WGTO AM-54 - Cypress Gardens, FL

Features: WGTO Index

Most of this material deals with WGTO's "glory years", that began in 1977 and continued through 1986, a period of time when the station rose to be the #1 country music outlet in central Florida. Our apologies to those who may have been affilliated with the station at other times. Send us more information on your time frame and we will try to expand that coverage also.

A brief look at WGTO's broadcast history, as chronicled by former Chief Engineer, Dr. Frank Berry -- from it's humble beginnings as a 10,000 watt, daylight only station in Haines City -- to it's 50,000 watt, 24 hour a day run, as an award winning country music giant located at Florida's beautiful Cypress Gardens.

"The Sleeping Giant" -- is a short essay written by former Program Director, Terry Slane, accounting WGTO's switch to "Great Country Music" and it's subsequent rise to BillBoard Magazine’s small market “Station of the Year” -- a dominance that would span nearly a decade.

Our Photo Gallery is a giant collection of photos and memorabilia gleaned from the scrapbooks of many of those who were there. A walk through time that is bound to bring a smile to the faces of true fans and former associates. We thank them for sharing their memories with us and we are adding to this collection all the time.

AIR CHECKS (Audio)		MISCELLANEOUS
• Bill Burnett Oct 1978 CMA News Release		• Broadcast Map PDF format
• Mike McCoy Win 1978		• Terry Slane 1981 "Polk After Dark" Article
• Terry Slane Sum 1979 Station ID & Weather		• Judge Crater 1982 Citrus Festival introduction (AUDIO)
• Terry Slane 1979		• WGTO "Sold" 1986 Ledger Newspaper Article in PDF format
• Jim Maloy 1981
• Dave Campbell 1981
• Henry Jay 1984
• Henry Jay Interview 1984 with Carl Chambers	All Audio & Video Clips Require RealMedia Player *Some clips may contain distortion and AM noise.*	VIDEO CLIPS
• Station ID Jingle 1984		• BROADBAND • DIAL-UP WGTO spot on Centel Cable 1985 promo clip features DJ Jackie West with voice over by Henry Jay
• Patti Jordan #1 1985
• Patti Jordan #2 1985		• "CENTEL COUNTRY" 1985 weekly TV show Video clip montage (broadband)
• Patti Jordan #3 1985
• Patti Jordan #4 1985
• The Final Broadcast December 15, 1986 DJ Woody Wooden w/concluding remarks by Henry Jay (7 min.)

Some of the folks who worked at WGTO (1976-'86)
Both Full and Part Time in Alphabetical Order

Van Amig
Lloyd Barham
Roy Beemer
Dick Bennick
Frank Berry
Jim Bocock
Joyce Bilal
Bill Burnett
Dave Campbell
Bill Carson
Nancy Cattarius
Susan Cunningham
Crista Deason
Tom Drake
Scott Edwards
Beth Fouchee
"Crazy" Bob Fuller
Jim Greenfield
Richard Hart
Keith Holliday
Henry Jay
Becky Johnson
Patti Jordan (PJ the DJ)
Jeff Kierce
Judge Krater
R.C. Kelley
Carol Lamons
Dave Lane
Dorsey Lewis
Jim "Jimbo" Maloy
Jay Menchen
Bob McCord
Mike McCoy
John Redwine
Allen Rich
Roy Riley
Jack Robertson
Tom Rusk
Dan Sanborn
Harry Sharp
Maris Siegel
Terry "The Bird" Slane
Kathi Tanner
John Terry
Paul Titchenal
Jacki West
Lyle Wood
Woody Wooden

If you know WGTO personnel (1976-1986) we have missed - Click Here and let us know.