A daily look into one of the world's largest collections of radio station bumper stickers and memorabilia.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
WUNI
WUNI was a Country station in Mobile, Alabama from 1963 until 1984. The call letters stood for "you and I" and their mascot was known as the Woonie Bird. 1410 AM now carries a Catholic format as WNGL "Archangel Radio."
My dad was the engineer for this radio station from the very beginning even after it changed ownership. He passed away in Jan 2004. Lots of fond memories. We still have one of the original Woonie Bird pins and a few photos of the radio van he had for putting on remotes. Called, The WUNI Wagon.
Sorry that I'm just now replying to these two comments about WUNI and my dad. My mom and dad had eight children. I'm second to the oldest, Betty Sue. I have so many WUNI items, papers and some pictures my dad saved. Not sure if this site lets you post any pictures, but I will if I can. I'm in the process of moving so it may take me a little while to gather them.
This comment is exactly why I was looking up this particular radio station to see if I could get a picture to share with his children, he was not my blood but he was an uncle to me and my siblings,we loved him very much ,was always laughing and cutting up with us ,lots of fond memories with him and aunt Teresa Robinson Cleveland
I worked this station for a couple of years as Clint Gates around 1980-82. We did female wrestling on remote and at the fair and had many good fun announcers.
I was there as PD for a short time around '81, but I'm afraid I don't remember your name. Bonnie Parker was GM. Doug Walker, Randall Posey ("The Real Ron Richards"), Alice Williamson, and newsman Mike Springer are all I can recall.
I was a mid day dj on Woonie in 1966-68 as Cliff Cole, went off to finish college, back in 1971 as News Director Les Coleman. By 1978 I was RKO Radio Network White House Correspondent. (233 stations ).
Great to see some of the old "cast" from Woonie on here! I was doing overnights in '82 with PD Mike Malone, Kirby K Stevens, and Doug Walker in the newsroom then moved up to afternoons when Tillis turned it into WMML. WUNI was a great station with the best staff!
I worked with Mike Malone at Wizard-104 (WIZD-FM) before and after he became the PD. I was saddened some years back to hear of his passing. He was a great guy.
I worked with Mike in the 70s with Kirby k stevens my real name was Michael, but there were already 2 other Michaels, so it was changed to Mark. Sorry to hear that Mike passed away.
I worked there doing all nights in 1984-85 after it changed its call letters to WMML and Mel Tillis owned the station. I worked with Ricky Barnes, Doug Walker, Bill Black, Kathy Richardson, Charlie Moss and Gary "Valley" Hill. I still keep in touch with Charlie Moss and Gary Hill. I'm sorry that I can't remember the Chief Engineers name, Jimmy comes to mind but not sure. A week before I hopped over to WABB-AM 1480, Hurricane Elena hit us and we were all cooped up in the studio, including the engineer. We managed to keep it on air most of the night but the transmitter was on the causeway and got flooded and knocked us off the air around 4 am. My airname was "Denny Williams". Its my real name reversed. Bill Dennis. I stayed in radio until 1991 and my last job was at THE WAVE 96.1 (WAVH-FM). I've been a computer programmer since. I now live in Orlando, FL
Kirby K. Stevens a.k.a David Kirby was the morning man there in the late 70's. I think Mike Malone hired him. Kathy Richardson was news director. Kirby lives in the house right behind mine.
The Engineer was Jimmy Burns. Bill, I worked at WUNI 2 different times. I did afternoons as Gary Valley, because I also worked at another FM station as Gary Hill. I left town and came back a year or Two later then worked there when it became WMML. I was music Dir. Still have the Gold Record for Crystal Gale"s Miss the Mississippi LP.
I lived in Mobile as a young child in 1965. I was going through an old jewelry box and found my old treasured WUNI bird pin!! This brings back such great memories from my childhood.
