15 AM and 4:15 PM |
Dick McMeekin was born in Melrose, Massachusetts
November 23rd 1930.
He joined the WKTZ/WJAX team in 1997 and has been doing his commentaries ever
since. He is also an accomplished pianist-entertainer having appeared
live or on television with personalities such as Ed Sullivan, Johnny Cash, Kirk
Douglas, Phyllis Diller, and many others. As Dick puts it "I didn't believe at
my age I would still be in demand, but I play at many Senior Centers, for HS
Reunions (usually a half-century reunion) dances, and at country clubs."
Dick was married to the late Ruth Virginia Kopp of Alexandria. The couple
has 3 adult children and 5 grandchildren. He now resides at the Beaches. They
celebrated their 52nd Anniversary on July 14th 2003. As Dick puts it "That's the
anniversary of Bastille Day when Many people lost their heads - as did
we..............."
<<<< Read the
full story on Dick McMeekin here. >>>>
If you would
like a copy of Dicks Comments for a particular day here's how to get it:
|
Please mail a self addressed stamped envelope
to:
Jones College
Radio
5353 Arlington
Expressway
Jacksonville, FL
32211
Include a note stating the title/subject or broadcast
date.
We will be happy to send it! |
- Top -
|
