WIRV Staff & Information Page
By David Cox
Larry Jaye (Jarvis):  Larry was an original employee of WIRV.  
He was with WIRV from the first day in 1960 until 1962.  Larry went
from WIRV to WFKY in Frankfort.  Larry also worked as Dean
Griffith at WPGC Washington DC and as Larry James on KEWI
Topeka Kansas.
Larry James is now a renowned author and relationship
counselor in Scottsdale Arizona. Larry James is President of
CelebrateLove.com. He has been a full-time professional speaker,
author and relationship coach since 1987.
See Larry's comments and Irvine stories on the left sidebar.
www.celebratelove.com
===================================================================================================
South C. Bevins: Mr. Bevins was the original owner of WIRV
and occasionally would worked on the air in Irvine.  He came to
Irvine to help with coverage of the 1961 Ravenna Tornado.  He
also owned broadcast property in Pineville Kentucky and
Lancaster Kentucky.  Although out of broadcasting, South still
lives in Pineville and is very active in the local area. (See WIRV
Oral History page)
====================================================================================================
Milton Floria (Big-Irv): Milton was the first Chief Engineer for WIRV, starting in 1960
and leaving shortly thereafter.  Milton worked on the air as "Big-Irv".  That's all the
information I have on Milton.
===================================================================================================
Charlie Carroll: Charlie was the first Station Manager for WIRV, starting in 1960 and
leaving shortly thereafter, Charley also played music on weekends at Renfro-Valley.  
That's all the information I have on Charlie.  Charlie's son, Bill, also worked at WIRV in
1960.
===================================================================================================
Lewis Owens: Lewis was the Contract Engineer
who installed the original WIRV broadcast
equipment in 1960.  Lewis was later employed by
WLAP in Lexington Kentucky, serving as Chief
Engineer for many years.  Lewis authored a book on
the history of WLAP.

This picture of Lewis is from his days at WLAP.
===================================================================================================
Jim Gaskin: Jim replaced Charlie Carroll in 1961
as the WIRV Station Manager.  Jim and Sue Gaskin
later purchased WIRV from South Bevins and
managed the station until 1976.  (See WIRV Oral
History Page).

The Gaskins sold WIRV (Irvenna Broadcasting
Company) to James Hay and Dale Bryant (Kentucky
River Broadcasting Inc.) in 1976.

We lost Jim on May 3, 2008
===================================================================================================
The Early WIRV (On The Air) Staff [Broadway Studio 1960-1967]
Dave White: Dave worked on the air at WIRV in
1966 through July 1968 while in High-School.  
After leaving WIRV, Dave worked news for WKLO
in Louisville, WLAP in Lexington, WLEX-TV in
Lexington, WKEE radio in Huntington West
Virginia.  Dave now lives in Nashville and builds
web sites and writes a Classic-Rock web page for
About.com.  Dave's father, Rev. Bob White also
worked weekends for WIRV.

This picture is from 1966 with Dave at the old
Broadway studios.

