WHTC
Encyclopedia
WHTC is a news/talk AM radio station broadcasting at 1450 kHz in Holland, Michigan
.
The station signed on July 31, 1948 at 6pm and originally was owned by six Holland-area businessmen: I.H Marsilje, Nelson Bosman (who served as a mayor of Holland from 1961 to 1971), W.A. Butler (former owner of the Holland Evening Sentinel), Millard Westrate, Willard Wichers and P.T. Chef. All are since deceased. Michael Walton of Milwaukee, WI purchased the station (along with the old WHTC-FM) from the original owners in 1981. On September 20, 2000 Walton sold his four-station operation (including WHBL, WWJR and WBFM Sheboygan, WI) to Midwest Communications
, Inc.
WHTC-FM
(96.1), which signed on in 1961 and later went by the call letters WYXX and WKEZ, was sold to Federated Communications in 1994. It was subsequently acquired by Clear Channel Communications
and has undergone a number of call letter and format changes, currently operating as WMAX-FM, with an all-sports format (ESPN).
WHTC is an affiliate of CBS Radio and carries Detroit Tigers Baseball, area high school football and basketball, the Detroit Lions and Red Wings, Holland Blast, West Michigan Whitecaps and more.
, national and local celebrities and newsmakers. Talk of the Town began on WHTC in 1959 with Bill Gargano. Juke began sharing hosting duties with Gargano in 1961. Van Oss has been sole host of the program since 1981. On May 22, 2009 Juke received notice from the Michigan Association of Broadcasters of his induction into the Michigan Broadcasting Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony was held July 14, 2009 at the MAB Conference at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island.
Morning Host Red Kingman has been with WHTC since 2004, and Red's mix of information, commentary, and humor has become a mainstay with the Holland/Zeeland/Lake shore community. The community has embraced his observational and sometimes wacky humor, his warm and down to earth charm, but most of all his faith. The program features various segments including local sponsors, community events and history, and Red's informative and entertaining interviews, which are the bedrock of his program "Red's Place". Among the many guests Red talks to on a weekly basis are The Mayor Of Holland, The Governor of Michigan, author's, political figures and many other local and national guests.
Brent Alan is Brand Manager of WHTC and sister station WYVN
92.7 The Van. He is also the Program Director of WHTC. Brent arrived at WHTC in 1998.
On September 2, 2008 WHTC began carrying The Huge Show, a local sports talk show sydicated to stations in Michigan and originating in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Bill Simonson is the host and the show airs from 3pm to 6pm Monday - Friday.
News Director Gary Stevens delivers a mix of local, state and national news and sports each morning to the Holland/Zeeland area.
Ed VerSchure, who worked at WHTC as morning host in the 1960s, returned to the station in the early 1990s. He also served as a voice over announcer on WZZM-TV. VerSchure owned his own radio station, WEVS, in nearby Saugatuck, Michigan
which went on the air on July 4, 1987. The former WEVS was purchased by Midwest Communications in 2001 and is known as WYVN
92 7 The Van. Ed serves as a fill in host on WHTC.
Lupita Reyes developed and hosted Alegria Latina, an all Spanish language music, news and information program on WHTC which aired from 1964 to 2009. On July 5, 2009 the program moved to 92.7 The Van airing from 7pm to 12m Sundays giving listeners in West Michigan their first Hispanic program on FM. Lu continues as host.
WHTC's talk line-up is rounded out by syndicated hosts Mark Levin
, Phil Valentine and Jim Bohannon
.
Former Michigan Congressman Guy Vander Jagt
and Detroit sportscaster Al Ackerman worked at WHTC in the 1950s.
Holland, Michigan
Holland is a city in the western region of the Lower Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is situated near the eastern shore of Lake Michigan on Lake Macatawa, which is fed by the Macatawa River ....
.
The station signed on July 31, 1948 at 6pm and originally was owned by six Holland-area businessmen: I.H Marsilje, Nelson Bosman (who served as a mayor of Holland from 1961 to 1971), W.A. Butler (former owner of the Holland Evening Sentinel), Millard Westrate, Willard Wichers and P.T. Chef. All are since deceased. Michael Walton of Milwaukee, WI purchased the station (along with the old WHTC-FM) from the original owners in 1981. On September 20, 2000 Walton sold his four-station operation (including WHBL, WWJR and WBFM Sheboygan, WI) to Midwest Communications
Midwest Communications
Midwest Communications, Inc. consists of Midwest Communications, Inc. and WRIG, Inc., which collectively own forty-six radio stations. The Company got its start in Wausau, Wisconsin, with WRIG, Inc. and the acquisition by the D.E. Wright family of a 1400 kHz, 250 watt AM facility from the...
, Inc.
WHTC-FM
WMAX-FM
WMAX-FM are the call letters of a radio station owned by Clear Channel Communications located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, transmitting on a frequency of 96.1 MHz....
