History of WBUC, WBTQ, and
WBUC-FM/WBRB, Buckhannon

This page was last revised on Jan. 14, 2014. It was contributed by Clarke Ingram.

July 30, 1958. Upshur County Bcstg.Co. seeks 1380 kc, 1 kw-D. Estimated construction cost $19,677, first year operating cost $26,545, revenue $36,000. Owners are Jesse D. Newman and Lee P. Clagett, each 50%. Mr. Newman spent last 10 years in U. S. Army Signal Corps. Mr. Clagett has been owner of Clagett Arlington Memorial Co., Arlington, Virginia.

February 12, 1959. Hilleary Andrew seeks 1380 kc, 1 kw-D. Address: 4 Cleveland Ave. Estimated construction cost $25,629, first year operating cost $40,000, revenue $40,000. Applicant is retired retail jeweler.

March 30, 1959. FCC order granting the move of WHAW Weston from 1450 kc to 980 kc becomes official. The Buckhannon applications are amended to specify new frequencies made available by the WHAW move.

May 18, 1959. Central West Virginia Service Corp. seeks 1450 kc, 250 w. Estimated construction cost $14,418, first year operating cost $21,889, revenue $33,770. Principals are Richard G. Ralston and Francis E. Andrew (49.6% each). Mr. Ralston owns newspaper and Mr. Andrew is in retail jewelry business.

July 30, 1959. Upshur County Bcstg. Co. is granted 1460 kc, 1 kw-D.

September 7, 1959. Broadcasting reports that the FCC has assigned the call letters WBUC.

October 22, 1959. FCC dismisses petition by Central West Virginia Service Corp., requesting reconsideration of July 29 grant of application of Upshur County Bcstg. Co. for new AM station (WBUC) to operate on 1460 kc, 1 kw-D in Buckhannon.

September 16, 1960. WBUC requests CP to increase power from 1 kw to 5 kw and install new transmitter.

October 17, 1960. Broadcasting reports that the FCC grants a license to cover for WBUC. Request for 5 kw remains pending.

January 10, 1962. FCC grants WBUC increase in power from 1 kw to 5 kw, continued operation on 1460 kc, daytime only, and install new transmitter.

July 26, 1966. WBUC seeks assignment of license from Jessie D. Newman and Lee P. Clagett, dba Upshur County Broadcasting Co., to Radio Station WBUC Inc., to be owned by Messrs. Newman and Clagett (each 50%). No consideration; assignment is for legal convenience.

September 20, 1966. FCC grants assignment of license from Jessie D. Newman and Lee P. Clagett, dba Upshur County Broadcasting Co., to Radio Station WBUC Inc., as above.

November 6, 1967. Broadcasting reports that, as part of a rulemaking involving stations around the country, the FCC has granted WBUC pre-sunrise authority (PSRA) with 500 watts.

June 27, 1979. West Virginia Wesleyan College requests amendment to FM table of allocations to assign 93.5 mhz to Buckhannon.

August 28, 1979. In response to petition by West Virginia Wesleyan College, FCC proposes assigning 93.5 mhz to Buckhannon as its first FM assignment.

March 5, 1980. FCC officially assigns channel 228A (93.5 mhz) to Buckhannon as its first FM assignment, effective April 25.

March 18, 1981. Radio Station WBUC Inc. seeks 93.5 mhz, 3 kw, HAAT: 132 ft. Address: Drawer C. Buckhannon 26201. Estimated construction cost: $25,200; first-year operating cost: $12,000; revenue: $35,000. Format: Modern country. Principal: Jesse D. Newman (100%), who owns and operates WBUC (AM) Buckhannon.

April 7, 1981. Multiplex Communications Inc. seeks 93.5 mhz, 3 kw, HAAT: 218 ft. Address: P.O. Box 256, Piedmont, W.Va. 26750. Estimated construction costs: $79,000; first-quarter operating cost: $15,000; first-year revenue: $102,000. Format: contemporary. Principals: Jack I. Mullen (25%), Tommy L. Kuhn (35%), Roger L. Ruff, Curtis E. Durst, William L. Kelly, Jack I. Mullen II (10% each). Kuhn is president and 75% owner of WXEE(AM) Welch, W.Va. Jack I. Mullen is Westernport, Md., attorney. Younger Mullen is student. Kelly is Westminster, Md., stockbroker. Ruff is project director at Daniel Electronics, Charleston, W. Va. Durst is announcer and account executive at WMSG(AM)-WXIE(FM) Oakland, Md.

June 11, 1981. Evergreen Systems Inc. seeks 93.5 mhz, 3 kw, HAAT: 322 ft. Address: 78 East Main Street, Buckhannon 26201. First-year operating cost: $99,800; revenue: $105,000. Format: MOR. Principals: Bruce Beam Jr., Norman T. Farley, John B. Hinkle, Kenneth L. Smith and Edgar E. Thacker III (20% each). Beam is news anchor at WDTV (TV) Weston. Farley is Buckhannon attorney. Hinkle is Buckhannon businessman. Smith is engineer at WDTV. Thacker is salesman for Bluefield, W. Va. equipment company. They have no other broadcast interests.

September 29, 1983. Multiplex Communications Inc. granted 93.5 mhz, 3 kw, HAAT: 218 ft. Address: P.O. Box 256. Piedmont. W. Va. 26750. At time of April 7, 1981 application, principals were Jack I. Mullen (25%). Tommy L. Kuhn (35%), and Roger L. Ruff, Curtis E. Durst, William L. Kelly, Jack I. Mullen (10% each).

April 9, 1984. Broadcasting reports that the FCC has assigned the call letters WBTQ to 93.5.

July 12, 1985. Four applications are filed for 101.3 mhz in Buckhannon, as follows:

• Mountainaire Broadcasting Corp. seeks 101.3 mhz; 50 kw; HAAT: 492 ft. Address: Route 1, Box 267. Jane Lew, W.Va. 26378. Principal is owned equally by Emmagene W. Gaston, Yvonne Blake and Amelia B. Callaway, who have no other broadcast interests.
• Elaine C. Eicher seeks 101.3 mhz; 11.72 kw; HAAT: 990.9 ft. Address: 4506 Verplanck Pl., N.W., Washington 20016. Principal has no other broadcast interests.
• Reed Broadcasting seeks 101.3 mhz; 50 kw; HAAT: 492 ft. Address: 23 W. Main St., Buckhannon, W. Va. 26201. Principals is owned by Laura W. Reed (55%) and Terry D. Reed (45%), wife and husband. They also have interest in WAUC(AM) Wauchula, Fla.
• Black Media Communications seeks 101.3 mhz; 50 kw; HAAT: 478 ft. Address: 103 Sierra Pl., Jacksonville, N.C. 28540. Principal is owned by Priscilla M. Fuller, who has no other broadcast interests
• There was a fifth application (by Upshur Broadcasting Inc.) that was not listed.

July 18, 1986. WBUC seeks assignment of license from Radio Station WBUC Inc. to Cat Radio Inc. for $395,000. Seller is owned by Jesse D. Newman, who has no other broadcast interests. Buyer is owned by Richard R. Green (70%), David R. Harper, Norris D. Phillips and Tommy L. Kuhn (10% each). Green is businessman and Harper is real estate agent, both in Clarksburg. Phillips is broadcast engineer. Kuhn owns WXEE(AM) Welch and is selling co-located WBTQ(FM).

July 18, 1986. WBTQ(FM) seeks assignment of license from Multiplex Communications Inc. to Cat Radio Inc. for $250,000. Seller is owned by Tommy L. Kuhn, minority investor in buyer of WBUC(AM) (see above). Buyer is also purchasing WBUC(AM).

October 16, 1987. FCC granted application of Upshur Broadcasting Inc. for 101.3 mhz; 50 kw; HAAT: 492 ft. Address: Rte 5, Box 13, Oakland, MD 21550. Attorney: Rothman, Gordon, Foreman & Groudine. Engineer: Jack I. Mullen. Principal is owned by Sara Kuhn, who has no other broadcast interests.

February 29, 1988. Broadcasting reports that the FCC has granted the call letters WUBI to 101.3.

July 15, 1988. WUBI seeks assignment of license from Sara Kuhn to Richard Green for $20,000. Seller has no other broadcast interests. Buyer owns WBUC(AM)-WBTQ(FM) Buckhannon.

February 6, 1989. WUBI applies for modification of CP to change transmitter location: .92 miles, bearing 35.6 degrees NE of original site.

August 10, 1989. WBTQ seeks assignment of license from Cat Radio Inc. to Harlynn Inc. for no financial consideration. Seller is headed by Richard R. Green. Cat also owns WBUC(AM) Buckhannon. Buyer is headed by Art Rogers and Mary Allessio. who have no other broadcast interests.

August 14, 1989. Broadcasting reports that the FCC has granted WUBI modification of CP to change transmitter location: 3.4 mi SE (bearing 135 degrees) from Buckhannon.

September 27, 1989. FCC approves assignment of license of WBTQ from Cat Radio Inc. to Harlynn Inc. for no financial consideration, as above.

October 9, 1989. Broadcasting reports that WUBI has been granted the call letters WBUC-FM.

January 19, 1990. FCC proposes substituting ch. 228B1 for ch. 228A (both 93.5 mhz) at Buckhannon and modifying license of WBTQ accordingly.

April 15, 1991. FCC officially substitutes channel 228B1 for Channel 228A at Buckhannon and modifies license of WBTQ accordingly, effective June 10.

October 22, 1991. WBTQ seeks CP to change ERP to 2.75 kw (H&V), ant: 164 m., TL: approximately 7 km SE of Buckhannon, change to channel 228B1.

February 19, 1992. FCC grants application of WBTQ for CP to change ERP to 2.75 kw (H &V), ant.: 164 m.. TL: approximately 7 km SE of Buckhannon; change to channel 228B1.

October 25, 1993. Broadcasting reports WBTQ seeks CP to make changes: ERP: 3.6 kw; ant. 132 m.

November 27, 1995. Broadcasting reports WBTQ seeks assignment of license from Harlynn Inc. to Elkins Radio Corp, Elkins, W. Va. for $205,000. Seller has no other broadcast interests. Buyer, owned by Richard and Karen McGraw, owns WELK(FM) Elkins, W.Va., and WEIR(AM)-WCDK(FM) Weirton, W. Va.- Cadiz, Ohio.

March 31, 1997. WBUC-FM changes call letters to WBRB.

WBUC-AM WBTQ-FM Buckhannon

This article was supplied by the station in the 1980s.

WBUC Radio had it beginning in 1958. In July of that year, Jesse “Jay” Newman, a Signal Corps Sergeant in the White House Army Signal Agency, filed for the station. Newman had built a complete Armed Forces Radio Station in India during WW-II and had been bitten by the broadcasting “bug.”

In July 1959, the FCC gave the grant for the 1,000-watt daytimer on 1460 khz. Newman gave up 15 years in active military duty and moved his family to Buckhannon to build the station. It was a ‘shoestring’ operation that proves it can be done.

WBUC signed on the air December 13, 1959 with a minimum of equipment, some of it built by Newman. The studios were in a large farm house. Newman and his family of five lived in one part, while the station occupied another part. It was handy for winter sign-on shifts, but it was crowded.

Improvement began immediately. Emergency power generation was added, and an application was tendered to the FCC for a power increase to 5,000 watts. This increase was granted, and WBUC went to 5,000 watts in late 1961 with a new Gates transmitter. Additional tape equipment and then remote pickup equipment was added as money became available.

WBUC has always encouraged young people interested in radio broadcasting. During the first years, the part time people were generally talented high school students. In later years, WBUC staff conducted five Adult Education Broadcasting Classes in cooperation with the high school. The WBUC facility was used for hands on training. Many of its “graduates” are still broadcasting, and four have become station owners, or stockholders.

Each year the ability to serve the community grew. Newman, being a technician and the owner, did not scrimp on equipment or maintenance. In 27 years, the longest outage was three hours caused by a blown modulation transformer. There is now a 1,000 watt backup transmitter.

In 1967 and again in 1985, WBUC rendered significant service during disastrous floods. In 1967, the remote broadcast facilities were moved directly to rescue headquarters, and rescue efforts were coordinated. In 1985, there were widespread power outages, including WBUC. The station signed on with emergency power, and operated from the generator for over 4.5 hours. Newman mentioned on the air he might need to shut down to check fuel levels, and within five minutes two diesel trucks had arrived offering fuel to keep the station on the air.

Shortly after this emergency, WBUC established a dedicated 24 hour weather answering service using a spare cart machine to answer the calls, and a station-designed interface unit. School announcements and other information may be quickly included, and the unit is very busy with calls.

In 1980, WBUC moved to its beautiful new building with 2,500 square feet of office and studio space. It is located on Highway 33, 1½ miles west of Buckhannon. There is a large “live” studio used for some special programs, plus two stereo control rooms, and a mono production room, with space for a fourth control room. A separate detached building houses the emergency power generation equipment, storage, maintenance shop, and spare parts.

In October, 1986, Newman sold the facility to Cat Radio, Inc. Cat Radio also purchased WBTQ-FM, and moved it to the WBUC building. It is a Class A FM stereo, and in April of 1987, WBUC-AM also went stereo using the C-Quam system. The fourth control room was installed for stereo recording. The manager, Phil Phillips, part owner of Cat Radio, had his start in broadcasting at WBUC some 20 years ago. His wife Joyce is traffic manager and continuity director. The AM format is country, with the FM being adult contemporary.

WBUC has always meant community service, and this tradition continues.