http://classicrock.about.com
Darrell Evens: Darrell was the second Chief Engineer, for WIRV, replacing Flora in
late 1960.  Darrell only worked in Irvine for a few months before taking the all night shift
at the WVLK transmitter site.  I have no additional information on Darrell
Warren Dean: Warren was also hired as Chief Engineer in 1961 and worked in Irvine
until 1963.  Warren was the host of the early morning "Work-Time" Show.  Warren
moved to Toccoa Georgia where he and his brother purchased WLET Radio.  Warren
later returned to Crossville Tennessee, his home town, and purchased a radio station.
Warren and his wife Jessie still live in Crossville and are now retired after selling a
family business.  More on Warren below and on sidebar.
===================================================================================================
===================================================================================================
Ron Lowe: Ron worked for WIRV from 1962-1964 while attending Eastern Kentucky
University in Richmond.  Ron, after serving in the Army Reserves, went to work in West-
Liberty Kentucky.  Ron also worked in radio in the Huntington Ashland area.  If you
have current information on Ron please contact me.
David Bratcher: David also came to WIRV
from Eastern Kentucky University in 1963.  
David worked in Irvine for about one year
before taking a job at WRSL in Stanford
Kentucky.  David has worked for many radio
stations across the country, including,
WAKY Louisville, WVLK Lexington, WKLO
Louisville.  Using the names Jay Rabbit,
Mason Lee Dixion, and others.  David now
lives in Louisville and we make contact from
time to time.  See David's comments on
Sidebar.
This picture is of Bratcher as "Mason Lee
Dixion" at WAKY Louisville in 1970.
===================================================================================================
===================================================================================================
Jack Dial: Jack arrived at WIRV in 1963 coming from
Columbia Kentucky (WAIN).  Jack has lived in the area since
then, taking a short time to work for WMOR Morehead
Kentucky.  Jack has also worked for WEKY & WCBR in
Richmond.  Jack and his wife live in Irvine and he works for
Wallingford Broadcasting at the Irvine location.
===================================================================================================
Woody Stiles: Woody started in radio at
WIRV working weekends in 1966.  Woody was
15 at the time and attending high school in
Richmond.  Too young to drive, Woody took
the Black-Brothers bus to and from Irvine.  In
his broadcast career Woody worked for WEKY
Richmond, WAKY Louisville.  In addition to
broadcasting, Woody also was a pilot and did
air advertising as a business.  Woody died in a
tragic air accident in 1981 in Bullitt County
Kentucky. I had visited with Woody two weeks
before the accident.
===================================================================================================
Lynn Page: Another Engineer who only worked a short time for WIRV.  No other
information now available.
===================================================================================================
Lynn West: Lynn, from Estill County, worked for WIRV in the early 60s, Lynn departed
WIRV to pursue another career in the area.  No other information now available.
Gary Calmes: Gary worked summers and part-time for WIRV  (1961-1963) while
attending the University of Kentucky.  After leaving WIRV, Garry chose a career in the US
Army, serving as a Chaplin. Gary will long be remembered for his broadcasts of
Little-League Baseball.  No additional information available.
===================================================================================================
===================================================================================================
Johnny Rexroat: Johnny came to Irvine from Jamestown Kentucky and worked at
WIRV from 1963 until 1965. Johnny did some air work and also served as Continuity
Director.  It is reported that Johnny became a Gospel singer and Minister in the
Jamestown Kentucky area. No additional information at this time.
===================================================================================================
Robert Ball: Bob, from Lexington Kentucky, served as a Contract Engineer for WIRV in
1965.  Bob's full time job, during this time, was with WLEX TV in Lexington.  Bob still lives
in the Lexington area.
===================================================================================================
David Greenlee: While attending Eastern Kentucky University, in the mid 60's, David
served as Chief Engineer for WIRV.  I replaced David as WIRV's engineer in August of
1968.  David has worked in broadcasting, in this area, since then.  Very accomplished in
his field, David has worked for several TV and radio stations.  He owned and operated an
FM station in Winchester (WKDJ now WKQQ) for several years.  David is currently
Assistant Director CEO of Engineering at Eastern Kentucky University's broadcast
facilities in Richmond and continues some work for ESPN.

The WIRV (On The Air Staff) [Main Street Studio 1968-1976]
The WIRV "On the Air Staff"[Winchester Road Studio 1976-1980]
Additional WIRV staff and information to be added. Please check back
soon.  If your name is not on this page, please send me your information.
Please let me know if you worked at WIRV 1960-1980 and you are not
listed. If you have pictures, audio, stories, corrections, or other
information, please email me at:

