Authoring, Researching, Reporting and Other Work

A Learning On-Line Page by Howard Taylor
mike WEIC RADIOmike


CHARLESTON, ILLINOIS

 On-Air December 12, 1954
weic

   WEIC Beginning
  WEIC would actually be the third radio station in Coles County.  A former railroader by the name of Jack Owens would get a sizable settlement from the local railroad for an accident he had.  With this he went about the process of building a new radio station to compete with WLBH.  Jack and Betty Owens would do well in their new venture.  They went on-air with WEIC December 12, l954.  Jack Owen's purpose for the station was to provide a public service to the community.  He would stress covering news and events for EIU, local activities including fund raisers, news and society items. The daytime AM station was set at 1270 on the dial. A sister FM station was added in later years.
  .This "Radio History" webpage is dedicated to my mother, Nina Louise (Lynch) Taylor.  She died March 21, 2001 after being ill for several months.  She used her Bearcat IV Scanner and phone to gather the news until her last days.  She always knew what was going on. She had two boys (me--Howard Taylor and Melvin (Red).  She also had twin girls that died soon after birth in 1951.  Her husband Melvin died April 13, 1990.

 

"Every Little Bird Likes to Whistle Louise"
 The Theme Song of Louise, along with "One Mint Julip" in the later years"

Louise Taylor Migrates to WEIC  
The year was 1955, and the Coles County Reporter would find advancement at the new station on Rte. 316 West of Charleston.  She was appointed news director and society news reporter.  She sold her own spots and wrote the copy for the adds as well as the news items.   She would have several news broadcasts during the day and a 30 minute society program in the mid morning.  Many prominent and regular people would get interviewed by Louise.  Many youngsters can still relate of their interviews.  Many would shake their heads, not wanting to talk.  This was the golden days of radio for Coles County.



     Nina Louise Taylor (1923-2001) always loved music and on her "Talk of the Town" Program each morning on WEIC, she would interview the least important to U.S. Senators, to Bobby Kennedy.  She also included requested songs by Fats Domino, Chet Atkins, as well as birthday song requests by judges, children, grandparents and just about everybody.  Everybody in the area, including  Cumberland, Coles and other counties loved to here the "Coles County Reporter."  She would interview school groups, Eastern Illinois University professors, the President (especially Dr. Quincy Doudna), politicians including Republicans and Democrats.

At WEIC, Louise would be news director.  In addition to that duty she went out in her Rambler auto and would sell her program spots at $5.00 a minute (very good that time).  Louise would immediately get involved in fund raisers including the start of the March of Dimes, the Coles County Red Cross, the Coles County (East Side) Heart Fund.

Former U.S. Illinois Senator Chuck Percy was upset with her interview of him at the Coles County Fair.  She did not follow his protocol of presenting the questions ahead of time.

Louise was also political, and everyone knew she was a Democrat.  Actually she ran for Coles County Circuit Clerk in the late 1950's being perhaps the first female to run for that office.  She also ran for Charleston Mayor in the 1970's, but actually helped to place her favorite candidate, Mayor Bob Hickman.

Her husband, Mel Taylor was a Fire Captain for the Charleston Fire Department and later Chief.  Louise and kids (this writer one of them) would go to all fires, explosions, events, hostage cases.  The old days encouraged reporters to be "on scene."  Actually, she was even allowed to call the Coles County Jail by phone to get all the evening news  for her 5:00 A.M news show (called in from home).  

It would take the "modernization" of WEIC to finally take the Coles County Reporter off the air.  There just wasn't a need for "old fashioned" up-to-date news.  Oh well, things often get worse in our society.  The Golden Age of Radio pretty much died in the 1960's.

Louise always liked to broadcast live outside, whether an Eastern Illinois University Homecoming Parade, a fire, or "special occasion."

mayor
     Her life would stay in the public throughout the late 1970's, but got really exciting with the opening of the psychedelic teen dance called the NOWHERE.  
 
 
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