History of WLOG, Logan

A second wave of radio stations was organized in the state in the late 1930's through the early 1940's. One of these was Radio Station WLOG, Logan, West Virginia, going on the air Saturday, July 20, 1940.

A radio station for Logan had been discussed by Logan citizens over a period of several years. A local furniture store possessed one of the original permits to operate a station, but let it expire. Others had gone so far as to discuss with lawyers the advisability of applying for a license, but no formal action was taken until the fall of 1938. While attending a banquet of newspaper representative at Morgantown, in October, 1939, Clarence H. Frey, owner / publisher of the Logan Banner was asked why Logan did not have a radio station. The question remained in his mind to such an extent he asked a good friend, Robert O. Greever, who was associated with the old Merrill Coal Company at Henlawson to assist him in making a survey to see if Logan could support a radio station. If so, they would enter into a partnership.

B. R. Martin, who was circulation manager at the Banner, prior to coming to Logan, had been associated with a newspaper in South Carolina that had built a station. He contacted a radio engineer, W. E. Henderson, who came to Logan and mapped out the essentials of procedure. John R. Atkinson, then the Banner advertising manager, conducted the survey, later becoming sales manager at WLOG, Quinelle Vann as copy writer, John Atkinson as commercial manager and Martha Jane Williams (Becker), special events.

With all preliminary data carefully compiled, it was forwarded to Pratt and Pratt, Washington Communication lawyers, with formal application being made in February, 1940. Following a Washington hearing in September, the applicants spent several months anxiously awaiting some approval from Washington. This they got with permission to file an application for erection of the tower.

Mr. Henderson again came to Logan to supervise this phase of the work. After much difficulty in obtaining a site that would meet with F. C. C. approval, the equipment was ordered shipped and construction began. After completion of the entire installation, Henderson left, at which time Victor J. Andrew, a Chicago engineer, was hired to conduct the test patterns and actually prepare the station for air tests. These began on Thursday, May 23, 1940 at 2:30 A. M. and it was found that WLOG was adhering to its 1200 Kilocycle assignment. Permission was then requested to begin a regular daytime broadcast test. On Sunday afternoon, May 26, 1940 at 4 p. m. the first broadcast was made from WLOG.

Having satisfied all requirements of the F. C. C., the license was granted effective July 2, 1940, and a new source of news, entertainment and advertising service to the Logan community became a reality.

With Robert O. Greever as station manager, the remainder of the staff included, Eddie Vann, program director, and his wife, Quinelle Vann. Those special events included the King Koal Show, a 13 week Sunday afternoon program sponsored by area coal companies. Miners and their families auditioned and then the best was put on the air along with safety messages as commercials.

Upon the death of Clarence Frey, followed by Creever's death, WLOG was sold to a group of five Logan businessmen (in 1963): Phil Glick, A. S. Buddy Ammar, Jr., James Muscia, the new publisher of the Logan Banner, Joseph Eros and Bill Bailey, a group that owned it until 1962. At that time, Bill Bailey bought out the other owners and continued to own the station until April, 1985, when it was sold to the Donco Corporation. Don Coleman was president and general manager. The station was forced into receivership in 1987 at which time Logan Bank and Trust applied for the license application. That was granted in July, 1988 with trustee Thomas C. Truman. General Manager is Russell R. McGuire.

[Note: The final paragraph in the above article may have some errors. See the FCC microfiche data below.]

From the FCC microfiche files, February 4, 1998.

                                     WLOG

 1/25/40  Granted a C.P. for a new station on 1200kc with 100 watts,
          Daytime, at Logan, WV, eff. 1/26/40.

  7/2/40  Date first licensed.  The licensee was Clarence H. Frey
          and Robert O. Greever, Logan, WV.  They were granted 1200kc,
          100 watts, Daytime.

12/17/40  Granted a mod. of license for 1200kc, 100 watts, unlimited.

 3/24/41  Under NARBA, they were granted 1230kc, 100 watts, unlimited.

  4/1/41  Granted a C.P. for 1230kc, 250 watts, unlimited.  License
          to cover the C.P. granted 6/19/41.

 7/26/60  Invol. assign. of lic. to Robert O. Greever, Individually
          and as Executor of the Estate of Clarence H. Frey, deceased,
          eff. 6/2/60.

 3/29/61  Granted a C.P. for 1230kc, 250 watts, 1kw LS, unlimited.
          License to cover the C.P. granted 10/5/61.

 1/23/63  Vol. assign. of lic. to Guyan Valley Broadcasting Co.,
          eff. 2/1/63.

 4/28/67  Vol. transfer of cont. of lic. corp. from A.S. Ammar, E.M.
          Bailey, Joseph Bros, Jr., Phil Glick, Jr., James A. Musica
          and the W.L. Robinson Co. to E.M. Bailey, Joseph Bros, Jr.
          and James A. Musica.

 4/19/73  Vol. acquisition of positive cont. of lic. corp. by E.M.
          Bailey through purchase of stock from Joseph Bros, Jr., and
          James A. Musica, eff. 5/31/73.

10/22/81  License renewed.

          END OF FILE