Gaylord Broadcasting Co.

Description

Craig was determined that the call letters of the new radio station would be "WSM" to reflect National Life's motto: "We Shield Millions." Unfortunately, the U.S. Navy had already been assigned those letters. Undeterred, Craig successfully petitioned the Secretary of Commerce to transfer the call letters and thus was born WSM. With characteristic foresight, Craig and National Life sought out the best and the brightest to build and operate their new enterprise. Thomas L. Parks, a former ship board radio operator, was hired on as the Chief Radio Engineer. Parks and his brilliant young Assistant Engineer John H. DeWitt (who would later go on to become president of the station), installed the first thousand-watt transmitter at the antenna site on Fifteenth Avenue, South in downtown Nashville. WSM's first official broadcast day was October 5, 1925. As the eight o'clock opening ceremony approached, hundreds of intrigued Nashvillians gathered beneath the loudspeakers mounted on the corners of Seventh and Union. Others crouched over their improvised radio sets at home listening over their ear pieces. Meanwhile, upstairs in the National Life Building, a group of company executives, government officials and invited guests were busy getting ready for the hallmark event.

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