It began on November 20, 1975, with the creation of WVLC -The Voice of Loyola College. The carrier current AM broadcast system reached into dorms on campus from it’s studios under the cafeteria in the student center. Founded by John Franklin (’76), former news editor at the Greyhound and built by Jay Guyther (’78), the station was in operation until 1996. Call letter conflicts with a licensed station required the change in 1976 to WLCR – Loyola College Radio, which it remained until closing in 1996 due to the renovation and expansion of the student center. A group of students restarted radio at Loyola with the opening of WLOY in the fall of 2002 with a small startup staff. After training and planning were complete, the new WLOY went into full time operations on March 19, 2003. Since that time the station has been broadcasting 24-7-365 from studios in Bellarmine Hall on the West side of campus.
Oddly, it appears both former call letter sets are now in use in the same region of Kentucky. WVLC-FM and WLCR-AM. Weird.
WLOY hosted a 35th anniversary party for all old radio station alumni on Saturday November 20, 2010 at the new WLOY Loyola Radio studios in Bellarmine Hall! We had a great turnout, and it was awesome to hear all the stories come together! Check in with us on Facebook at “WLOY/WLCR Alumni” to join the group!
Early Staff (by class year with titles held):
John Franklin ’76 (general manager)
Linda Szczybor ’76 (program director)
Carol Keiser ’76 (public affairs director)
George Knipp ’76 (news director)
Phil Forte ’77 (news director, general manager)
Jay Guyther ’78 (chief announcer, program director, general manager)
Dave Seidel ’78 (news director)
Walt Gutowski ’78 (sports director)
Damian Varga ’79 (production director, general manager)
Rich Gunzelman ’79 (chief engineer, general manager, chief engineer)
Kim Emmerich ’79 (program director)
Ed Stanley ’79 (night manager)
Dan McKew ’79 (sports director)
ASLC/student government people who were instrumental in the founding years:
Marie Lewandowski ’78
Jim Parks ’78
Dennis King ’78
Ken Anderson ’79
Can you identify the people in these photos? If so, please join our alumni group on Facebook or add comments here!
Hello, I recognize my brother Damian Varga (son of Prof. Nicholas Varga) in the 1977 photo sitting on the floor on the left with a beard. Also, in the 1979 photo in the center left behind the women holding the banner in the plad shirt and beard. He died this July 3, 2014.
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I was on the air in 1981 to 1982. I recall the station photo for the yearbook not having nearly as many people in it as the one you have above. Back then we reached the dorms and the caf (SAGA back then). We had carts and albums we played from. It was very freestyle.
Very cool of you to touch base! Please join our Facebook alumni group and add any of your friends from the station!