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RAY LIVESAY, TECHNICIAN AND LEADER IN RADIO BROADCASTING
Ray Livesay built and personally repaired his own equipment at WLBH,
and was a knowledgeable engineer.
The thing J.R. Livesay is probably most remembered for are those daily 15
minute editorials. He was perhaps the first radio news journalist to
give editorials. His editorials would eventually step on everyone's
toes. He disliked strikes by teachers, and other public workers.
He was very patriotic and was optimistic about Central Illinois affairs,
and stated his opinions clearly and forcefully in the deep voice he was characteristic
of.
J.R. Livesay interviewed this page author shortly before his death.
He seemed so happy that someone had published a book containing his story.
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J.R. (Jimmy Ray) Livesay at the lower right of this WDZ 1942 group photo,
in his early pre-War years as salesman at the Effingham, Illinois office
for WDZ. |
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. . . At Right is banner
on a Mattoon , Illinois Broadway Street light celebrating the arrival
of the "WDZ On-Parade." WDZ radio was a major entertainment source
for the 1930's and 40's. In 1949, the station would become a
network station and was moved to Decatur, Illinois. WLBH would soon
take hold in Central Illinois . He would use his training and
experience from his WDZ years to be able to run his own station in much the
same style.
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. . . The "On the Road"
show of WDZ featured theScrewball Band, solo performers and MC's that
were loved by Central Illinois residents. Many cities and towns hosted
the show.
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According to
the "Roster of Former WDZ, Tuscola, Talent & Staff Listing" by
Ray Nemec, Jimmy Ray Livesay started October of 1937. He is described
as working in sales and entertainment. The roster has an act called
"Ray and Todd". This group, including the same Jimmy Ray (Livesay)
and Bumper Todd, could perhaps indicate the true start of J.R. Livesay's
career with radio, but with a different role. Ray Livesay would be
a historian for WDZ after its move to Decatur in 1949. Another article
about Ray Livesay stated that he was hired to manage the WDZ Effingham
studio for three years. Ray Livesay ended up being with Illinois' first
radio station for a total of eight years. Only World War II, and Ray's
tour with the U.S. Navy would interrupt his career with Central Illinois
radio. Things would change when Ray returned from the war (two years
away) in 1946.
The First Real Radio Station in Coles County
In a newspaper interview,
Ray described Coles County's "first" radio station. The station was
a tiny transmitter built by R.A. Lumpkin (of the Illinois ConsolidatedTelephone Company family) This little station was
called WQAL "The Buckle on the Cornbelt." Their brief broadcast history
occurred in 1922.
WLBH Built
J.R. Livesay would return
to Mattoon, Illinois in 1946 from a stint in the Navy. He had his heart
intent on building his own radio station in Mattoon. He formed the
Mattoon Broadcasting Company and went into partnership with R.D. Bills Sr.,
and Paul Harris. This would be the beginning of WLBH A.M.
One of the first things he had to do to get the station started was to find
a spot to place the transmitter. He leased land on the Bates Farm about
one-half mile north of Mattoon on U.S. Rte 45. The studio would be
located above the National Bank on 17th & Broadway. downtown Mattoon.
Construction of the station was begun on May of 1946. A tower, 220
feet in height was erected on the Bates farm site. The transmitter
was in a small building next to the tower.
J.R. would work full time to get the station on air. He actually built
much of the equipment and would often climb the tower.
WLBH First Staff Hired
The first WLBH staff
included: Rolland O. Looper, Sales Manager; Andrew S. Kirk, Chief Engineer;
Ralph Voigt, Transmitter Engineer; Gale Duree, Control Room Engineer; Robert
LaMere, Program Director; Gene McCormick, Musical Director; John sanders,
Farm Director; Rev. Gohn codd, Religious Director; Lincoln woodyard, Book-keeper;
Helen Hall, Secretary-receptionist; Mary Jane Robertson, Women's Program
Director; Charles R. (Bob) guess, Announcer; Larry King, Announcer; and Walt
Ellis, Sportscaster; Al Pigg as Farm Director shortly after the station went
on-air. Lee Lynch would join WLBH in 1950 (after WDZ was moved to Decatur,
Illinois).Louise Taylor would start in 1953.
First On-Air--1946
The FCC assigned call letters of WLBH to the new station. The equipment
was tested from midnight to 5 A.M. Everything worked perfectly and
the FCC gave the "go ahead" for programming. WLBH was launched for
the public on Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 1946. (A young couple
by the name of Melvin Taylor and Louise Lynch) would hear this first day of
broadcast from their car in Mattoon. Louise would later be a reporter
on WLBH.
WLBH FM First On-Air--1949
J.R. Livesay saw a need
for night time broadcasting. He obtained permission from the FCC to
build an FM station. FM in 1949 was very new, but was also the up and
coming thing. The signal would be much stronger and clearer than the
daytime AM station. Finally in August of 1949, the new WLBH FM went
on-air with 23,000 watts of power set at 96.9 on the dial. In 1974, WLBH-FM
went to 50,000 watts and moved into the new building and studios on N. Rte.
45, Mattoon, Illinois.
Ray Livesay's
Life and Career
For 28 years Ray Livesay
served as President of the Daytime Broadcaster's Association, a national
organization made up of owners and managers of AM radio stations. These stations were only
permitted, by the FCC, to operate during daytime hours. There were
nearly 2,400 such stations in the country. He also served on the Board
of Directors of the National Radio Broadcasters Association.
Ray's personal life included his being
an accomplished pilot. Since 1948, when he first got his license, he
logged over 5,000 flight hours. He owned his own plane since 1948.
Ray's training in electronics in the Navy proved very important in his new
radio career. Much of
the equipment was built personally by Ray and he would complete most repairs
over the years.
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