# WMFR

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Radio station in High Point, North Carolina, United States

WMFR High Point, North Carolina United States Broadcast area Piedmont Triad Frequency 1230 kHz Branding Rebel 104.5 Programming Format Country music Ownership Owner Chuck Marsh (Triad Media Partners, Inc.) Sister stations WPCM History First air date October 15, 1935 (1935-10-15) Call sign meaning "We Make Furniture Right"[1] Technical information[2] Licensing authority FCC Facility ID 73257 Class C Power 1,000 watts unlimited Transmitter coordinates 35°57′20.49″N 80°0′21.14″W / 35.9556917°N 80.0058722°W / 35.9556917; -80.0058722 Translator 104.5 W283CV (High Point) Links Public license information Public file LMS Website www.listentotherebel.com

**WMFR** (1230 [AM](/source/AM_broadcasting), "Rebel 104.5") is a radio station airing a [country music](/source/Country_music) format. Licensed to [High Point, North Carolina](/source/High_Point%2C_North_Carolina), United States, the station serves the [Piedmont Triad](/source/Piedmont_Triad) area. The station is owned by Triad Media Partners.[3]

## History

WMFR signed on October 15, 1935, by the Lambeth family of [Thomasville, North Carolina](/source/Thomasville%2C_North_Carolina). Among its programs in the early years were [Guy Lombardo](/source/Guy_Lombardo) and *[Boston Blackie](/source/Boston_Blackie)*.[1]

[WFMY-TV](/source/WFMY-TV) sportscaster Charlie Harville started his career on WMFR in 1938, airing Class D Thomasville Tommies baseball as well as football games.[4][5]

The 8-story Radio Building in High Point housed several banks, including [Commercial National Bank](/source/Commercial_National_Bank), and [NCNB](/source/North_Carolina_National_Bank) in the late 20th century. As of 2005, WMFR had been located in the 83-year-old building since the 1940s, the longest of anyone there, though for five years the station broadcast from outside Greensboro, returning to its former home on December 26, 2000.[6][7]

In the late 1940s a sister station, WMFR-FM, was added at 97.7, which later moved to 99.5. In 1983 the station became [WMAG](/source/WMAG).[8]

Max Meeks became morning host in 1947; at age 75, he was still there in 2000 when he took time off for heart surgery, but he had no intention of retiring. He did sell furniture for a while starting in the late 1950s, but he came back to radio. Listeners compared him to [Walter Cronkite](/source/Walter_Cronkite) and [James Stewart](/source/James_Stewart) and considered him an old friend. He tried sounding like famous people when he started, but it didn't work. He was at his best just being a regular person. and he played a wide variety of music, even [hymns](/source/Hymn). Among the stars Meeks interviewed from the WMFR studios: [Eddy Arnold](/source/Eddy_Arnold) and [The Carter Sisters](/source/The_Carter_Sisters), but not [Elvis Presley](/source/Elvis_Presley) ("I didn't think he would amount to anything"). After other medical procedures, when he couldn't drive to the studio, he just broadcast from home. He was named to the North Carolina Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 1996.[1] [9][10] Meeks announced his retirement at the end of 2009.[11]

Winfred Red "Diamond" Carter was a WMFR personality for 17 years, playing [The Beatles](/source/The_Beatles), [Elvis Presley](/source/Elvis_Presley), and [country](/source/Country_music) and [big band](/source/Big_band) music. His [Greensboro News & Record](/source/Greensboro_News_%26_Record) obituary said "He was a natural on the radio, warm and chatty, almost like he was sitting in your living room or the front seat of your car. He would take a minute out of every program to read a poem, most of which he had written."[12]

Changes made in 1992 by the [Federal Communications Commission](/source/Federal_Communications_Commission) allowed a company to own more radio stations than previously possible. Voyager Communications owned WMFR, WMAG and [WNEU](/source/WPTI) and would be allowed to sell them in 1994.[13] WNEU was sold to Radio Equity Partners, owner of [WSJS](/source/WSJS) and [WTQR](/source/WTQR), later that year.[14]

