[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 97 (Friday, June 15, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1310]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              WPET-AM CELEBRATES A HALF CENTURY OF SERVICE

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                           HON. HOWARD COBLE

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, June 15, 2007

  Mr. COBLE. Madam Speaker, for more than 50 years, a radio station in 
the Sixth District of North Carolina has been providing our citizens 
with the best in local programming. Since WPET-AM 950 went on the air 
in June of 1954, listeners in the Piedmont Triad region of North 
Carolina have had their souls nourished, their hearts enriched, and 
they have been entertained, enlightened, and educated by the 
programming provided by WPET.
  The station has had a rich and colorful history. The first owner was 
Mr. Wayne Nelson. Between 1957 and 1959, WPET was owned by Mr. Bill 
Mitchell and Mr. Bob Montgomery. In 1959, Beattie Broadcasting Group 
owned and operated the radio station. From 1967 until 1984, Mido 
Communications owned WPET. Mr. Tom Armshaw was the co-owner, vice 
president, and general manager of WPET. It was Tom Armshaw who changed 
the station programming to an all-Southern Gospel format, which has 
endured for the last 40 years. In 1984, WPET-AM and its sister station 
WRQK-FM were purchased by A.H. Robins Company. From 1987 until 2002, 
WPET was owned by Bahakel Communications and from 2002 until the 
present, WPET has been owned by Entercom Communications.
  Consistent quality has been a hallmark of WPET throughout its 
history. This year, the current program director, Mr. Dave Compton, 
entered his 30th year of service to the listeners of WPET. The on-air 
team at WPET feels like family to its many loyal and faithful 
listeners. In addition to Dave Compton, WPET's many fans enjoy 
listening to Jan Harkey (also known as Miss Dusty), Andy Johnson, Jimmy 
Fulmer, Larry Dunlap with morning sports, and Paul Heil, the host of 
Gospel Greats.
  In addition to broadcasting the Gospel in both word and song, WPET 
presents local news and weather, provides community information and 
airs sports programming such as Greensboro Grasshoppers baseball, the 
men's and women's basketball teams at the University of North Carolina 
at Greensboro Spartans, and the East Carolina University Pirates 
football team. An example of how WPET serves its listeners in many 
different ways will occur on June 23 when the radio station sponsors a 
free Health and Community Service Day in Greensboro. The event will 
provide free blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose screenings, along 
with food, games and entertainment for all who attend.
  In the spirit of full disclosure, I must admit to some personal bias 
in our office when it comes to our affection for WPET. My Chief of 
Staff Ed McDonald is an alumnus of the radio station, having served as 
a news reporter for WPET from 1981 until 1984 when I hired him away 
from the station. In addition, many folks call me an ``AM radio guy in 
an FM world,'' and I plead guilty to that charge. So personally and 
professionally, we can say that we are big fans of WPET.

  Allow me to quote Dave Compton, the station's program director, who 
accurately captured the essence of what makes WPET special. ``With a 
Southern Gospel format,'' Dave Compton stated, ``WPET airs the Good 
News of our Lord, embracing Christian values with local churches and 
the church community of the Piedmont, and being that comforting voice 
with the Good News of the Gospel, offering hope and solace in a 
sometimes troubled world.''
  I could not have said it any better, Madam Speaker. I will simply add 
that, on behalf of the citizens of the Sixth District of North 
Carolina, we thank, the owners and staff of WPET-AM 950 for providing 
the Piedmont with quality Southern Gospel radio.

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