Coxde3@aol.com

Thanks
Dave Cox
For additional information on Woody, see John
Quincy's WAKY Tribute Page:
WAKY Tribute Page
For additional information on Mason Lee, see
John Quincy's WAKY Tribute Page:
WAKY Tribute Page
===================================================================================================
Albury Chestnut: Another Engineer and DJ who started with WIRV.  Albury worked in
Irvine in the mid 60s and returned to his native Barbourville Kentucky to manage a
station. Albury used the name "Big Ed" on the air.  No additional information available.
Dwaine Riddell: Dwaine, from Estill County, worked part time for WIRV while in
High-School.  After spending time with the Kentucky National Guard, Dwaine chose
Education as his career and recently retired from the Estill County School System after
spending time in a teaching and administrative position.
===================================================================================================
===================================================================================================
Dave Cox: Befriended and inspired by Larry Jaye (see
above), I started hanging out at WIRV in 1960.  When in
high school, I started working part-time on weekends
for WIRV. My hours increased into full-time employment
in 1965.  I also worked nights at WEKY Richmond, and a
few weekends at WAXU in Georgetown.  After passing
my FCC First-Class in 1968, I replaced David Greenlee
as Chief Engineer of WIRV.  In the early 70s I also
served a year or so as Chief Engineer for WEKY in
Richmond.  In 1976, when WIRV was under new
ownership,  I assumed the position of Station Manager.  
Leaving WIRV, and radio, in 1980, I worked as an
Industrial Control Engineer.  I retired from  Alcan
Aluminum /Novelis Corporation in 2005.  I am again
working part-time in radio with WCYO, WLFX, WEKY,
WKXO and WIRV and having lots of fun.  My wife Kathy
and  I live in Richmond Kentucky.  Before WIRV, myself
and a few friends ran the BBC. (Birdhouse
Broadcasting Company)   >What was the BBC?
Dave Cox 2007
Bill Hughes:
===================================================================================================
Dan Riley:
Billy Joe
Houndshell:
===================================================================================================
===================================================================================================
Ed
Huckleberry:
===================================================================================================
Wallace
Arthur:
===================================================================================================
Debbie
Benedict:
===================================================================================================
Phil Worrell:
===================================================================================================
After working news at WAKY & WKLO, Ike worked for
WIRV in 1969 & 1970 while attending EKU.   
===================================================================================================
Tom
Broaddus:
===================================================================================================
Vickie Parker:
===================================================================================================
Debra Moore:
===================================================================================================
Mike Maddox:
===================================================================================================
Jack Kain
(Bill Staton):
===================================================================================================
Bea
Spencer:
R. Ben Synagogue
(Bob White):
===================================================================================================
Calvin Dooner
(Carl Rankin):
===================================================================================================
===================================================================================================
===================================================================================================
Dave
Gibson:
Gene
Hardy:
===================================================================================================
Stephenie
Horn:
===================================================================================================
Mike
Miller:
Jo Snell: Jo was the first
book keeper and Continuity
Director.
The WIRV
"Administrative Staff"
Sue Wiseman: Sue
replaced Jo and worked two
periods with WIRV.  The
early 60s and late 60s until
1975.
Linda Hall: Linda replaced
Sue for a few years.
(1963-1964)
Debbie Maddix: Debbie
assumed Sue's position in
late 1975 when the station
was sold to Kentucky River
Broadcasting.  Debbie only
worked a few months.
Brenda Quillen : Brenda
was hired in 1975 and
assumed Debbie's position.
Brenda remained with WIRV
until 1981.
Jim Hay : Jim was one of  
two owners who purchased
WIRV in 1975.  Jim and his
partner, Dale Bryant also
owned additional broadcast
property.
Sheila Baker : Sheila
served as Sales Manager in
the late 70s.
Ike Smith part of the WKLO
News Team in 1967
Stephanie worked part-time for WIRV in the 1970s while in high-school.  
She also anchored weekend news at WTVQ in Lexington, working for
Dave White who was News Director at the time.  She attended law