In 1994, [WGLD](/source/WCOG_(AM)), at 1320 AM, dropped its [adult standards](/source/Adult_standards) format for [all-news radio](/source/All-news_radio) and began airing Dennis Elliott's WMFR "Opinion Please" show.[15]

In 1995, HMW Communications moved its four stations—WMFR, WMAG, WWWB (which was WGLD) and [WFXF](/source/WMKS)—to a location outside Greensboro, though news director Larry Craven continued to do a morning program from the old High Point studios. Wes Jones hosted "Tell Your Neighbor", but he had a producer for the first time—Tom Jorgensen.[16]

In 1996, SFX Broadcasting purchased the HMW stations.[17] In 1997, WMFR and the other SFX stations were purchased by the [Capstar Broadcasting](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Capstar_Broadcasting&action=edit&redlink=1) affiliate of [Hicks, Muse, Tate & Furst Broadcasting Corp.](/source/HM_Capital_Partners) of [Dallas, Texas](/source/Dallas%2C_Texas).[18] On July 14, 1999, the company formed by the merger of Capstar and [Chancellor Media Corp.](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Chancellor_Media_Corp.&action=edit&redlink=1) began trading as AMFM Inc.,[19] a company which in turn merged with [Clear Channel Communications](/source/Clear_Channel_Communications) in a deal announced October 4, 1999.[20]

In 1998, WMFR programming was once again heard on 1320 AM (called WTCK at the time), which had changed its format to [sports talk](/source/Sports_talk), which did not prove successful. Among the programs on WMFR at the time were *[Larry King Live](/source/Larry_King_Live)* and *[CBS Radio Mystery Theater](/source/CBS_Radio_Mystery_Theater)*.[21]

In 2001, after [Infinity Broadcasting](/source/Infinity_Broadcasting) purchased the station (as well as WSJS and its simulcast partner [WSML](/source/WSML)), WMFR added [Paul Harvey](/source/Paul_Harvey) and *[The Fabulous Sports Babe](/source/The_Fabulous_Sports_Babe)*, and a local talk show hosted by program director Elliott replaced [Dr. Toni Grant](/source/Toni_Grant) in the late afternoon. Other changes included a weekly financial talk show and a show about area businesses.[6] Later in 2001, WMFR added [Sean Hannity](/source/Sean_Hannity) on weekdays other than Wednesday, replacing Elliott, and Meeks' morning show added more news, focusing more on the Triad as a whole. WSJS began helping WMFR with its news coverage.[22]

On February 14, 2007, WMFR (along with WSJS and WSML) was sold by [CBS Radio](/source/CBS_Radio) (formerly Infinity) to Raleigh-based [Curtis Media Group](/source/Curtis_Media_Group). The move partnered WSJS with FM news/talk station WZTK, which covers both the Triad and Triangle (as well as southern Virginia and as far south as Fayetteville).[23][24]

WMFR dropped its long-standing [news/talk](/source/Talk_radio) format on July 15, 2010, switching to sports radio programming.[25]

In January 2022, it was announced that Curtis Media Group would sell WMFR and WPCM to Triad Media Partners. Curtis Media sold WSJS one month prior, meaning these stations were Curtis Media's last properties in the Piedmont Triad market.[26]

On June 22, 2022, WMFR began stunting with country-based [Christmas music](/source/Christmas_music) as "The Christmas Channel".[27] On July 15, 2022, WMFR ended stunting and launched a country music format, branded as "104.5 The Rebel", with 5,000 songs commercial free.[27]

