WDWD - Dawson's Melody Mansion

MUSINGS FROM THE MUSEUM By Cherry Howell

The following is an article that I wrote in November 2011 for the opening of the Terrell County History Museum. The History Museum is a project of the Terrell County Historical Preservation Society. The Museum is open by appointment only. For an appointment, please call Kathy Hicks at 229- 995-2866, preferably two days in advance. Individuals or groups are welcome.

Remembering WDWD Radio Station “DAWSONS MELODY MANSION” WDWD Radio was the local station in Dawson, GA owned and operated by Mr. Billy Woodall. It began operations in the early 1940’s. When I was a child, listening to WDWD every day was as much a part of our lives as going to church every Sunday. Each day the programming began with the playing of “Dixie” and closed the same way. I remember listening to Mr. Woodall give the State and National news every day. If a report was particularly disturbing to him, he would punctuate it with “Lawd Have Mercy!”

At noon, Mrs. Margaret Orndorff would give the local news. To introduce her they would play a little jingle that went something like this: “Here’s Margaret Orndorff she’s reporting with all our local news, she has the scoop so gather around to hear what’s happening in town.” Ms. Margaret would always open her program by saying “Hello everyone, Good afternoon, Barney.”

Barney was Mr. Barney Parnacott, Sr. who was a radio broadcaster with WDWD for many years. Alton Woolbright was the DJ for WDWD. Alton was known as “Big Al.” Al had a very big and distinctive radio voice. As he was not a large person, people were surprised upon meeting him for the first time because the voice sounded as if it belonged to a much larger person. I remember people saying that Mr. Woodall sent Alton to “DJ School” to learn to talk the way he did on the radio. The name of Big Al’s program was the “Bumper to Bumper” show. He played all the newest hits and oldie favorites. People would call in and request songs and he would play them and dedicate them to the requester. As a teenager I loved listening to the “Bumper to Bumper” show. Mr. Joe Stephens was an announcer and the engineer who kept the equipment running.

WDWD featured a variety of formats throughout the years including Southern Gospel, Country and Rock. It also broadcasted the local football, baseball and basketball games. The radio station moved from the building on Highway 82 in the early 1960's to the former Bank of Terrell building on Main Street. The station was operating as a 1000 watt daytime station at a frequency of 990 KCS in the 1960’s.

WDWD ceased broadcasting from Dawson some years ago. The majority of this article was based on memory. If I have forgotten to mention anyone associated with the radio station, I apologize.