WQON
| City | Grayling, Michigan |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | [1] |
| Branding | Q 100.3 |
| Frequency | 100.3 MHz |
| First air date | November 6, 1978 |
| Format | Album-oriented rock (AOR) |
| ERP | 60,000 watts |
| HAAT | 131 meters |
| Class | C1 |
| Facility ID | 23086 |
| Former callsigns | WGRY-FM (12/19/1994-1/14/2013) WQON (11/1/91-12/19/94) WFXK (9/9/91-11/1/91) WQON (11/6/1978-9/9/91) |
| Affiliations |
Dial Global Michigan IMG Sports Network |
| Owner | Sheryl and Gerald Coyne (Blarney Stone Broadcasting, Inc.) |
| Sister stations | WFCX, WFDX, WGRY-FM, WKLT, WKLZ-FM, WSRJ |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | q100-fm.com |
WQON (100.3 FM, "Q 100.3") is a radio station broadcasting an album-oriented rock (AOR) format. Licensed to Grayling, Michigan, the seat of government in Crawford County, it first began broadcasting in 1978. WQON's unique programming is also simulcasted on WKLT 97.5 in Kalkaska, Michigan and WKLZ 98.9 in Petoskey, Michigan.
WQON arose out of the staff of AM competitor WGRY, which first went on the air in 1970. Wayne Hindmarsh, one of that station's original employees, left WGRY to put his own station on the air.
With an intended target date of June 16, 1977, unexpected delays pushed WQON-FM's debut on the air to 12:06 p.m., November 6, 1978. Local owners were Ernie Dawson, William Scheer, Wayne Hindmarsh, and Chris Vansteenhouse. Located at 502 Norway street, a sign went up in the window stating "We're on the Air" 100.1 FM. WQON was on the air from 6 a.m. to Midnight, first operating at 3000 watts of power. Wayne Hindmarsh was at the helm as Station/Sales Manager. Bob Greenwood, who began his career at WGRY-AM years earlier was program director. WQON's very first on-air personality was Carol Trudeau. Everyone had an air shift and wrote commercials, as well as numerous other duties around the fledgling station. Betty Bennett was Office Manager.
It soon became apparent to the owners that WQON couldn't be the community station it wanted to be without more employees. Some of the first local personalities were Cheryl Alef, Chris Wright and Dave Gauthier. All were trained by Bob Greenwood and several have continued with successful careers in radio in Traverse City, Bakersfield, California, Houghton Lake and Petoskey. Chris Wright later changed his name to Chris Knight and owns an advertising agency. Community News and Sports were primary with WQON. Live broadcasts of away Football and Basketball games were featured throughout the season. WQON attended the opening of new businesses in the community. The Canoe Marathon, the Winter Sports Carnival and other local events were also broadcast. WQON-FM programming was Contemporary Music and News, plus Sports and Weather. The station sponsored special weekends, give-a-ways and dances.
In December 1982, Wayne Hindmarsh left the station to further his education by completing his MBA. In May 1985 the station was purchased by Robert Ditmer and his son Bob, owners of WWSJ-AM of St. Johns, Michigan. Ditmer began a daily hour-long Talk Show/Swap Shop which was taken over by Dave Sherbert in 1989. Sherbert had joined the station in 1985. Robert Ditmer left the station in 1989 to manage his other station in St. Johns and Bob Ditmer became manager and program director.
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