## Previous sports programming

WMFR previously aired [syndicated programming](/source/Radio_syndication), both national programming from [ESPN Radio](/source/ESPN_Radio) (including *Keyshawn, JWill and Max*, as well as its nighttime and weekend programs) and the regionally syndicated show *The David Glenn Show* (simulcast from [WCMC-FM](/source/WCMC-FM) in Raleigh), and *The Drive, with Taylor Zarzour and Marc James* (simulcast from [WFNZ](/source/WFNZ_(AM)) in [Charlotte](/source/Charlotte%2C_North_Carolina)). It also carried [Appalachian State Mountaineers](/source/Appalachian_State_Mountaineers) football and basketball and [High Point University](/source/High_Point_University) Panthers basketball, as well as select additional local sports coverage.[25] Most of WMFR's programming was simulcast with WCOG (the former WGLD/WWWB/WTCK) and WSML; all three stations broke away to carry certain programming as necessary.[28]

## Translator

Broadcast translator for WMFR Call sign Frequency City of license FID ERP (W) Class Transmitter coordinates FCC info W283CV 104.5 FM High Point, North Carolina 200582 150 D 35°57′21.5″N 80°0′21.1″W / 35.955972°N 80.005861°W / 35.955972; -80.005861 (W283CV) LMS

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-schlosser_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-schlosser_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-schlosser_1-2) Jim Schlosser, "60 Years: WMFR Seeks Relics," *Greensboro News & Record*, February 3, 1995.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FCC-LMS-73257_2-0)** ["Facility Technical Data for WMFR"](https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/public/tv/publicFacilityTechDetails.html?facilityId=73257). *Licensing and Management System*. [Federal Communications Commission](/source/Federal_Communications_Commission).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["WMFR Facility Record"](https://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/amq?call=WMFR). *United States [Federal Communications Commission](/source/Federal_Communications_Commission), audio division*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Eric Dyer, "Thomasville Revives Hi-Toms," *Greensboro News & Record*, March 1, 1999.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Patrick Wilson, "Special Person - Broadcaster Charlie Harville Was 'Respected by Everyone in Sports,'" *Winston-Salem Journal*, March 3, 2002.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-firesheets_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-firesheets_6-1) Tina Adams Firesheets, "WMFR Will Debut Revamped Lineup - High Point's Talk-Radio Station Will Ring in 2001 with New Local and Syndicated Shows," *Greensboro News & Record*, December 30, 2000.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Tarah Holland, "Old Art Deco Letters Show Faces Again," *Greensboro News & Record*, September 30, 2005.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Raleigh-Durham FM Dial"](https://web.archive.org/web/20030201081556/http://www.geocities.com/rdurw/fm.html). Archived from [the original](http://www.geocities.com/rdurw/fm.html) on February 1, 2003. Retrieved May 5, 2010.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Debra D. Bass, "Max in the Morning: The Homey Voice Listeners Turn On, Off," *Greensboro News & Record*, September 6, 2000.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** John Temple, "Max Meeks - Learning New Tricks," *Greensboro News & Record*, November 18, 1996.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** Kimbrough, Pat (December 2, 2009). ["Radio icon retiring"](http://hpe.com/pages/full_story/push?article-Radio+icon+retiring%20&id=4971658-Radio+icon+retiring&instance=most_popular). *[High Point Enterprise](/source/High_Point_Enterprise)*. Retrieved December 3, 2009.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** Bob Burchette, "Longtime Radio Voice Silenced," *Greensboro News & Record*, August 25, 2004.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** Sheila Long, "Revision of Ownership Rules Allows Sale of Radio Stations," *Greensboro News & Record*, January 10, 1994.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** Leigh Pressley, "Country Radio Station Gets New Owner," *Greensboro News & Record*, September 22, 1994.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** Jacob Stohler, "Oldies Radio Station Goes to All News WGLD (1320 AM)," *Greensboro News & Record*, July 22, 1994.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** Lex Alexander, "Four Radio Stations Relocate, Spread Out," *Greensboro News & Record*, May 27, 1995.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** Susan Ladd, "4 Triad Radio Stations Under New Ownership," *Greensboro News & Record*, July 3, 1996

