WMEV-AM
began broadcasting from Radio Hill in Marion, VA on December 12,
1948, at 1010 on the AM dial. WMEV-FM "FM94", a
pioneer FM station in the Mountain Empire signed on June 21,
1961, at 93.9 on the FM dial from studios on Radio Hill and
transmitter high atop Walker Mountain.
In
1948 "Cousin Zeke" went to work for 2 weeks at WMEV to
help raise money for the Marion Volunteer Fire Department, and
Zeke's popularity with the listeners kept him there for 33
years.
"Cousin Zeke"
was so famous as a DJ that he was voted "DJ of the
Year" in 1954 during the DJ convention in Nashville, TN and
was presented the "Key to the Town of Marion" in 1976.
Zeke emceed for George
Jones and Tammy Wynette in Richmond, VA, played in the opening
shows for Loretta Lynn and Mel Street, to name a few.
The stations were founded
by Bob and Stella Wolfenden. The Wolfendens were both
active in the operation of WMEV stations and the activities of
the Virginia Association of Broadcasters (VAB).
Following Bob's death in
1962, Stella remarried and continued to operate the station
until 1982. She was president of the VAB in 1972.
In 1982
the stations were acquired by Summit Broadcasting, which was
owned and operated by Hugh and Barbara Gwyn, who were also
Marion natives. During their tenure WMEV-FM's power was
increased to 100,000 watts giving it a broadcast range of over
100 miles in some directions.
WMEV-AM,
formerly a daytime-only station, began nighttime service to
Marion and Smyth County. It was also during the Gwyn's
ownership that FM94!'s "SuperCountry" format and
regional image were developed.
Marion native
Sam Russell of Russell & Associates, whose original
association with WMEV was as an announcer while in high school,
managed FM94! during most of the years Summit owned it, was
instrumental in developing its current format and audience.
On July 1, 1998, Holston
Valley Broadcasting Corporation of Kingsport, TN, became the
proud owner of WMEV-AM and WMEV-FM. FM94! remains
the Arbitron-rated number one radio station in Smyth and
surrounding counties and commands considerable audience in the
Johnson City-Kingsport-Bristol, TN/VA metropolitan areas as
well. FM94! can be heard in five states including Northeast
Tennessee, Northwest North Carolina, Southeastern West Virginia,
Eastern Kentucky and of course Southwest Virginia.
David
Widener, General Manager of WMEV-AM and FM, is also Holston
Valley Broadcasting's Vice President for Radio.
Other Holston-owned
radio stations include WTFM/98.5, Tri-Cities, and AM stations
WKPT/1400, Kingsport; WKTP/1590, Jonesborough/Johnson City; and
the oldest station from Knoxville to Roanoke, WOPI/1490,
Bristol. 95.9/WRZK/The Hog is also operated by Holston.
Holston
Valley Broadcasting is also active in television and is the
licensee of the Tri-Cities' ABC affiliate, WKPT-TV, channel 19,
and MyNetwork TV affiliate WAPK, channel 36.
Holston's
chief operating officer and President is George DeVault, a
Kingsport native. The company is wholly-owned by Glenwood
Communications Corporation, which is also based in Kingsport,
and of which DeVault is also President. William M. Boyd is
the Board Chairman.
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