(96.1), which signed on in 1961 and later went by the call letters WYXX and WKEZ, was sold to Federated Communications in 1994. It was subsequently acquired by Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications, Inc. is an American media conglomerate company headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. It was founded in 1972 by Lowry Mays and Red McCombs, and was taken private by Bain Capital LLC and Thomas H. Lee Partners LP in a leveraged buyout in 2008...
and has undergone a number of call letter and format changes, currently operating as WMAX-FM, with an all-sports format (ESPN).
WHTC is an affiliate of CBS Radio and carries Detroit Tigers Baseball, area high school football and basketball, the Detroit Lions and Red Wings, Holland Blast, West Michigan Whitecaps and more.
Personalities
Juke Van Oss has been at WHTC since August 8, 1951. Now in his 58th year at WHTC he currently hosts Talk of the Town, a two hour daily call in program whose guests include Holland Mayor Kurt Dykstra and Congressman Pete HoekstraPete Hoekstra
Peter "Pete" Hoekstra is a former Republican U.S. Representative for who served in the House from 1993 until 2011. He was an unsuccessful candidate for Governor of Michigan in 2010 and is expected to run for the United States Senate against Debbie Stabenow in 2012.-Early life and education:Born...
, national and local celebrities and newsmakers. Talk of the Town began on WHTC in 1959 with Bill Gargano. Juke began sharing hosting duties with Gargano in 1961. Van Oss has been sole host of the program since 1981. On May 22, 2009 Juke received notice from the Michigan Association of Broadcasters of his induction into the Michigan Broadcasting Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony was held July 14, 2009 at the MAB Conference at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island.
Morning Host Red Kingman has been with WHTC since 2004, and Red's mix of information, commentary, and humor has become a mainstay with the Holland/Zeeland/Lake shore community. The community has embraced his observational and sometimes wacky humor, his warm and down to earth charm, but most of all his faith. The program features various segments including local sponsors, community events and history, and Red's informative and entertaining interviews, which are the bedrock of his program "Red's Place". Among the many guests Red talks to on a weekly basis are The Mayor Of Holland, The Governor of Michigan, author's, political figures and many other local and national guests.
Brent Alan is Brand Manager of WHTC and sister station WYVN
WYVN
For the West Virginia television station that carried this callsign, please see WWPX.WYVN is a radio station broadcasting a classic hits format licensed to Saugatuck, Michigan, with studios in Holland, Michigan and is owned along with WHTC by Midwest Communications.The station began operations on...
92.7 The Van. He is also the Program Director of WHTC. Brent arrived at WHTC in 1998.
On September 2, 2008 WHTC began carrying The Huge Show, a local sports talk show sydicated to stations in Michigan and originating in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Bill Simonson is the host and the show airs from 3pm to 6pm Monday - Friday.
News Director Gary Stevens delivers a mix of local, state and national news and sports each morning to the Holland/Zeeland area.
Ed VerSchure, who worked at WHTC as morning host in the 1960s, returned to the station in the early 1990s. He also served as a voice over announcer on WZZM-TV. VerSchure owned his own radio station, WEVS, in nearby Saugatuck, Michigan
Saugatuck, Michigan
Saugatuck is a city in Allegan County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 925 at the 2010 census. The city is within Saugatuck Township, but is administratively autonomous....
which went on the air on July 4, 1987. The former WEVS was purchased by Midwest Communications in 2001 and is known as WYVN
WYVN
For the West Virginia television station that carried this callsign, please see WWPX.WYVN is a radio station broadcasting a classic hits format licensed to Saugatuck, Michigan, with studios in Holland, Michigan and is owned along with WHTC by Midwest Communications.The station began operations on...
92 7 The Van. Ed serves as a fill in host on WHTC.
Lupita Reyes developed and hosted Alegria Latina, an all Spanish language music, news and information program on WHTC which aired from 1964 to 2009. On July 5, 2009 the program moved to 92.7 The Van airing from 7pm to 12m Sundays giving listeners in West Michigan their first Hispanic program on FM. Lu continues as host.
WHTC's talk line-up is rounded out by syndicated hosts Mark Levin
Mark Levin
Mark Reed Levin is a lawyer, author and the host of American syndicated radio show The Mark Levin Show. Levin served in the cabinet of President Ronald Reagan and was a chief of staff for Attorney General Edwin Meese...
, Phil Valentine and Jim Bohannon
Jim Bohannon
James E. "Jim" Bohannon is an American broadcaster who has worked in both television and radio.During the 1980s he was a fill-in for Larry King when King had his popular nighttime national radio program. He also does much work with the Smithsonian Associates...
.
Former Michigan Congressman Guy Vander Jagt
Guy Vander Jagt
Guy Adrian Vander Jagt was a Republican politician from Michigan. He was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives and Chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee....
and Detroit sportscaster Al Ackerman worked at WHTC in the 1950s.