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** "Firm Becomes Third-Largest Radio Group," *Greensboro News & Record*, August 26, 1997.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** "Briefing," *The Denver Post*, July 14, 1999.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** "Radio Company Proposes $23 Billion Merger," *Winston-Salem Journal*, October 5, 1999.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-21)** Ed Hardin, "Sound of Silence Soon to Dominate Local Sports Radio," *Greensboro News & Record*, July 31, 1998.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-22)** Mark Binker, "Radio Station Undergoing Changes - Dennis Elliott's WMFR Show Has Been Replaced by a National Program," *Greensboro News & Record*, December 5, 2001.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-23)** Richard Craver, "Curtis Media Group Plans to Buy WSJS," *Winston-Salem Journal*, November 23, 2006.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-24)** "Baptist Turns in Application for Imaging Center," *Winston-Salem Journal*, February 15, 2007.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-rim-wmfrsports_25-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-rim-wmfrsports_25-1) ["Curtis Forms Triad Sports Network"](https://web.archive.org/web/20120227043120/http://www.radioink.com/Article.asp?id=1875838&spid=24698). *Radio Ink*. July 14, 2010. Archived from [the original](http://www.radioink.com/Article.asp?id=1875838&spid=24698) on February 27, 2012. Retrieved July 19, 2010.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-stationsalejan2022_26-0)** Venta, Lance (January 14, 2022). ["Station Sales Week Of 1/14: Curtis Media Sells Remainder Of Greensboro/Winston-Salem Properties"](https://radioinsight.com/headlines/218516/station-sales-week-of-1-14-curtis-media-sells-remainder-of-greensboro-winston-salem-properties/). *RadioInsight*. Retrieved January 18, 2022.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-rebel_27-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-rebel_27-1) [Rebel 104.5 Debuts in High Point](https://radioinsight.com/headlines/229712/christmas-comes-to-high-point/) Radioinsight - July 19, 2022

1. **[^](#cite_ref-wxii-wmfrsports_28-0)** ["Curtis Media Launches Triad Sports Radio Network"](http://www.wxii12.com/news/24284349/detail.html). *[WXII12.com](/source/WXII-TV)*. July 16, 2010. Retrieved July 19, 2010.

## External links

- [FCC History Cards for WMFR](https://cdbs.recnet.com/corres/?doc=65055)

- [Facility details for Facility ID 73257 (WMFR)](https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/public/tv/publicFacilityDetails.html?facilityId=73257) in the [FCC](/source/Federal_Communications_Commission) Licensing and Management System

- [WMFR](https://www1.arbitron.com/sip/displaySip.do?surveyID=SP26&band=am&callLetter=WMFR) in [Nielsen Audio](/source/Nielsen_Audio)'s AM station database

- [Facility details for Facility ID 200582 (W283CV)](https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/public/tv/publicFacilityDetails.html?facilityId=200582) in the [FCC](/source/Federal_Communications_Commission) Licensing and Management System

- [W283CV](https://fccdata.org/?facid=&call=W283CV&ccode=1&city=&state=&country=US&zip=&arn=&party=&lmspf=&lmspl=&party_type=LICEN&latd=&lond=&lang=en) at FCCdata.org