school and is now a practicing attorney somewhere?
Dave White writes: "Bob really got a kick out of working at the station, As a minister,
he thought some of his parishioners might not like the idea of working a 'second job' so
he conjured up the name R. Ben Synagogue.  That was his only commercial radio work
he ever did, although he remained an active ham radio operator until his death in 2001.
Bill started working for WIRV in 1968 while attending Estill County High
School and Eastern Kentucky University.  Bill also worked in Richmond
Radio at WCBR.  Bill is now working in Hospital Administration and has
lived in many large cities across the country.  While in New Orleans, Bill
often entertained many of his old friends for the New Orleans Jazz-Fest,
including myself. I will never forget the good times at the "Fest" and in
the "Quarter" with Bill and friends.
Dan, also from Estill County, worked at WIRV (1970-1976) while attending
EKU.  Dan now works for GE, in the Aircraft Engines division, Cincinnati
Ohio.   His mother always kept us well supplied with home-made donuts.  
He also assisted me in several late night maintenance sessions at the
WIRV transmitter site.
Billy Joe came to WIRV in 1968,from Ohio, while taking a Broadcasting
correspondence class. Bill worked several years for WIRV and was very
popular on the air.  He married his wife Linda while at WIRV.  He is now a
minister and lives  in Ohio.  (See picture on the WIRV picture page)
Ed also started working at WIRV while in high school.  Ed worked several
years, on and off, for WIRV.  Ed also worked in Glasgow Kentucky at WCDS,
Richmond at WEKY, and for many years for the Kentucky News Network in
Louisville.  Ed is now a minister and lives in Louisville.
Debbie has the distinction of being the first female to work on the air for
WIRV. Debbie started at the Main Street location part-time.  Debbie returned to
WIRV in 1978 to work in sales and on the air.  Debbie and her husband now
live in North Carolina.
Wallace, "THE BIG A" on the air, worked for WIRV in the late 60s and again,
part-time, in the 1970s.  Wallace worked part-time while working another full
time job.  Wallace, after WIRV, worked in Industry and Hospital Administration.
 Wallace and his wife live in Richmond and he now works in sales.
Phil, from Ohio with local family, worked for WIRV in the 70s at the Main
Street location.  After leaving WIRV it was reported that Phil was working in
radio somewhere in Ohio.
Tom worked for WIRV at both the Main Street location and the
Winchester Road studio.  Tom worked part-time while attending EKU.  
After leaving WIRV, Tom worked at WEKY Richmond.  He, his wife and
family live in Richmond. Tom works in the medical electronics software  
business.
Ike Smith:
===================================================================================================
Vickie was from Owenton Kentucky and started her radio career at
WIRV in 1976 working at the Main Street location.  Vickie continued
her work for WIRV into the 1980s.  Vickie was last reported in sales.
Debra and her husband (Mike Maddox), worked for WIRV shortly
after the purchase by Kentucky River Broadcasting in 1975.  Only
working a few months in Irvine, Debra and Mike moved to Lexington
where she worked news for WVLK.
Bill worked several years, on and off, for WIRV.  Bill worked at both
the old Broadway location and the Main Street studio.  Bill also
worked for WMST and other area radio stations.  Bill is now
employed by the Kentucky State Police and lives in Estill County.
Bea came from parts unknown and worked news for WIRV in the
mid 1970s.  She worked at the Main Street location and the
Winchester Road studio.
Bob worked part-time Saturday mornings, for WIRV in the late 60s.  
Bob, having radio as a hobby, and experience with radio equipment,
was help to me in keeping the old WIRV transmitter on the air and
cranking out 1000 watts.
I met Carl when he worked at WEKG in Jackson.  After WIRV was
purchased by Kentucky River Broadcasting, Carl came to Irvine.  
Using the name Calvin Dooner, he worked on the are for several
years and remained in Irvine when his step father purchased WIRV
from Jim Hay and Dale Bryant.  
I met Dave at a Kentucky Broadcaster's Association  meeting in
Louisville.  At the time he was working in the Pikeville area.  Dave,
being a Broadcast Engineer and having some on the air experience,
came to work at an opportune time.  Although he only was in Irvine
for a short time, he assisted me with the studio move from Main
Street to the new Studio on the Winchester Road.  At last report,
Dave was somewhere in Florida.
Mike, from Ravenna, worked briefly for WIRV in the late 70s while
attending school.  Mike is now with the Kentucky Department of
Education as a Director in the Academic and Professional Development
Division.
From Estill County, Gene started working for WIRV in 1979 while attending
Eastern Kentucky University. Gene did the morning sign-on shift which was
also broadcast over the Irvine Cable TV.  Gene, after leaving WIRV,
continued his work in broadcasting working in Richmond, Somerset, and
Lexington.  Gene is now with Insight Cable in Lexington and lives with his
wife and twin girls in Berea.
Bill Hughes
For additional information on
Kentucky Radio, use these links
to some of  John Quincy's
History and  Tribute Pages:

