HJ 232 — Commending WFIR.

SESSION INTRODUCEDENROLLED 24104385D I HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO.

232 NE Offered February 26, 2024 Commending WFIR.

––––––––––N TAgreed Patrons––Rasoul,to Clark,by Ennis,the Green,House Hope,of Lopez,Delegates, Martinez,March McClure,4, Obenshain,2024 Ware,R WyattAgreed anRto Zehr;by the Senate, March 6, 2024 O WHEREAS, WFIR, one of the oldest commercial radio stations in both the Commonwealth and the L couWHEREAS, the radio station that is WFIR today started as the hobby of Frank E.

Senators:Maddox, who was L encouraged in 1924 to build a commercial station by his employer, the Richardson-Wayland Electrical E Corporation, so that customers who bought the company's radios would have programming to enjoy;

Bagby, Boysko, Ebbin, Favola, Marsden, McDougle, Reeves, Salim and SuetterleinWHEREAS, ––––––––––alongside OHayden WHEREAS,Huddleston, WFIR,who onewould ofbecome theRoanoke's oldestfirst commercial radio stations in both the Commonwealth and thetelevision D country,listeners celebratesof itswhat 100this anniversarytoday WFIR tuned in 2024;on;

and WHEREAS,Maddox thebuilt radiomany stationof the radios that isthe WFIRfirst todayWHEREAS, WFIR started asunder the hobbycall sign of FrankWDBJ E.on the assigned frequency of 1310 AM and, on June 20, 1924, the station broadcast its first musical act, a fiddle and banjo duo featuring Raymond Jordan, who would play a prominent role at the station in its early years;

Maddox,and whoWDBJ wasjoined Corporation,the soColumbia thatBroadcasting customersSystem, whoan boughtaffiliation that would last the company'snext radios70 wouldyears haveand programmingH bring a plethora of syndicated music, drama, serials, and news to enjoy;the Roanoke airwaves for the first 2 time;

and 2 WHEREAS, alongsideover HaydenWFIR's Huddleston,history, whothe wouldstation becomehas Roanoke'supgraded firstits radiopower andthree televisionsubsequent Etimes, superstarup withto hitR shows5,000 likewatts "Klubat Kwiz,"night Frankbeginning Maddoxin built2014, manyallowing of the radiosstation thatto thereach firstlarger listenersaudiences ofand whatmake isand todaygreater WFIRimpact tuned in on;the community;

and D WHEREAS, WFIRWDBJ's startedbroadcasts underfollowed the callmusical signtrends of WDBJ on the assignedday, frequencyfrom ofwestern 1310and AMswing and,music onin June 20, 1924, the station1930s, broadcastto itscountry firstin musicalthe act,1940s a fiddle and banjo1950s, duoto featuringlight Raymondpop Jordan,and whorock wouldn' playroll ain prominent role at the station1960s; in its early years;

and WDBJand joinedon theNovember Columbia1 Broadcastingof System, an affiliation that wouldyear last the nextstation 70began yearsbroadcasting andunder bringthe acall plethoraletters ofWFIR, syndicatedinspired music,by drama, serials, and news to the Roanokestation's airwavesstatus foras the first"First time;In Roanoke";

and WHEREAS, overWFIR WFIR'sfirst history,aired talk shows in 1979 with syndicated broadcasts of Larry King and Bruce Williams and over the next decade would transform into a station hasthat upgradedexclusively itsfeatured powernews threeandWHEREAS, subsequenttoday, times,WFIR's upnews Hoand 1,000talk wattsshow inprograms 1934,cover thenthe toissues 5,000of wattslocal ingovernment, 1936,civic affairs, education, state and ultimatelynational togovernment, 10,000crime wattsand duringpublic thesafety, day2andlocal 5,000business wattsand ateconomic nightdevelopment, beginninghealth inand 2014,medicine, allowingenvironment and the stationoutdoors, toarts reachand largerleisure, audiencessports, and make2amore, greatermaking impactit a valued source of information in the community;region;

and musicWHEREAS, inWFIR thewas 1930s,purchased toby countryMel inWheeler, theInc., 1940sin 2000 and 1950s,moved to lightits popcurrent location available on 107.3 FM and rock94.5 n'FM rollsince in2011 theand 1960s;2017, respectively;

and WHEREAS, the Vodreystation Familyhas purchasedalso WDBJbeen RadioWHEREAS, fromfor Times-Worldthe Publishingpast in100 Mayyears, 1969WFIR's andbroadcasts onhave Novemberbeen 1an ofimportant thatpart yearof thewhat stationmakes beganRoanoke broadcastinga underwonderful theplace callto letterslive, WFIR,work, inspiredand byraise thea station'sfamily; status as the "First In Roanoke";

andnow, WHEREAS,therefore, WFIRbe firstit airedRESOLVED talkby showsthe inHouse 1979of withDelegates, syndicatedthe broadcastsSenate ofconcurring, LarryThat Kingthe andGeneral BruceAssembly Williamshereby andcomRESOLVED overFURTHER, That the nextClerk decadeof wouldthe transformHouse intoof aDelegates stationprepare thata exclusivelycopy featuredof newsthis andresolution otherfor talkpresentation showto programming,representatives suchof WFIR as "Thean Rushexpression Limbaughof Show";the General Assembly's admiration for the station's history and best wishes for another century of success.

and 34 affairs, education, state and national government, crime and public safety, local business and economic 35 development, health and medicine, environment and the outdoors, arts and leisure, sports, and more, 36 making it a valued source of information in the region;

and / 37 WHEREAS, WFIR was purchased by Mel Wheeler, Inc., in 2000 and moved to its current location 38 on Electric Road two years later;

in addition to broadcasting on 960 AM, the station has also been available on 107.3 FM and 94.5 FM since 2011 and 2017, respectively;

and WHEREAS, for the past 100 years, WFIR's broadcasts have been an important part of what makes RoaRESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend WFIR of Roanoke on the occasion of its 100th anniversary;

and, be it RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to representatives of WFIR as an expression of the General Assembly's admiration for the station's history and best wishes for another century of success.