Notable on-air personalities have included Program and News Director Ed Thompson, who joined the station in 1967.[11] In 1993 the Milford Highlanders Brothers and Belles organization honored Thompson at their 10th annual Outstanding Citizens Ball for his service to the community.[12]
The callsign was assigned to a station in Greenville, South Carolina, until the mid-1950s. A notable personality on that station was Bob Poole.
Awards and honors
WMRC is the only radio station to win the "Station of the Year" award from the Massachusetts Broadcasters Association on three separate occasions,[13] including a split win with WBOQ in 1993[14] and a solo award in 1995.[15]
In 2003, Thomas M. McAuliffe II was elected chairman of the board of the Massachusetts Broadcasters Association.[16] At the time of his election, he was also vice president and general manager of WMRC.
In 2008, WMRC received the Cary Simpson Award for Community Service from the International Broadcasters Idea Bank for the station's dedication to public service.[17] The station was cited for "overall excellence in all facets of operation including growth of audience, client base, and service to the community."[18]
Ownership
In March 1983, WMRC was acquired by Loren F. Ghiglione from the Milford Radio Corporation.[19] In August 1983, Ghiglione transferred the license to the Milford Media Corporation.[20] In July 1984, Milford Media Corporation transferred the license to Nanlo Inc.[21] Nanlo Inc. was owned by Worcester County Newspapers, a media holding corporation for which Loren F. Ghiglione served as president.[22]
In May 1990, Thomas M. McAuliffe, president of First Class Radio Corporation, reached an agreement to purchase WMRC from Nanlo Inc.[19] The sale was approved by the FCC in August 1990 and the deal was completed in September 1990.[23] The sale price was not disclosed.
In December 2006, Thomas M. McAuliffe II acquired the station from his father.[18][24]
Translators
In addition to the main station, WMRC is relayed by an FM translator.[25]
^Reiss, Mike (July 6, 2006). "The drive is back to do play-by-play". The Boston Globe.
^"Ryder calls shots for arena action". Worcester Telegram & Gazette. March 1, 2007. WMRC (1490 AM) in Milford has signed with Entercom Radio to remain a Red Sox radio affiliate through 2009.
^"Morning News, With Static". The Boston Globe. April 11, 2004. Ed Thompson may be the most powerful man in Milford. [...] Throughout his three decades on the Milford airwaves for WMRC-AM, criticism has often trailed the 55-year-old newscaster with the striking long, gray hair.
^"Milford to honor citizens". Worcester Telegram & Gazette. April 9, 1993. One award will go to Ed Thompson of Hopkinton, the news director of WMRC radio in Milford for serving the community for 26 years.
^Bickelhaupt, Susan (October 15, 1993). "Local stations get their rewards". The Boston Globe. Classical radio station WBOQ-FM once again shared top honors as Station of the Year, this time with WMRC-AM in Milford.
^Bickelhaupt, Susan (October 26, 1995). "Spinning the dial". The Boston Globe. Milford's WMRC-AM (1490), an adult music station, was named Station of the Year.
^"People: New chairman". Worcester Telegram & Gazette. February 11, 2003.
^ ab"McAuliffe is new owner of WMRC-AM". Worcester Telegram & Gazette. May 9, 1990. WMRC, the town's only radio station, has been purchased by a veteran Marlboro radio station manager from Worcester County Newspapers. Thomas M. McAuliffe, 55, of Hudson, finalized arrangements this week, and will begin working at the station while the Federal Communications Commission reviews the sale.
^"Mass. man buys Conn. newspapers". The Boston Globe. January 30, 1985. Loren F. Ghiglione is president of Worcester County Newspapers, a company that owns, in addition to The News, 11 weeklies, two tourist publications, a commercial printing operation and WMRC, a radio station in Milford, Massachusetts.
^"WMRC in Milford is sold". Worcester Telegram & Gazette. September 12, 1990.