WAKY Tribute Page     
Comments Form WIRV
Employees:
David Bratcher (Mason Lee
Dixon) writes:

"Hey Dave,
I just checked out the web
site and loved it. The
historical value is obvious
and the sentimental value is
precious. Listening to you
and Jim was a wonderful
reminder of the basic
values I was taught by you
guys. I still hold those
values today. I also realized
how ignorant I was back
then concerning what it
really took to build a radio
station from the ground up.
The energy output was
incredible. I hope some of
these so called modern
radio heads can hear and
understand what radio
pioneers you and Jim and all
were and take lessons from
what you actually did in
those communities."

Dave
WIRV "Audio Files"

Thanks so much to Dwaine Riddell for finding some early,
early WIRV audio.  I am still going through the tapes and
finding lost treasures. Additional audio will be added later.
=================================================================================
Some of these audio files are some of the earliest broadcasts of WIRV  
July 1960.  Some reflect 1950s and early 60s lifestyles.
=================================================================================
Also early WIRV audio from 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964.
=================================================================================
My first "On The Air" board shift, at WIRV, was in 1962 filling in for Ron
Lowe on "Nightrun".  I was 14 or 15 years old.  Here is a clip or two.
=================================================================================
WIRV audio between 1963 and 1978 is missing.  Most of my old tapes were
lost during a move.  If you have any audio please contact me.

I am including one additional audio file.  This one is from 1978.  We were
asked by Sam Watson, owner of "The Burger Barn", to create an
advertisement for his new Foot-Long hot dog.  I wrote this spot and it was
recorded by Vicki Parker.  It ran two times before several listeners asked
that it be removed from the air, which we did.  Sam loved the spot and
said he got many many comments from customers and handed out lots of
Foot-Long hot dogs.
=================================================================================
What Was Conelrad??
Paul Spicer writes:

"This is fantastic!! My
nephew, EDA Director, Joe
Crawford (Jayne's son,
obviously) called me today
and told me about it. I
remember the infamous
Burger Barn spot. A
classic! It was already
archived when I started in
1980. Which, by the way,
thank you for giving me the
opportunity to get my feet
wet. I worked part-time at
an FM station in Greenup,
where I'm living now, for 14
years (1990-2004). I
haven't been in "the
business" since then.
Vince Richardson
(who, the last I heard was
chief engineer at a radio
station in Dallas) always
told me once you got out
you would always want to
get back in. And, that is so
true. I really enjoy this site
and will return often for
updates."
Thanks,
Paul
Paul Spicer:
Paul worked weekends at WIRV in 1980.  He now lives in Greenup
Kentucky. (See Paul's comments on side-bar)
================================================================================
Larry James (Jaye) writes:

"Dave  -  The Burger Barn
spot is a classic!  It was fun
to hear what I sounded like in
1960 on a couple of the audio
files.

It's good to hear from you.  
Thank you for adding me to
the WIRV list.  I'll be passing
the link on to a few friends.  I
still stay in touch with Sue
Carol Richardson (my first
love) and her brother.  They
both live in FL.  We used to
hang out at the Eagles Nest
Restaurant.  

I remember a drag race in
Ravenna with Dougie
Palmer.  He had a hot car and
challenged me to a race in
front of all his high school
pals.  I had a 1953 Plymouth.  
When he popped the clutch,
his axle broke and I won.  I
never let him forget it.  LOL.  
OF course I was bragging
about it on my program and
when the local sheriff at the
time heard that I had done
this and was on my tail a lot
after that.

Jim Gaskin used to do the
news in the studio next to the
control room.  He would run
in at the last minute and tear
off the news from the
teletype and begin to wing it.  
I once sneaked in behind him
and set his copy on fire
during the newscast.  No one
was hurt but he was
scrambling around trying to
put out the fire and still read
the news at the same time.  I
was in the control room
laughing.  I almost got fired
over that.

Bill Carroll was doing his
show from the control room
and the ceiling began to fall in
during the show.  All of those
loose ceiling tiles came
crashing down bringing with
them all the dust and dirt that
had accumulated over the
years.  It was a mess.  We
thought it was funny, but Bill
didn't see the humor in it.