I still have my WUNI Bird pin given to me by my husband’s uncle Herman “HAPPY” Wainwright as he was performing live on a flatbed truck with his country music for the radio station. They were there to advertise a mobile home (trailer) sales lot. Sadly he passed away unexpectedly from a massive heart attack in 1968. He was survived by his loving wife and 7 children.
I was hired by Mike to do overnights. There were already two mikes there so my air name was Mark Chapman. i loved Mobile. worked with Kirby K.. he also worked in Charlotte, my home town. We all went throgh a bad station management takeover... let go most of the staff. including Mike... worst mistake they made.... i went on to work part-time at Wabb fm with scooter McCloud... woul love to hear from them.
⭐WOW! Talk about a blast from the past! I worked there in ad sales in the early 80's. Mike Malone was station manager and Bonnie Parker, sales manager hired me. In addition to selling ads, I ventured into marketing and was involved in the revival of the WUNI Bird. I even donned the yellow costume and allowed them to hoist me in a bucket crane for the Great WUNI Bird Egg Drop. I for real haven't thought about this in decades. Thanks so much for the whimsical walk down memory lane. ❤️
I worked in sales there in 1980. I remember Bonnie Parker, Mike Malone and Jim Trajan. I dressed in the WUNI Bird costume and was hoisted up in a bucket truck for the Great WUNI Bird Egg Drop promotion. Wow! Talk about a blast from the past!
My dad was the engineer for this radio station from the very beginning even after it changed ownership. He passed away in Jan 2004. Lots of fond memories. We still have one of the original Woonie Bird pins and a few photos of the radio van he had for putting on remotes. Called, The WUNI Wagon.
ReplyDeleteThat would be Jimmy Burns which one of his kids would you be?
DeleteJimmy Burns was my friend and taught me so much about engineering. I miss him.
DeleteRicky Barnes - Former Woonie Bird
Sorry that I'm just now replying to these two comments about WUNI and my dad. My mom and dad had eight children. I'm second to the oldest, Betty Sue. I have so many WUNI items, papers and some pictures my dad saved. Not sure if this site lets you post any pictures, but I will if I can. I'm in the process of moving so it may take me a little while to gather them.
Deletemy uncle marvin had a job as dressing up as a wuni bird for special events the station had.
ReplyDeleteThis comment is exactly why I was looking up this particular radio station to see if I could get a picture to share with his children, he was not my blood but he was an uncle to me and my siblings,we loved him very much ,was always laughing and cutting up with us ,lots of fond memories with him and aunt Teresa Robinson Cleveland
DeleteI knew Marvin very well. We worked many remotes together. Ricky Barnes
DeleteI worked this station for a couple of years as Clint Gates around 1980-82. We did female wrestling on remote and at the fair and had many good fun announcers.
ReplyDeleteI was there as PD for a short time around '81, but I'm afraid I don't remember your name. Bonnie Parker was GM. Doug Walker, Randall Posey ("The Real Ron Richards"), Alice Williamson, and newsman Mike Springer are all I can recall.
DeleteI was a mid day dj on Woonie in 1966-68 as Cliff Cole, went off to finish college, back in 1971 as News Director Les Coleman. By 1978 I was RKO Radio Network White House Correspondent. (233 stations ).
ReplyDeleteGreat to see some of the old "cast" from Woonie on here! I was doing overnights in '82 with PD Mike Malone, Kirby K Stevens, and Doug Walker in the newsroom then moved up to afternoons when Tillis turned it into WMML. WUNI was a great station with the best staff!
ReplyDeleteI worked with Mike Malone at Wizard-104 (WIZD-FM) before and after he became the PD. I was saddened some years back to hear of his passing. He was a great guy.
DeleteI worked with Mike in the 70s with Kirby k stevens my real name was Michael, but there were already 2 other Michaels, so it was changed to Mark. Sorry to hear that Mike passed away.
DeleteWell Joe Joe Davis....you'll pop up anywhere. Ricky Barnes
DeleteI have a Mic from WUNI 1410 looks real cool does any one have an intrest in old mic my email is iampopeye60@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteIf it is a Sennheiser, it was the on-air mic we used. many stations still use it. i own one myself.
