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Our History
The folowing was written for Francis Nash's "Towers Over Kentucky" book.
Ownership
Local radio came to Lincoln County when WRSL-AM went on the air on November 1, 1961, the station's call letters represented the first initials of each of the four owners: W.G. Morgan, Ray Doss, S.C. Bybee, and Lanier Burchett. In 1962, the license and other assets were transferred to the partners' corporation, Lincoln-Garrard Broadcasting Company, Inc. The four men remained shareholders of Lincoln-Garrard Broadcasting Company, Inc. until May, 1965, when Calvin C. Smith and Lanier Burchett each obtained 50% of the shares. Calvin C. Smith and Lanier Burchett remained shareholders until August 1969, when Calvin C. Smith acquired the shares held by Lanier Burchett. After selling his interest in WRSL, Lanier Burchett left radio and entered banking with Farmers Deposit Bank in Eminence, Kentucky. Lanier is now deceased.
Calvin C. Smith owned and operated the stations until November 1, 1976, when he entered into an operating/purchase agreement with James M. Gaskin and Rubyann Cooper Gaskin. Jim Gaskin came to Stanford after selling his interest in WIRV, Irvine, Kentucky. The Gaskins operated the stations, under Smith's ownership, until January 1982 when Smith resumed the day-to-day operations. Jim Gaskin died May 3, 2008.
Smith then operated the stations from January 1982 until February 1987, when he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and subsequently died on November 15, 1987. His widow, Ruth C. Smith, took over 100% ownership of Lincoln-Garrard Broadcasting Company, Inc., and operated the stations until 1994.
In 1994, Jonathan L. Smith, the present owner and son of Calvin C. Smith and Ruth Smith entered into an agreement with his mother to purchase Lincoln-Garrard Broadcasting Company, Inc. Ruth Smith died in December, 2003.
Facilities
WRSL-AM, a 500 watt daytime-only station on 1520 kHz in Stanford, Kentucky, went on the air November 1, 1961. The station's tower and studio were built on land belonging to W.G. Morgan on Highway 27 North of Stanford. WRSL-AM has been upgraded and moved to a location in Lily, Kentucky and has an FCC Construction Permit to operate in Corbin, Ketnucky.
In April 1966, Lincoln-Garrard Broadcasting Company, Inc., applied for a construction permit for an FM station in Stanford. The application was granted in July 1966 and WRSL-FM went on the air in May, 1967, operating with an effective radiated power of 3,000 watts on 95.9 mHz at 85 feet above average terrain. In February, 1995 Lincoln-Garrard Broadcasting Company, Inc., was granted a construction permit for WRSL-FM to change frequency of operation to 96.3 mHz with an effective radiated power of 12,500 watts at 472 feet above average terrain. In July, 2001, the call sign was changed to WXKY-FM. The station was sold to Educational Media Foundation in November, 2006. The station is now operated as a listener-supported, non-commercial station.
In August, 2007, Lincoln Garrard Broadcasting Company entered into an Option and Purchase Agreement and Local Marketing Agreement with radio icon Randy Michaels’ RadioActive LLC for WPBK-FM (102.9), Crab Orchard and WKFC-FM (101.9), North Corbin (in a deal brokered by Jay Meyers)
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