One of the highlights for me
was doing a 15 minute live
program with Bill Monroe and
The Bluegrass Boys in the
studio to promote his
appearance at the local
theater.  I was MC of the
theater appearance and the
opening act was Glenn
Campbell.  This was before
Glenn recorded "By the Time
I Get to Phoenix" which was
released in 1967.  I ran into
Glenn at the airport here in
Phoenix several years ago
and mentioned this to him
and he remembered the
show.  He lives in Paradise
Valley, AZ which is about 3
miles from where I live in
Scottsdale."
========================
=================================================================================
Radio PIs (per inquiry) were the equivalent of todays TV "Info-
Commercials".  Stations would schedule a PI in times when the listening
audience was low.  The station would get money only when the product
was purchased by listeners.  WIRV typically would run PIs on weekends
and evenings.  They were exceptionally long and boring.  WIRV, in the early
60s, sold everything from "Bug Killers" to "Red Top Chicks".  The chicks,
all shipped at the same time, always created excitement when they arrived
at the Irvine Post Office waiting to be delivered to their destination. WIRV's
Warren Dean cut most of the PIs.  Here is an example of the early PI spots
as only Warren could do: (wish I had the Red Top Chick spot)   Bless those
postal workers who had to tolerate the chick noises.
Dr. T Dwaine Riddell, PhD)
=========================
========================
Here are two audio clips of Ron's sign-off
from around 1963.  Ron 1:           Ron 2:
John R WLAC
Note:  Mr Levy wrote
his own commercials
and was a regular
advertiser on WIRV,
recognizing the power
of local radio.  
WIRV DJs would provide recorded
music and concession stand promos
for the local Drive-In theaters. These
tapes would  run before the movie
and sometimes at intermission.  The
Drive-Inns would return the favor by
giving free admission.  Here is an
audio cut from Ron Lowe for the Mt
View Drive-In.
========================
Tom Broaddus writes:

Hey there!
I love the web site!  So
many great memories.

Tom
========================
Jim Gaskin writes:

The more I think about it, I
think God smiled on us or
maybe laughed out loud.

Jim
========================
========================
================================================================================
In the early 1970s  Jim Gaskin asked me to do a "Current-Event" call-in show.  I
was directed not to interject my own opinions but to assist the caller with
expressing their's.  The show, which aired from 5:15 PM till 6 PM, was called
"You Tell Me".  Several hot topics were discussed and several local issues
were resolved including discussions that led to the formation of the "Estill
County Fire Department".  Other topics of the time were also debated
including: The Vietnam War, Richard Nixon and Watergate, Roe vs Wade, and
many additional national and world topics.  We also had several regular
humorous callers including one person who often complained of aliens  living
in her attic.   So far, I only have a few audio cuts and the quality is far from
good.  Below are three segments from an April 1973 broadcast of "You Tell
Me".  Thanks to one of our readers for preserving the audio.
================================================================================
WIRV would often record and
rebroadcast Irvine & Estill County High
sports.  Here is a 20 minute clip from
an Irvine High  Football game from
1964 with Mike Tyree and Dwaine
Riddell doing the play by play.  Please,
after selecting, allow several minutes
for the down-load the down-load. The
speed will depend on your PC and
Internet connection

IHS Football 1964
Wanted! EHS Sports
Audio ... Please contact
me if you have any.
WIRV, in the early days, always gave attention and air-play to local musical
groups and musicians.  Below is some recently found audio of early
recordings by area and local groups.
"The Exciters" with "This Time"
Recorded Live at WIRV Broadway
Location.
"The Exciters" with "What'd I Say"
Recorded Live at WIRV Broadway
Location.
Do you have a copy of "Dr. Ginger Blues" by Asa Martin and the Cumberland
Rangers.  If so ... Please contact me.  Coxde3@aol.com
Vince
Richardson:
Vince started his broadcasting career at WIRV in the late 1970s while
attending Estill County High School.  Vince has worked for many of the
Lexington area radio facilities.  He is now with Cumules Broadcasting
working in Broadcast Engineering.
===================================================================================================
Jim Gaskin 1937 - 2008
Jim Gaskin 1937 - 2008