Delete4D21?
DeleteDo you still have that mic, Allen? Does it have a mic flag with it?
DeleteReach me, better yet, as this address: yipeitsdjj@yahoo.com
Promo mics
DeleteI worked there doing all nights in 1984-85 after it changed its call letters to WMML and Mel Tillis owned the station. I worked with Ricky Barnes, Doug Walker, Bill Black, Kathy Richardson, Charlie Moss and Gary "Valley" Hill. I still keep in touch with Charlie Moss and Gary Hill. I'm sorry that I can't remember the Chief Engineers name, Jimmy comes to mind but not sure. A week before I hopped over to WABB-AM 1480, Hurricane Elena hit us and we were all cooped up in the studio, including the engineer. We managed to keep it on air most of the night but the transmitter was on the causeway and got flooded and knocked us off the air around 4 am. My airname was "Denny Williams". Its my real name reversed. Bill Dennis. I stayed in radio until 1991 and my last job was at THE WAVE 96.1 (WAVH-FM). I've been a computer programmer since. I now live in Orlando, FL
ReplyDeleteHey guy. I remember you well. Hope all is well with you.
DeleteRicky Barnes
Kirby K. Stevens a.k.a David Kirby was the morning man there in the late 70's. I think Mike Malone hired him. Kathy Richardson was news director. Kirby lives in the house right behind mine.
ReplyDeleteThe Engineer was Jimmy Burns. Bill, I worked at WUNI 2 different times. I did afternoons as Gary Valley, because I also worked at another FM station as Gary Hill. I left town and came back a year or Two later then worked there when it became WMML. I was music Dir. Still have the Gold Record for Crystal Gale"s Miss the Mississippi LP.
ReplyDeleteGreat memories being a destructing and Woody bird in the 70s. Last job was at WWL in New orleans. What are you talking about there's some water
DeleteSorry. Last sentence makes no sense I know. It caught a few of my wife's words in the background.
DeleteThat's hilarious!!
DeleteDidn't a fellow named Chip Monk work for WUNI?
ReplyDeleteCharlie Monk
DeleteI lived in Mobile as a young child in 1965. I was going through an old jewelry box and found my old treasured WUNI bird pin!! This brings back such great memories from my childhood.
ReplyDeleteI still have my WUNI Bird pin given to me by my husband’s uncle Herman “HAPPY” Wainwright as he was performing live on a flatbed truck with his country music for the radio station. They were there to advertise a mobile home (trailer) sales lot. Sadly he passed away unexpectedly from a massive heart attack in 1968. He was survived by his loving wife and 7 children.
ReplyDeleteI was hired by Mike to do overnights. There were already two mikes there so my air name was Mark Chapman. i loved Mobile. worked with Kirby K.. he also worked in Charlotte, my home town. We all went throgh a bad station management takeover... let go most of the staff. including Mike... worst mistake they made.... i went on to work part-time at Wabb fm with scooter McCloud... woul love to hear from them.
ReplyDeleteMy grandfather, Rocky Reich worked at WUNI for a bit!
ReplyDelete⭐WOW! Talk about a blast from the past! I worked there in ad sales in the early 80's. Mike Malone was station manager and Bonnie Parker, sales manager hired me. In addition to selling ads, I ventured into marketing and was involved in the revival of the WUNI Bird. I even donned the yellow costume and allowed them to hoist me in a bucket crane for the Great WUNI Bird Egg Drop. I for real haven't thought about this in decades. Thanks so much for the whimsical walk down memory lane. ❤️
ReplyDeleteI worked in sales there in 1980. I remember Bonnie Parker, Mike Malone and Jim Trajan. I dressed in the WUNI Bird costume and was hoisted up in a bucket truck for the Great WUNI Bird Egg Drop promotion. Wow! Talk about a blast from the past!
ReplyDelete