WHLS
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| City | Port Huron, Michigan |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | AM 1450 [1] FM 105.5 [2] |
| Branding | Rock 105.5 |
| Slogan | Port Huron's Alternative |
| Frequency | 1450 kHz |
| Translator(s) | 105.5 mHz W288BT St. Clair |
| Repeater(s) | WHLX Marine City |
| First air date | August 8, 1938 |
| Format | Active rock |
| Power | 1450 AM 1,000 watts 105.5 FM 49 watts |
| Class | C |
| Facility ID | 73075 |
| Callsign meaning | Wismer & H.L. Stevens (station co-founders) |
| Affiliations | Michigan IMG Sports Network |
| Owner | Radio First |
| Website | rock1055.com |
WHLS is an American radio station, licensed to Port Huron, Michigan at 1450 kHz and owned by Radio First. Since 2000 WHLS has simulcasted its programming on 1590 WHLX in Marine City. WHLS also has an FM translator, W288BT 105.5 MHz, which is licensed to St. Clair, simulcasting the station's signal on the FM dial.
The station currently broadcasts an active rock format branded as Rock 105.5, "Port Huron's Alternative". Rock 105.5 currently competes with CHKS-FM 106.3 MHz in Sarnia, Ontario.
WHLS signed on in August 1938 at 1370 kHz with 250 watts of power. It was for a time the principal Top 40 music station in the Port Huron and Sarnia area, as well as the very first radio station serving St. Clair County. The station was found by the late John Wismer and H.L. Stevens. Wismer operated the station and FM sister WSAQ until his death on September 30, 1999 at age 85.
Notable WHLS alumni include Fred A. Knorr, a former part owner of the Detroit Tigers, who got his first radio job in Port Huron and would go on to own stations in Jackson and Detroit.
Legendary NHL hockey broadcaster Mike Emrick got his first big break at WHLS calling games for the Port Huron Flags minor hockey team with sales manager Larry Smith in the mid 1970s. Emrick would go on to broadcast Olympic hockey games and Stanley Cup playoffs for NBC Sports, and is a frequent guest contributor to sister station WPHM.
The station was sold to Liggett Communications (also known as Radio First) in 2000 by Wismer's estate. Liggett had also acquired Wismer's crosstown competitor, WPHM and WBTI that same year from Hanson Communications.
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