WOHF
Encyclopedia
WOHF is an American
radio station
licensed to Bellevue, Ohio
, serving the Sandusky
area, featuring an oldies
music format.
The station is an affiliate of ABC Radio's Classic Hits
(formerly "Pure Gold" and "Oldies Radio") network. WOHF is part of the Sandusky, Ohio
cluster of stations owned by BAS Broadcasting, and is located on North River Road in Fremont.
For many years, 92.1 FM was home to CHR
/Top 40 station WNRR, known as "92.1 The Hits." In October 2003, the station was sold to BAS Broadcasting, who changed the calls to WOHF and switched the station to ABC Radio's The Classic Rock Experience
format under the new moniker "The Wolf." This put the station in competition with a number of other stations in the Ohio North Coast area broadcasting locally programmed classic rock formats, including WXKR
and WMJK
. In the summer of 2007, BAS switched WOHF from The Classic Rock Experience to Oldies Radio.
In 2011, WOHF became an affiliate of the Rocket Sports Radio Network
, broadcasting all University of Toledo
football
games and selected men's basketball
broadcasts, as well as the coach's shows for both sports.
In 1978 Robert Ladd purchased the station from George Bedard for $78,000. Ladd had been the manager/salesman/chief engineer since the station's inception.
WNRR began operation as a Hot AC station with four local on air personalities, Bob Ladd, Bill Wise, Kim Newsom and Jim Larvic. Micheal Shay and Bob Alue worked weekends. The station featured local newscasts each hour and National news from ABC FM Network (later NBC and finally CNN). During this time it was known as "The Chicken" in reference to its mascot, a giant whole broiled chicken dressed in seasonal clothing. Locally produced programs included a daily talk show called " Talkback " which evolved into one of radio's first self help call-in shows hosted by Ladd and a daily sportscast with local newspaper sportswriter Ron Miller. High school football and basketball play by play was a mainstay, with Bellevue High School carried live and Clyde High tape delayed (the Clyde staff would not allow live broadcasts). In addition to music hosting, Ladd and Wise wrote and produced the local news. At one point the station operated with studios in both Bellevue and Clyde, Ohio. At one point the station carried games of the Cleveland Browns, Notre Dame and the Cincinnati Reds.
WNRR went through several format changes including one to Beautiful music around 1975 and later a year of Country before returning to Hot AC in the 80's. Other personalities heard on WNRR included Ron Butcher, Steve Micheals, Steve Demarco, Arvin Forney, Mike Lawrence, Jeff Schlett and Rob Bultman The station became automated in the early 90's in all dayparts except mornings where Ladd continued as morning host.
In September 1995 a fire was set by a disgruntled tenant in a rear apartment of the building housing the station. The subsequent water damaged forced the station off the air for two months until it relocated across the street. Although smoke covered, the tower and antenna were salvaged and placed on the new building. A transmitter being retired from WDIF in Marian, Ohio was purchased and the station returned to the air with 3,800 watts placing a new signal over Sandusky and Norwalk, as well as Bellevue and Clyde.
When WNRR returned to the air it became the first and only CHR station in the four county area and began to see major success in ratings and acceptance by the Northern Ohio listeners. In 2000 the station broke new ground by organizing a top forty music concert at the State Theater in Sandusky, Ohio that attracted 2,100 attendees.
In 2001 Bob Ladd retired after hosting the longest running morning show in the four county area, 27 years total. Greg Micheals took over operation of WNRR and continued to manage the station for Ladd until it was sold to BAS in 2003.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
radio station
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
licensed to Bellevue, Ohio
Bellevue, Ohio
Bellevue is a city in Erie, Huron, Sandusky and Seneca counties in the U.S. state of Ohio. The population was 8,193 at the 2000 census. The National Arbor Day Foundation has designated Bellevue as a Tree City USA....
, serving the Sandusky
Sandusky
-Cities and towns:* Sandusky, Indiana* Sandusky, Michigan* Sandusky, Ohio* Sandusky, Wisconsin-Townships:* Sandusky Township, Crawford County, Ohio* Sandusky Township, Richland County, Ohio* Sandusky Township, Sandusky County, Ohio-People:...
area, featuring an oldies
Oldies
Oldies is a term commonly used to describe a radio format that concentrates on music from a period of about 15 to 55 years before the present day....
music format.
The station is an affiliate of ABC Radio's Classic Hits
Oldies Radio
Classic Hits Radio is a 24-hour Classic Hits radio network. Classic Hits Radio, formerly known as "Pure Gold" and "Oldies Radio", plays a selection of well-tested pop and rock hits from the late 60s, 70s and 80s...
(formerly "Pure Gold" and "Oldies Radio") network. WOHF is part of the Sandusky, Ohio
Sandusky, Ohio
Sandusky is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Erie County. It is located in northern Ohio and is situated on the shores of Lake Erie, almost exactly half-way between Toledo to the west and Cleveland to the east....
cluster of stations owned by BAS Broadcasting, and is located on North River Road in Fremont.
