View source for WGOL

{{Infobox radio station
| name             = WGOL
| logo             = WGOLlogo.png
| city             = [[Russellville, Alabama|Russellville]], [[Alabama]]
| area             =
| branding         = ''Real Country 920''
| frequency        = 920 AM ([[kilohertz|kHz]])
| airdate          = May 29, [[1949 in radio|1949]]<ref name="hist1"/>
| format           = [[Classic Country]]
| power            = 1,000 [[watt]]s (day)<br/>40 watts (night)
| class            = D
| facility_id      = 60506
| coordinates      = {{coord|34|30|50|N|87|42|55|W}}
| callsign_meaning =
| former_callsigns = WWWR (1949–1987)<br/>WJRD (1987–1998)<ref name="fcc1"/>
| affiliations     =
| owner            = Pilati Investments Corp.
| licensee         =
| sister_stations  = [[WKAX]]
| webcast          = [http://www.wgolam.com/listen.html Listen Live]
| website          = [http://www.wgolam.com/ wgolam.com]
| licensing_authority= [[Federal Communications Commission|FCC]]
}}
'''WGOL''' (920 [[AM broadcasting|AM]], "Real Country 920") is a [[radio station]] [[city of license|licensed]] to serve [[Russellville, Alabama]], United States.  The station is owned by Pilati Investments Corporation.
==Programming==
WGOL broadcasts a [[Classic Country]] music format in [[C-QUAM]] [[AM Stereo]].<ref name="arb1">{{cite web |work=Arbitron |url=http://www.arbitron.com/ |title=Station Information Profile}}</ref>
In addition to its usual music programming, WGOL carries significant sports programming as a member of the [[Alabama Crimson Tide]] Sports Network. This includes [[Alabama Crimson Tide football]],<ref>{{cite web |work=RollTide.com - The official website of the University of Alabama Athletics |title=Football Radio Network |access-date=2008-11-04 |url=http://www.rolltide.com/multimedia/footbl-radio-network.html}}</ref> [[Alabama Crimson Tide men's basketball|men's basketball]],<ref>{{cite web |work=RollTide.com |title=Men's Basketball Radio Network |access-date=2008-11-04 |url=http://www.rolltide.com/multimedia/m-baskbl-radio-network.html}}</ref> women's basketball,<ref>{{cite web |work=RollTide.com |title=Women's Basketball Radio Network |access-date=2008-11-04 |url=http://www.rolltide.com/multimedia/w-baskbl-radio-network.html}}</ref> [[Alabama Crimson Tide baseball|baseball]],<ref>{{cite web |work=RollTide.com |title=Baseball Radio Network |access-date=2008-11-04 |url=http://www.rolltide.com/multimedia/basebl-radio-network.html}}</ref> and the ''Hey Coach'' call-in show with Crimson Tide head coaches.<ref>{{cite web |work=RollTide.com |title=Hey Coach |access-date=2008-11-04 |url=http://www.rolltide.com/multimedia/hey-coach.html}}</ref>
==History==
This station first [[signed on]] in [[1949 in radio|1949]] as '''WWWR'''.<ref name="hist1">{{cite web |publisher=WGOL |title=About WGOL |url=http://www.wgolam.com/about.html}}</ref><ref name="fcc1">{{cite web |work=FCC Media Bureau CDBS Public Access Database |url=http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/call_hist.pl?Facility_id=60506&Callsign=WGOL |title=Call Sign History}}</ref>
WWWR made national headlines in early 1950 when a three-foot rattlesnake forced the radio station off the air for "more than an hour."<ref name="ny5">{{cite news |work=The New York Times Magazine |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1950/03/05/archives/beasts-vs-man.html |title=Beasts vs. Man |date=March 5, 1950 |page=172}}</ref> Engineers discovered the snake had "crawled into the tuning unit, [[Short circuit|shorting the circuit]]."<ref name="ny5"/>
In March 1986, SIS Sound of Russellville, Inc. reached an agreement to purchase WWWR from Franklin Broadcasting, Inc.<ref name="fcj">{{cite web |title=Application Search Details (BAL-19860304EH) |publisher=FCC Media Bureau |date=1986-10-28 |url=http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/app_det.pl?Application_id=86256}}</ref> The deal was approved by the [[Federal Communications Commission]] on June 4, 1986, and the transaction was consummated on October 28, 1986.<ref name="fcj"/> The station's new owners had the FCC assign new call letters '''WJRD''' on August 17, 1987.<ref name="fcc1"/>
On November 15, 1997, William A. Grant Jr., the owner of WJRD license holder SIS Sound of Russellville, Inc., died.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ssdi.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/ssdi.cgi |work=Social Security Death Index |title=Search Results |access-date=2008-11-03}}</ref> In March 1998, control of the company passed involuntarily to William A. Grant III and Walter B. Grant.<ref name="fcd">{{cite web |url=http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/app_det.pl?Application_id=263193 |title=Application Search Details (BTC-19980306GO) |publisher=FCC Media Bureau |date=1998-05-21}}</ref> The [[Federal Communications Commission]] approved this transfer on May 21, 1998, and it was formally consummated on the same day.<ref name="fcd"/> The station was immediately put up for sale.
In June 1998, McCurry Broadcasting Company, Inc. reached an agreement to purchase WJRD from SIS Sound of Russellville, Inc.<ref name="fc8">{{cite web |title=Application Search Details (BAL-19980615EF) |publisher=FCC Media Bureau |date=1998-08-12 |url=http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/app_det.pl?Application_id=269808}}</ref> The deal was approved by the FCC on July 29, 1998, and the transaction was consummated on August 12, 1998.<ref name="fc8"/> The new owners applied for and received new call letters '''WGOL''' from the FCC on August 17, 1998.<ref name="fcc1"/>
In December 1999, Wanda Patricia Underwood reached an agreement to purchase WGOL from McCurry Broadcasting Company, Inc.<ref name="fc7">{{cite web |title=Application Search Details (BAL-19991025AEV) |publisher=FCC Media Bureau |date=2000-01-24 |url=http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/app_det.pl?Application_id=423859}}</ref> The deal was approved by the FCC on January 20, 2000, and the transaction was consummated on January 24, 2000.<ref name="fc7"/>
In April 2005, Pilati Investments Corporation (Karl H. Pilati, president) reached an agreement to purchase WGOL from Wanda Patricia Underwood.<ref name="fc3">{{cite web |title=Application Search Details (BAL-20050405AAG) |publisher=FCC Media Bureau |date=2005-08-31 |url=http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/app_det.pl?Application_id=1062360}}</ref> The station sold for a reported $171,500.<ref>{{cite news |date=2005-04-18 |url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA525317.html?q=WGOL |work=Broadcasting & Cable |title=Deals - 4/18/2005}}</ref> The FCC approved the deal on August 25, 2005, and the transaction was consummated on August 31, 2005.<ref name="fc3"/>
==References==
{{reflist|2}}
==External links==
* [http://www.wgolam.com/ WGOL official website]
{{AM station data|60506|WGOL}}
* [https://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/getimportletter_exh.cgi?import_letter_id=68918 FCC History Cards for WGOL]
{{Country Radio Stations in Alabama}}
{{AM Stereo radio stations}}
[[Category:Radio stations in Alabama|GOL]]
[[Category:Classic country radio stations in the United States]]
[[Category:Sports radio stations in the United States]]
[[Category:Radio stations established in 1949]]
[[Category:Franklin County, Alabama]]
[[Category:1949 establishments in Alabama]]