[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 21 (Friday, February 17, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E194]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      RECOGNIZING THE 80TH ANNIVERSARY OF NEWSTALK RADIO 1370 WCOA

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                            HON. JEFF MILLER

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 16, 2006

  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the United States 
Congress, it is an honor for me to rise today to recognize the 80th 
Anniversary of NewsTalk Radio 1370 WCOA.
  On February 3, 1926, WCOA aired as Pensacola Florida's first radio 
station. Ever since, Pensacola has been proud to call WCOA one of her 
own.
  Beginning with John E. Frenkel, Sr., who originally came up with the 
call letters WCOA, or ``Wonderful City of Advantages'', for 
generations, its radio personalities have entertained the Gulf Coast. 
Along the journey, WCOA gave us Don Priest, Ted Cassidy, Sally 
Henderson, along with so many others. It is no wonder why, with a 
current broadcast team made up of Luke McCoy, Don Parker, Jim Roberts, 
and Bryan Newkirk, many Northwest Floridians can be found tuning into 
1370 daily. This station earned the respect and loyalty of its 
listeners.
  During its inaugural year, a hurricane devastated the city of 
Pensacola and took WCOA off the air. Soon thereafter and ever since, it 
has stood as a source of information that people rely on during the 
times of emergency and has been designated as the Emergency Alert 
System radio station in the area.
  After broadcasting music for many years, in 1991 the station turned 
to an all news/talk format. While WCOA broadcasts programs that feature 
prominent national radio personalities, such as, Rush Limbaugh and Bill 
O'Reilly, it is proud to be home to many local shows, including 
Pensacola Speaks, one of the longest running call-in shows in the 
United States.
  Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, I am proud to 
recognize the 80th Anniversary of NewsTalk Radio 1370 WCOA and its 
service to the communities of Northwest Florida.

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