WLON (1050 AM) is a radio station broadcasting an oldies format and serving the Lincolnton, North Carolina area, and is owned and operated by Lanny Ford, through licensee Sports Talk Guys, LLC. WLON is also the home of Lincoln County football every Friday night, Atlanta Braves baseball, Clemson and Duke and UNCTar Heels college basketball and football. WLON also carries Charlotte Hornets basketball, Carolina Panthers football, the ACC and NCAA basketball tournaments.
History
Frank Hall of Lake Wylie, Tommy Hunter of Belmont and Jeff and Vivian Nichols of Lincolnton owned the 34-year-old WLON, the only radio station in Lincoln County. Jeff Nichols was general manager. The format was adult contemporary/oldies. Larry Seagle had been news director for 18 years. Tim Biggerstaff had been a DJ for about 10 years.
On April 1, 1993, Cherryville-based KTC Broadcasting Inc. took over WLON in a lease agreement. KTC was buying the station but would operate it under a lease agreement until the Federal Communications Commission approved the sale. WLON would join The Piedmont Superstations Radio Network of WCSL in Cherryville, WGNC in Gastonia and WOHS (730 AM) in Shelby, which simulcast most of their programming. The change would mean 24-hour broadcasts on WLON for the first time. Tim Biggerstaff would remain as morning DJ, and his show would be heard on all four KTC stations. News for the entire area would be expanded. The four stations aired UNC football and basketball, Atlanta Braves baseball, Dallas Cowboys and Washington RedskinsNFL football, and CBS coverage of such events as The World Series and The Super Bowl.
Late in 1999, the four stations changed from country music to "super oldies." Biggerstaff, the program director, said country had moved away from its traditional sound. Lillie White remained as midday host, and Andy Foster was afternoon host. Local and sports remained important, and the stations aired the One-on-One sports radio network at night.[3]
In 2004, Biggerstaff was still hosting his show on WCSL and WLON despite diabetes-related health problems.[4] Later, he moved to Lincolnton-based Hometown Radio's Shelby operation. On WADA, he played classic country music and hosted a "Swap Shop" show on WGNC and WOHS. By this time, he had experienced a kidney transplant and two pancreas transplants.[5]
