In honor of local radio station WAEW-1330-AM 70th anniversary and in remembrance of local weatherman Steve Norris, here is a recording of the full days broadcast of WAEW-AM/FM live 25th-anniversary celebration September 5th, 1977.

WAEW-AM signed on the air as Crossville’s first radio station in 1952 under the ownership of Arthur Wilkerson.  Mr. Wilkerson owned several radio stations but Crossville’s had his name on it – WAEW – Arthur Eugene Wilkerson.  The FM station did not come along until the late 60’s.   Actually, there was an FM granted to Crossville in the 1950’s to Mr. Wilkerson.  However, there were not enough FM radios around for many people to listen and Mr. Wilkerson turned the license back to the FCC.  He said it was costing too much to power the transmitter when no one was listening.  Later, another FM license, WAEW-99.3-FM (Presently Mix 99.3), was granted in 1967 as FM radio was becoming more and more popular.

The stations were eventually sold to Dr. Gene Cravens and Dr. Lawson who soon brought in Warren Dean as a managing partner.  Today WAEW-1330-AM and WPBX-99.3-FM are owned by PEG Broadcasting Corporation. During these recordings, there is an interview between Warren and original owner Arthur Wilkerson that gives a lot of historical information about the beginning of the first radio station in Crossville Tennessee.

This tape was recorded during the full-days on-air activities on September 5th, 1977.  Skip through the recording and hear local radio announcers like a very young Tony Perry who was the host during the entire program and young Steve Norris in only his 4th month of radio weather reporting.

You’ll hear station owner/manager Warren Dean and his wife Jessie Dean, announcers- Steve (Don) Wilson and Mike Stewart. There were also recordings played that day of former announcers Jack Dean, Bob Greer and then minister of the Crossville Church of Christ John Jenkins interviewing singing star Pat Boone.  There’s even a live band, The Country Cousins, providing entertainment at the radio station during the celebration.  You’ll also hear some classic old-timey 40’s and 50’s radio shows played during the days broadcast.

To hear 18-year-old Steve Norris talking with 19-year-old Tony Perry  about Steve’s love for the study of weather and how he started doing weather reports on radio click to 3:42:00 on Part-1