WJBY

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WJBY is a radio station in Gadsden, Alabama. It operates at 930 kilohertz, with a daytime power of 5,000 watts non-directional, and 500 watts directional at night. The call letters - WJBY actually date back to the 1926 when a station in Gadsden operated (eventually) at a frequency of 1240 kilohertz. That station went dark around 1950. The 930 frequency came to Gadsden when local druggist "Doc" Cary Graham put WETO on the air in 1950. WETO operated with 1,000 watts daytime only. In 1963 Gadsden radio veteran Charlie "B" Boman bought the station from Mr. Graham, and began a series of upgrades, both to the station and it's image. From it's original location in the rear of "Doc's" drug store, Boman moved to the Life of Alabama Insurance building on the main street of town, and installed all new equipment. Boman had begun his radio career at the original WJBY, and found those call letters to be available, so the heritage call returned to the air at the 930 spot on the dial, late in 1963. Boman also raised the power to 5,000 watts, while still a daytime station. This prompted him in the mid 60's to apply for an F M license, and WLJM became Gadsden's FM voice at 103.7. The call letters standing for Lloyd, John and Mary Faye, Boman's three children. The station today is licensed to Trussville, Alabama and operates as WQEN, with a transmitter at Red Mountain in Birmingham. In the late 70's Boman sold WJBY to Hinton Mitchem and an associate , who took it to new heights, by adding the night time signal and erecting four new towers. The station programs (2007) southern gospel music & religious talk.