



Contributor Frank Derak:
Wes Hobby was the operations manager and did a record show with music from the 40’s and 50’s during the mid day and Frank was the inland marine reporter, trailering a marine boat equipped with weather and fishing information gear. Frank traveled to various inland lakes (Zoar, Candlewood, Compounce) plus off shore Long Island Sound locations in our coverage area. Great assignment covering all water beauty pageants, board shows, water ski shows and he reported on marine weather and fishing conditions Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
Steve Powers joined our staff as News Director, with Jim McLean, Gordon Bensing, and Allan Fletcher. Other personalties included Don Richeson who later became GM of WADS and Tim Richmond.
We had the reliable music host, and on air talents of Vin Roberts who would come through for us in many emergencies. Wes, Frank, Steve, Vin, Syd, Don and Mary contributed time and effort on behalf of the station to the Valley Association for Retarded Children and Adults.
The weekends were filled with ethnic programming including a Polish show starting Victor and Sophie Zembrusky. We even had a world famous entertainer on the air. Rose Ria, who lived in the area, who was the organist for many years on “All My Children”, featured on the NBC Radio Network.
I must not forget the office staff, Contributor Mark P. Chudwick:
I joined the news staff of WADS in 1977 after graduating from journalism school at the University of Bridgeport. Station was located in glass-enclosed studios at the former Ansonia Mall. Kenneth Dawson owned the station at that time. News Director was Bill Grant, on air folks included Dean Pepin, Walter Short, Tony Napoleon, Steven B (Ed Zel), Jack Whitten. Station GM was Tim Clark. Place was held together by Receptionist Fran Tuttle and Payroll Specialist Jeanne Tarby. Our meteorologist was Dr. Mel Goldstein.
Bill Grant returned to our sister station, WKND, and new News Director was Fred Landau. Fred instituted Walt Dibble-like news reporting with lots of local sound and V/Os. We personally covered a lot of local news, including as many as three municipal meetings in a single night and ran a lot of local sound. Station won several AP news awards during my time there, which ran until 1981. Biggest event was our 24-hour emergency coverage of the Blizzard of ’78 when skeleton air and news staff lived at the station for three days broadcasting emergency information. Fellow news reporters included John Noonan, Nancy Langdon, Dave Goodale, Scott Thompson, Becky Soukkup, Kerry Kowanowski. Sports guys included Ed Clements (Clem Najar) and Mike Harmon (Cliff Hennessy)."
Contributor Angelo A.Vecchiarelli:
"Dan Walker, Paul Daley and Brad Harris 1970 WADS. I
worked from 1969 thru 1986 on the air started with WLAE
93.7, WFIF, WKCI, WCCC with Rusty for almost 3 years we put
on all request radio together, my best buddy.. then onto
WICC, WWCO, WNVR, WDRC I started the first Co-ED morning
team in Ct Dan Walker and Suzanne Haze. Feel free to call me
if you need some nostalgia."
Contributor Peter J. Danielczuk:
"I started at WADS on weekends in 1971 when I was attending the University of CT. Don Richardson was the GM, Brad Harris was the Program Director and News Director. When I graduated in 1973, I became the morning show host and also did Radio Classified. Later in 1975 Brad Harris became GM and I became News Director. I left WADS in 1976 and later returned to do Polka Shows with Dick Yash and then on my own.. Went on to WWCO, WDJZ and WICC with my Polka Celebration shows. I also remember working with Paul Daley, Wayne Norman and Berry Berman who later started his own CT network. Also Gary Zenobia. Besides Southern CT WADS also had a lot of listeners on Long Island."
Contributor Richard Phillips: