January 20, 1997

WXAN Celebrates 15 Years!

(Originally written for the Ava Citizen)

In 1997 WXAN 103.9 FM is celebrating 15 years on the air.  It was in 1982 that we first signed on the air as a brand new, full-service Christian radio station serving Southern Illinois and Southeast Missouri. 

The only people here today that were with us that first day are owners Harold & Carlene Lawder and announcer/salesman Bill McCarty.  Here are some other highlights from over the years:

1986:

—Marie Sawyer was hired in sales.  She is now our mid-day announcer.

—Doug Apple was hired as Music Director and evening announcer.  He is now General Manager of both WXAN and our sister station, KMHM in Marble Hill, MO. 

—We sponsored our first concert.  The featured artist was Gold City at Murdale             Shopping in Carbondale.

—The beginning of the “Radio Pals,” made up of many of the more seasoned WXAN listeners.

1987:

—We began our own local Top 40, and did our first year-end countdown. 

—The WXAN Song of the Year was “That’s My Child” by the Midsouth Boys

—We acquired our first compact disc (CD) player.

1988:

—Doug Apple earned the first of several Singing News Fan Award Favorite DJ nominations.

—The WXAN Song of the Year was “I’m Rich” by Teddy Huffam & The Gems.

1989:

—We changed our music format to 100% Southern Gospel and became “The Home of Southern Gospetality.”

—We hosted our first “Evening of Southern Gospetality” featuring The Paynes. 

—The WXAN Song of the Year was “Typical Day” by The Talleys.

1990:

—The first edition of The Southern Gospetality News came off the press.

—We hosted the first of several Southern Gospetality anniversary celebrations at the DuQuoin State Fair.

—We were voted the #2 Southern Gospel radio station in the nation by the Southern Gospel Music Guild (SGMG).

—We celebrated our first “Southern Gospel Music Month” in September.

—The WXAN Song of the Year was “Here I Am” by The Hoppers.

1991:

—We were voted the #1 Southern Gospel radio station in the nation by the SGMG.

—Doug Apple received the Golden Mic Award from Singing News Magazine.

—Carolyn Cremeens was hired as the afternoon announcer and Music Director.

—The 400 Club was formed.

—The WXAN Song of the Year was “Tabernacle” by The Midsouth Boys.

1992:

—We placed #1 in the nation in the SGMG’s contest to see who could best celebrate Southern Gospel Music Month in September.

—We hosted Nicky Cruz in a crusade in Carbondale, IL.

—Long-time listener Beverly Ford of Marion, IL won the grand prize of passes for the Singing at Sea cruise and $1,000 cash in The Gospel Greats (with Paul Heil) Great Annual Giveaway.

—Several of the jingles you still hear on WXAN were recorded by The Lesters and Big Mo.

—We hosted our first annual Evening of Southern Gospetality to kick off The Apple Festival in Murphysboro, IL.

—We suffered our first of several losses in the Apple Festival’s Pie Eating Contest to the team from the Murphysboro American. 

—Ann Duty of Murphysboro, IL won our first annual 1 Minute 39 Second Shopping Spree at Martin Foods (now Country Fair) in Murphysboro.

—Our very first billboard went up on Rt. 3 south of Chester, IL.

—We hosted our first (and only) talent competition, and our first (and only!) volleyball tournament.

—Keith Hughes of Stonefort, IL won our biggest single prize to date, a $1,039 package from Gospeland and WXAN.

—We began a four year run of Gospel Music Nights every Thursday at the Great Skate Train in Carbondale.

—The WXAN Song of the Year was “Rise Up” by Margo Smith & Holly

1993:

—We hosted one of the few Original Hinsons reunion concerts.

—We went back on the air 24 hours a day, 7 days a week...this time for good!  The overnight programming featured “Music Through The Night” with Mike Kellogg.

—We hosted our first Evening of Southern Gospetality in Missouri...The Martins in Marble Hill.

—We published our first (and only) cookbook.

—We conducted the Tri-C Memorial Scholarship Fund Radiothon with corresponding memorial newspaper.

—The WXAN Song of the Year was “From The Depths of My Heart” by The Isaacs.

1994:

—We conducted our largest contest to date, giving away over $4,000 worth of prizes during Southern Gospel Music Month.

—We did our first annual Spring Lawnmower Shop Lawnmower Giveaway, in which listeners wrote in testimonies that we read on the air and reprinted in this newspaper.

—The WXAN Song of the Year was “Joy on the Other Side of Jordan” by Kirk Talley.

1995:

—Our sister station, KMHM 104.1 FM, signed on the air in Marble Hill.

—Both stations joined the Reach Satellite Network (Solid Gospel), enabling us to bring you such live events as the National Quartet Convention.

—We hosted Elisabeth Elliot (of Gateway to Joy) at a Valentine’s Banquet at Murdale Baptist Church in Carbondale.  Amy Lambert provided the singing.

—We hosted Evangelist David Ring in a crusade in Marion.

—The WXAN Song of the Year was “I Shall Wear a Crown” by The Gaither Vocal Band.

1996:

—Both stations were finally granted by the FCC the right to increase power to 6,000 watts.

—The WXAN Song of the Year was “Oasis” by The New Hinsons.

Many people predicted that a radio station would not survive in the Ava area.  But with God’s help and blessings we have stayed on the air for 15 years...and we’re still going!  Thanks to all of you who have listened and advertised over the years.  You have made this station possible!