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WGGH
Marion, Illinois;
Broadcast area	Marion-Carbondale, Illinois
Frequency	1150 kHz
Branding	"Monster Radio FM 98.5 AM 1150"
Programming
Format	Talk
Affiliations	Genesis Communications Network; Salem Radio Network; Townhall; USA Radio Network; Westwood One; Motor Racing Network;
Ownership
Owner	Fishback Media Inc.
History
First air date	September 24, 1949
Technical information
Licensing authority	FCC
Facility ID	70253
Class	D
Power	5,000 watts day; 44 watts night;
Translator(s)	98.1 MHz W251DC (Marion)
Links
Public license information	Public file; LMS;
Webcast	Listen Live
Website	wggh.net

WGGH (1150 AM, "Monster Radio") is a radio station licensed to serve the community of Marion, Illinois, United States. The station, established in 1949, is currently owned and operated by Fishback Media, Inc. WGGH broadcasts a mix of conservative talk and Christian talk to the greater Marion-Carbondale area. The station signed on an FM translator signal on 98.5 in May 2018.

Programming

WGGH airs a mix of local and syndicated news and talk programming with a conservative or religious bent.^[3] Notable weekday programming includes The Dennis Miller Show in late mornings, a block of local news and ministry programs in early afternoons,^[4]^[5]^[6] plus Focus on the Family and The Dave Ramsey Show in late afternoons.^[7] Weekend programming includes local sports, legal, and religious discussion programs, plus a variety of church services and more classic country music.^[3] WGGH also broadcasts the high school football games of the Marion Wildcats.^[8]^[9]

History

WGGH began daytime-only broadcast operations on September 24, 1949, with 500 watts of power under the ownership of general manager Hartley Grisham and chief engineer George W. Dodds, a partnership doing business as the Marion Broadcasting Company.^[10] Dodds bought out Grisham to become sole owner of the station in 1955.^[11] At the same time, Dodds relocated WGGH to its current broadcast facility and got authorization from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to increase the station's signal strength to 5,000 watts.^[11]^[12]

In May 1991, station owner George W. Dodds, trading as Marion Broadcasting Company, reached an agreement to sell WGGH to Tri-State Christian TV, Inc. The FCC dismissed this application on January 13, 1992.^[13] In February 1992, Dodds reached a new sale agreement with Vine Broadcasting, Inc., and filed a new application with the FCC. The FCC approved the transfer of the broadcast license on April 7, 1992, and the transaction was formally consummated on June 9, 1992.^[14] After this sale and more than 40 years of station ownership, Dodds retired from broadcasting. He died in May 2005.^[11]

Johnny and Elaine Gomez, owners of Vine Broadcasting, maintained the station's longtime religious broadcasting format.^[15] After 15 years of ownership, Vine Broadcasting agreed to sell WGGH to Fishback Media, Inc., in June 2007. The transfer gained FCC approval on August 28, 2007, and the transaction was consummated on September 17, 2007.^[16] New owner and Marion native Jimmy "Fish" Fishback retained the station's Southern Gospel format until switching to its current format on November 4, 2008.^[15] Fishback is a veteran broadcaster, voice artist, and syndicated radio host.^[15]^[17] His credits include promos for Showtime's Masters of Horror and providing the imaging voice of "V Rock" in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories.^[17]^[18]

Longtime St. Louis television personality "Uncle Erv" Coppi got his start in broadcasting at WGGH. His on-air duties included spinning big band records to create the illusion of live concert broadcasts.^[19]

Community involvement

Each Christmas season, WGGH decorates its broadcast facilities with a computer-controlled light show and encourages visitors to donate canned good for a local food pantry or money for a nearby children's home.^[20] In addition to its regular programming, WGGH also serves the community by broadcasting high school homecoming parades,^[21] greetings to the troops,^[22] local high school sports,^[9] plus synchronized music for the town's Fourth of July fireworks show.^[22]

References

^ "The Facilities of Radio". 1979 Broadcasting Yearbook. Washington, DC: Broadcasting Publications, Inc. 1979. p. C-68.
^ "Facility Technical Data for WGGH". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
^ ^a ^b "Programming". Monster Radio AM 1150 WGGH. Archived from the original on December 28, 2013. Retrieved December 27, 2013.
^ Hawkins, Matt (May 8, 2008). "Dean, Sullivan revive WGGH morning show". Marion Daily Republican. Retrieved August 15, 2010.
^ Colloton, Lila H. (January 27, 2004). "Unlikely trio hosts radio talk show". The Southern Illinoisan. Archived from the original on June 9, 2011. Retrieved August 15, 2010.
^ Wilkins, Diane (February 10, 2009). "Rabbi says he has found Messiah". Marion Daily Republican. Archived from the original on July 8, 2011. Retrieved August 15, 2010.
^ "Find A Station". The Dave Ramsey Show. Retrieved August 15, 2010.
^ "Marion Wildcat football broadcast schedule". Monster Radio AM 1150 WGGH. Archived from the original on November 28, 2009. Retrieved August 15, 2010.
^ ^a ^b Gordillo, Jim (May 16, 2002). "Centralia turns football program over to Hefner". The Southern Illinoisan. Archived from the original on June 9, 2011. Retrieved August 15, 2010.
^ "Directory of AM, FM, and TV Stations of the United States". 1950 Broadcasting Yearbook. Washington, DC: Broadcasting Publications, Inc. 1950. p. 134.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Obituaries: George W. Dodds". Marion Daily Republican. May 23, 2005. Retrieved August 15, 2010.
^ "The Facilities of Broadcasting". 1960 Broadcasting Yearbook. Washington, DC: Broadcasting Publications, Inc. 1960. p. A-147.
^ "Application Search Details (BAL-19910508ED)". FCC Media Bureau. January 13, 1992. Archived from the original on October 21, 2012. Retrieved August 15, 2010.
^ "Application Search Details (BAL-19920226EA)". FCC Media Bureau. June 9, 1992. Archived from the original on October 21, 2012. Retrieved August 15, 2010.
^ ^a ^b ^c Wilkins, Diane (September 30, 2007). "Marion native buys WGGH". Marion Daily Republican. Retrieved August 15, 2010.
^ "Application Search Details (BAL-20070626ARB)". FCC Media Bureau. September 17, 2007. Retrieved August 15, 2010.
^ ^a ^b "Home". RadioImaging.com. Archived from the original on February 2, 2011. Retrieved August 15, 2010.
^ "Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories". allgame. Archived from the original on November 15, 2014. Retrieved August 15, 2010.
^ Davenport, Paula M. (July 5, 1993). "TV Personality Coppi to Step Out of the Spotlight; Entertainer 'Uncle Erv' endeared himself to a flock of fans". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Archived from the original on June 9, 2011. Retrieved August 15, 2010. Coppi cued up records at WGGH in Marion to lend the illusion that Tommy Dorsey Louie Armstrong and other greats were performing live[...]
^ Layton, Mary Thomas (December 16, 2008). "WGGH features computerized music light show". The Southern Illinoisan. Retrieved August 15, 2010.
^ "WGGH to broadcast parades". Marion Daily Republican. October 16, 2008. Retrieved August 15, 2010.
^ ^a ^b Hawkins, Matt (June 25, 2008). "WGGH honoring troops with on-air tributes, audio to July 4 fireworks". Marion Daily Republican. Retrieved August 15, 2010.