WGMI

WGMI
Frequency1440 kHz
Programming
FormatDefunct (was Christian music and sports play by play)
Ownership
OwnerGarner Ministries, Inc.
History
First air date
1958
Former call signs
WWCC (1958-1982)
WSLE (1982–1989)
WBKI (1989–1993)
Call sign meaning
W G Garner M Ministries I Inc.
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID57385
ClassD
Power2,500 watts day
62 watts night
Transmitter coordinates
33°42′56.00″N 85°9′34.00″W / 33.7155556°N 85.1594444°W / 33.7155556; -85.1594444
Links
Public license information

WGMI (1440 AM) was a radio station broadcasting a Christian music format, licensed to Bremen, Georgia, United States. The station was owned by Garner Ministries, Inc.[2]

History

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The station went on the air as WWCC (World Wide Clothing Company) in 1958, owned by Marlin Lamar. It changed format many times, but was known to be the starting point for famous air personalities including Rhubarb Jones, Keith Jackson and current Los Angeles area personality Rick Ruhl.

It became WSLE on 1982-11-11 with a top 40 format and was changed to oldies/hits in 1985. On 1989-05-22, the station changed its call sign to WBKI, on 1993-12-06 to the current WGMI,[3] broadcasting Christian music and programming.

From 2006 to 2022, the station was the home of Bremen High School athletics, covering mainly football but also baseball, basketball, and wrestling, featuring Tom "The Big E" Eriquezzo.

WGMI switched to classic hits in 2010, then returned to a Christian music format in 2012 with a mix of Southern gospel and contemporary Christian and brokered religious programming on Sundays, retaining an oldies show on Saturdays.

In 2019, WGMI added the Fox sports network (including the Dan Patrick Show) during weekday daytime hours, interspersed with local sports talk shows focused on West Georgia athletics, and carry Georgia Southern football in the fall. Horace Garner was station manager, Jerry Segal was operations manager, and Erriquezo handled sports programming. WGMI broadcast at 2,500 watts daytime and 62 watts at night.

As of 2023, WGMI was no longer operational. The property was sold and broadcasting equipment was dismantled. Bremen High School sports coverage is now covered by WBHS Radio and occasionally West Georgia TV (WGTV), both operating subsidies of Quezzo Productions, which is owned by former WGMI play by play announcer Tom Eriquezzo.

The Federal Communications Commission cancelled the station’s license on June 24, 2024.[4]

References

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  1. ^ "Facility Technical Data for WGMI". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ^ "WGMI Facility Record". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
  3. ^ "WGMI Call Sign History". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
  4. ^ "License Cancelled". Federal Communications Commission Licensing and Management System. June 24, 2024. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
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