WDSP
Encyclopedia
WDSP is licensed to De Funiak Springs, Florida
, USA, the station serves the Walton County
, area. WDSP is the first station to play all Independent music in the USA. It's Artist supported so it can be commercial free 24/7. The station is currently owned by The SportzMax, Inc.
on February 25, 2006
.
LaVernie (Vern) Foster Jr., was hired by Mr. & Mrs. Douglas as manager of WDSP in 1957. The Radio Station Studio was at the time located at 30 South 8th Street, the current location of Peck Cawthon Insurance Agency.
After serving in WWII in the United States Army Air Corps, in the Chemical Corps, Vern Foster attended Trade School in Gadsden, Alabama where he received his certification in Broadcast Radio. He initially worked at WELR in Roanoke, Alabama
as an announcer and technician.
After moving to Florida to manage WDSP, Vern Foster became an avid golfer and was the Club Champion at the DeFuniak Springs Golf Course on more than one occasion. He was also an accomplished fisherman, hunter and marksman.
During the cold war and threat of nuclear attack from the U.S.S.R. in the early 1960s Vern oversaw the construction of a bomb shelter/civil defense broadcast center, which was located in the back yard of his residence where the transmitter and tower for WDSP was located at the intersection of South 2nd Street and Bruce Avenue.
Vern Foster died in a single car crash on February 19, 1966 near the Forestry Service Fire Watch Tower located on Highway 90 about 3 miles east of DeFuniak Springs. Not long after his death, the radio station changed ownership and the WDSP call sign was changed to WGTX. The studio of WGTX was relocated to the bomb shelter facility in the late 1960s where it remained for years broadcasting as WGTX. The station was re-assigned the WDSP callsign by the Federal Communications Commission on February 25, 2006.
WDPS is owned by Omni Broadcasting of Fort Walton Beach and is part of The Ticket Sports Network simulcasting WTKE 100.3 FM during AM & Pm drive. It also broadcasts Tim Brando, Jim Rome, Paul Finebaum and Dan Patrick. It is also a Sporting News Radio affiliate.
De Funiak Springs, Florida
DeFuniak Springs is a city in Walton County, Florida, United States. The population was 5,089 in the 2000 census and 5,141 in 2004. It is the county seat of Walton County.-Geography:DeFuniak Springs is located at ....
, USA, the station serves the Walton County
Walton County, Florida
Walton County is a county located in the state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 40,601. The U.S. Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county is 50,324. Its county seat is DeFuniak Springs, Florida. The county is home to the highest natural point in Florida: Britton Hill, at .- History...
, area. WDSP is the first station to play all Independent music in the USA. It's Artist supported so it can be commercial free 24/7. The station is currently owned by The SportzMax, Inc.
History
WDSP was founded in 1956 by W.D. "Cooter" Douglass and his wife, Marie. After spending several years broadcasting as WGTX, the station was re-assigned the WDSP call letters by the Federal Communications CommissionFederal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
on February 25, 2006
2006 in radio
The year 2006 saw a number of significant events in radio broadcasting.-Events:*January 3 - The BJ Shea Morning Experience switches to KISW in Seattle, Washington, from the former FM Talk station KKWF....
.
LaVernie (Vern) Foster Jr., was hired by Mr. & Mrs. Douglas as manager of WDSP in 1957. The Radio Station Studio was at the time located at 30 South 8th Street, the current location of Peck Cawthon Insurance Agency.
After serving in WWII in the United States Army Air Corps, in the Chemical Corps, Vern Foster attended Trade School in Gadsden, Alabama where he received his certification in Broadcast Radio. He initially worked at WELR in Roanoke, Alabama
Roanoke, Alabama
Roanoke is a city in Randolph County, Alabama, United States.Roanoke is served by a weekly newspaper, The Randolph Leader. As of the 2000 census, the population of the city is 6,563.-Geography:Roanoke is located at ....
as an announcer and technician.
After moving to Florida to manage WDSP, Vern Foster became an avid golfer and was the Club Champion at the DeFuniak Springs Golf Course on more than one occasion. He was also an accomplished fisherman, hunter and marksman.
During the cold war and threat of nuclear attack from the U.S.S.R. in the early 1960s Vern oversaw the construction of a bomb shelter/civil defense broadcast center, which was located in the back yard of his residence where the transmitter and tower for WDSP was located at the intersection of South 2nd Street and Bruce Avenue.
Vern Foster died in a single car crash on February 19, 1966 near the Forestry Service Fire Watch Tower located on Highway 90 about 3 miles east of DeFuniak Springs. Not long after his death, the radio station changed ownership and the WDSP call sign was changed to WGTX. The studio of WGTX was relocated to the bomb shelter facility in the late 1960s where it remained for years broadcasting as WGTX. The station was re-assigned the WDSP callsign by the Federal Communications Commission on February 25, 2006.
WDPS is owned by Omni Broadcasting of Fort Walton Beach and is part of The Ticket Sports Network simulcasting WTKE 100.3 FM during AM & Pm drive. It also broadcasts Tim Brando, Jim Rome, Paul Finebaum and Dan Patrick. It is also a Sporting News Radio affiliate.