[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 130 (Thursday, September 19, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S11043]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            TRIBUTE TO WBEJ RADIO ON THEIR 50TH ANNIVERSARY

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I rise today to salute WBEJ Radio 
for 50 great years of broadcasting excellence in Elizabethton and upper 
east Tennessee. This radio station has stood the test of time and has 
served its community as a source of entertainment, election coverage, 
local news, and national events. Over the years, WBEJ has undergone 
many technological and managerial changes and has become a pioneer in 
radio broadcasting by combining innovative technology with a genuine 
desire to provide reliable service to a growing community.
  WBEJ made its debut in 1946 with the ``Swap and Shop'' show, which 
was sponsored by a local furniture store and acted as a radio-operated 
classified ad for the Elizabethton community. That show is still 
popular today and continues to bring citizens together to buy and trade 
items. Along with ``Swap and Shop,'' news broadcasts and local 
entertainment combined to form the early roots of success for the radio 
station. In the early days, local news was broadcast three times a day. 
Today, the news is broadcast more often and provides a wide range of 
coverage from across the State and the Nation. Outdoor enthusiasts have 
relied on WBEJ to provide accurate reports on the hunting and fishing 
conditions in the Elizabethton area, and families have sat glued to the 
radio waiting for details and information on events like Elvis' death, 
the blizzard of 1993 and the Challenger crash of 1986.
  Mr. President, budding local musicians found a welcome studio and a 
receptive audience when they performed live on WBEJ decades ago. And 
listeners were entertained by the station's many radio personalities, 
such as ``Curley'' the postman and his sidekick ``Sgt. Jack.''
  Bill Wilkins was a sportscaster for WBEJ and his catchy phrases and 
nicknames for local players became slogans for community athletic 
events. Phrases like ``get your tranquilizers ready,'' and ``the little 
blond bomber'' became popular terms for teams and athletes alike, and 
WBEJ sportcasters became regulars at the local high school athletic 
events with their play-by-play coverage. Over the years, the joy, 
sorrow, humor, and insight from all of these programs have been woven 
into the community's heart.
  Mr. President, since 1946, WBEJ has been a part of every major event 
that has occurred in Tennessee and in the Nation. WBEJ has covered it 
all in a span of 50 years and has only gotten better with time. As such 
an important member of the Elizabethton community, WBEJ can celebrate 
its golden anniversary among many good and loyal friends. As 
Elizabethton continues to grow, I am certain that WBEJ will grow with 
it. It will maintain its high standards and strong foundation as it 
crosses the threshold into the 21st century. Dedication, philanthropy, 
foresight, and innovation have kept this Elizabethton station golden 
for 50 years and those same traits will carry it successfully into the 
future.

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