v t e Radio stations in Greensboro, Winston-Salem, and High Point, North Carolina (the Piedmont Triad) By AM frequency 600 700 740 790 830 880 920 950 980 1040 1070 1090 1200 1230 1300 1320 1340 1380 1400 1420 1440 1470 1490 1500 1510 1520 1550 1560 1590 By FM frequency 88.5 89.3 WBFJ-FM WSOE 89.5 90.1 90.5 90.9 91.1 91.3 92.3 93.1 94.1 94.5 95.5 97.1 98.1 98.3 98.7 99.5 100.3 101.1 102.1 103.1 104.1 105.7 106.7 107.5 LPFM 96.5 99.9 100.7 101.7 103.1 WEOM-LP WFEC-LP 105.1 107.9 Translators 88.9 92.7 W224CO W224CP 93.5 93.7 95.1 95.9 96.3 W242CC W242CD 96.7 97.7 W249BZ W249CN 99.1 99.9 W260BG W260CG 101.5 102.5 102.7 W274AL W274BO 103.5 W278AM W278BM 104.5 104.7 104.9 106.1 W291DD W291DM 106.9 107.1 Digital radio by frequency & subchannel 88.5-1 88.5-2 88.5-3 93.1-1 93.1-2 94.5-1 99.5-1 99.5-2 102.1-1 102.1-2 104.1-1 By call sign W205CP W224CO W224CP W228BE W229CH W236AL W240CU W242CC W242CD W244CD W249BZ W249CN W256DR W260BG W260CG W268CG W273DH W274AL W274BO W278AM W278BM W283BT W284BN W285EU W291DD W291DM W295CE W296CV WBFJ WBFJ-FM WBLO WBRF WCOG WDFC-LP WDSL WEAL WEJM-LP WEOM-LP WFDD HD2 HD3 WFEC-LP WFOZ-LP WGOS WHPE-FM WIST-FM WJMH HD2 WKEW WKRR WKTE WKVK WKZL WLJF-LP WLOE WLUL-LP WLXN WMAG HD2 WMFR WMKS WMYN WNAA WPAQ WPAW HD2 WPCM WPET WPIP WPOL WPTI WQFS WQMG WSGH WSJS WSML WSMW WSMX WSNC WSOE WSSY-LP WSYD WTJY WTOB WTQR WTRU WUAG WUNW-FM WVBZ WWBG WWLV WWNT WXRI WYMY WYSR WYZD WZOO Defunct stations WBIG (1470 AM) WJOS (1540 AM) WLHJ (1640 AM) WRNC (1600 AM) Nearby regions Charlotte Fayetteville Raleigh-Durham Roanoke Rapids-South Hill Southwest Virginia Southside See also List of radio stations in North Carolina

v t e Country radio stations in the state of North Carolina Stations WACB – Taylorsville WAGY – Forest City WBHN – Bryson City WBRM – Marion WCAB – Rutherfordton WCBT – Roanoke Rapids WCSL - Cherryville WCVP – Murphy WCVP-FM – Robbinsville WDSL – Mocksville WDWG – Rocky Mount WFAY - Fayetteville WFSC – Franklin WHKP - Hendersonville WIID - Rodanthe WIXE – Monroe WIZS – Henderson WKBC – North Wilkesboro WKKT – Statesville WKML – Lumberton WKOO – Rose Hill WKRK – Murphy WKRX – Roxboro WKSF – Old Fort WKSK – West Jefferson WKVS – Lenoir WKXR – Asheboro WKYK – Burnsville WLGT - Washington WMFR - High Point WMMY – Jefferson WMNC – Morganton WMNC-FM – Morganton WNBB – Bayboro WNCB – Cary WNCC – Franklin WNTB – Topsail Beach WPAQ – Mount Airy WPAW – Winston-Salem WPTL – Canton WPTM – Roanoke Rapids WPYB – Benson WQDK – Gatesville WQDR-FM – Raleigh WRNS-FM – Kinston WRSF – Columbia WSME – Camp Lejeune WSML - Graham WSOC-FM – Charlotte WSTK - Aurora WSTP – Salisbury WTAB – Tabor City WTQR – Winston-Salem WWMY – Beech Mountain WWQQ-FM – Wilmington WYRN – Louisburg WZGM – Black Mountain WZKT – Walnut Creek See also adult contemporary classic hits college country news/talk NPR oldies religious rock sports top 40 urban other radio stations in North Carolina

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [WMFR](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WMFR) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WMFR?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.