John Edgerton rose from the ranks. First a TV news reporter, then news manager and finally WBTV's general manager. John E. is a tough act to follow.

Read the pages devoted to WBTV News and its evolution from analog to digital. They're in Departments, under Articles.

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Bill Curry & Rich Pauley

They were popular, talented "jocks" on WBT's roster in the 60's, each specializing in his own brand of music and jocularity. These brief profiles were printed in the promotional newsletter Mikeside.

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Captain Windy

Until he died recently at 82, few knew his real name: Gilbert Winchester. He was always Captain Windy to kids and adults alike. He appeared—in character, of course—in the early 1960's on WBTV's "Adventures in Pirates Cove" and "3-Ring Circus." For many years prior to his retirement, Gilbert was pirate-in-residence at the Riverview Inn Fish Camp on the Catawba River west of Charlotte.

Grady Cole

He was WBT's legend of the southern airwaves from the '30s through the '50s. Not until 1961 did Grady Cole become known as the predecessor of Ty Boyd.

Doug Mayes

An all-night bus ride in 1951 brought Doug from Nashville to Charlotte for a WBTV audition. Thirty five other announcers from all over the east were trying out for the position. Doug won, but only after a few complications.

Pat Lee

In 1946, at age 20, Pat began working for WBT Radio. She first appeared on television in 1950 on "Open House," and for more than 30 years she appeared regularly on her own shows on radio and TV. In 1977 she lost a years-long battle with cancer. She was only 51.

Hank Warren

As a photographer he took our "pitchers"; as a Briarhopper he entertained us as a clown and fiddle player. Was there another side of him we didn't know about?

Henry Boggan

It's hard to believe! It's been 10 years since we whiled away the nighttime hours listening to Henry Boggan's call-in show. Remember Queenie the goose? And Henry's favorite song, "White Azaleas?" Near the end of his career at WBT he had the Briarhoppers on for an hour, and we've acquired a recording of the show.

Look and listen »

Tommy Faile

He played and sang for over 30 years with Arthur Smith's Crackerjacks, but Tommy performed professionally even before his WBTV years. And he had a separate career as a soloist and songwriter. Here's some background on Tommy, and lots of photos.

Fred Kirby

Fred in the '40s He showed up at WBT well before most of us were born, and stayed long enough to entertain our grand kids. Fred was one of a kind, a very special kind.

Erv Melton

Erv passed away on August 23, 2004. Here's his obituary from the Clayton (Ga.) tribune, and some additional information on Erv and his life from Richard Waters, his friend and colleague. Richard was a WBT-WBTV newsman in the '60s.

Alan Newcomb

Co-workers and viewers alike were stunned at the news that Alan had died. He had been at the Company for 15 years, first as a disc jockey on WBT. In the 1950's, he was best known as WBTV's Atlantic weatherman. His last years at the Company were spent as public affairs director, writing and delivering editorials and producing the award-winning Radio Moscow program. He was only 45.

Gil Stamper

They called him "the fellow who wakes up the roosters." Back when there were farmers hanging on every word of WBT's early morning farm and weather reports, here's the man who delivered them. On WBTV he had a program called "Pipe and Book," on which, as he puffed on his pipe, he read inspirational passages. (Excitement, you know, was a whole 'nother thing in those days.)

Read about Gil (PDF) »

Melvin Purvis

A tiny footnote in the history of Jefferson Standard Broadcasting leads to an investigation of certain FBI files and a look back at the role of breakfast cereal box tops in radio and print advertising. How did a young lawyer from Florence, S. C. become a cultural icon? Does an organization called The Junior G-Men Club ring a bell?

Drop that gun »

Dick Taylor

Taylor photo

He left the Company about 30 years ago, but Dick is still fondly remembered by his fans and long-time friends. He started his Jefferson tenure at our Florence, S.C., station and moved to WBTV in the 1960s. Here are career highlights and facts you may not have known about the esteemed Mr. Taylor.

Our pal Dick »

Dave Clanton is a quiet, unassuming, dedicated man. His exceptional knowledge of motion picture cameras and film was a tremendous asset to Jefferson Productions' Film Department.