For many years, 92.1 FM was home to CHR
Contemporary hit radio
Contemporary hit radio is a radio format that is common in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia that focuses on playing current and recurrent popular music as determined by the Top 40 music charts...
/Top 40 station WNRR, known as "92.1 The Hits." In October 2003, the station was sold to BAS Broadcasting, who changed the calls to WOHF and switched the station to ABC Radio's The Classic Rock Experience
The Classic Rock Experience
Classic Rock is a 24-hour music format produced by Cumulus Media Networks...
format under the new moniker "The Wolf." This put the station in competition with a number of other stations in the Ohio North Coast area broadcasting locally programmed classic rock formats, including WXKR
WXKR
WXKR is a radio station in Port Clinton, Ohio, broadcasting on 94.5 MHz with a classic rock format. The station is known as 94.5 XKR, Toledo's Classic Rock Station.-WRWR:...
and WMJK
WMJK
WMJK is a commercial FM radio station, licensed to Clyde, Ohio, serving the Sandusky, Port Clinton, and Lake Erie Islands areas. The station broadcasts with an effective radiated power of 3,000 watts at 100.9 FM and is licensed to Clyde, Ohio; about 15 miles west-southwest of Sandusky. The...
. In the summer of 2007, BAS switched WOHF from The Classic Rock Experience to Oldies Radio.
In 2011, WOHF became an affiliate of the Rocket Sports Radio Network
WSPD
WSPD — branded The Talk of Toledo - 1370 WSPD — is a news-talk radio station licensed to Toledo, Ohio. WSPD broadcasts on a full-time basis with 5,000 watts, including a directional signal pattern at night...
, broadcasting all University of Toledo
University of Toledo
The University of Toledo is a public university in Toledo, Ohio, United States. The Carnegie Foundation classified the university as "Doctoral/Research Extensive."-National recognition:...
football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
games and selected men's basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
broadcasts, as well as the coach's shows for both sports.
History
WNRR began broadcasting April 4, 1973 under the ownership of George Bedard of Detroit, Michigan. Bellevue Mayor Phillus Robertson pressed the button to begin operation at 10:10 a.m. The station operated with 1,100 watts from studios at 108½ East Main in Bellevue, Ohio. The antenna tower was located atop the studio building. The original antenna stood 110 feet above average terrain. In February 1974, a huge wind storm struck Bellevue, toppling the tower and antenna. A week later the station returned to the air with 500 watts and continued at that power until a few years later when it increased to 1,800 watts.In 1978 Robert Ladd purchased the station from George Bedard for $78,000. Ladd had been the manager/salesman/chief engineer since the station's inception.
WNRR began operation as a Hot AC station with four local on air personalities, Bob Ladd, Bill Wise, Kim Newsom and Jim Larvic. Micheal Shay and Bob Alue worked weekends. The station featured local newscasts each hour and National news from ABC FM Network (later NBC and finally CNN). During this time it was known as "The Chicken" in reference to its mascot, a giant whole broiled chicken dressed in seasonal clothing. Locally produced programs included a daily talk show called " Talkback " which evolved into one of radio's first self help call-in shows hosted by Ladd and a daily sportscast with local newspaper sportswriter Ron Miller. High school football and basketball play by play was a mainstay, with Bellevue High School carried live and Clyde High tape delayed (the Clyde staff would not allow live broadcasts). In addition to music hosting, Ladd and Wise wrote and produced the local news. At one point the station operated with studios in both Bellevue and Clyde, Ohio. At one point the station carried games of the Cleveland Browns, Notre Dame and the Cincinnati Reds.
WNRR went through several format changes including one to Beautiful music around 1975 and later a year of Country before returning to Hot AC in the 80's. Other personalities heard on WNRR included Ron Butcher, Steve Micheals, Steve Demarco, Arvin Forney, Mike Lawrence, Jeff Schlett and Rob Bultman The station became automated in the early 90's in all dayparts except mornings where Ladd continued as morning host.
In September 1995 a fire was set by a disgruntled tenant in a rear apartment of the building housing the station. The subsequent water damaged forced the station off the air for two months until it relocated across the street. Although smoke covered, the tower and antenna were salvaged and placed on the new building. A transmitter being retired from WDIF in Marian, Ohio was purchased and the station returned to the air with 3,800 watts placing a new signal over Sandusky and Norwalk, as well as Bellevue and Clyde.
When WNRR returned to the air it became the first and only CHR station in the four county area and began to see major success in ratings and acceptance by the Northern Ohio listeners. In 2000 the station broke new ground by organizing a top forty music concert at the State Theater in Sandusky, Ohio that attracted 2,100 attendees.
In 2001 Bob Ladd retired after hosting the longest running morning show in the four county area, 27 years total. Greg Micheals took over operation of WNRR and continued to manage the station for Ladd until it was sold to BAS in 2003.