BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Change doesn’t occur often at WEAG 106.3-FM in Starke. Consider the fact that in the station’s 68-year history, there have been only four on-air morning personalities.
However, change is inevitable, and it will occur later this year when the station, pending Federal Communications Commission approval, is purchased by Florida Broadcast Media Group Inc.
The station is currently owned by Chuck Kramer and his family under Dickerson Broadcasting Inc.
“This was not an easy decision,” said Kramer, the general manager who’s been the station’s morning on-air personality since his arrival to Bradford County in 1991. Kramer, who’s worked in radio for almost 60 years, added, “I’m getting older, getting slower. It takes me longer to things I used to do quickly.”
Kramer’s wife, Mary, who is the office manager, has worked at the station for 25 years. Their daughter Lyn has worked there for 20 years, but she’s also busy helping to run Tony’s Italian Restaurant with her husband, Tony, as well as raising a family.
“She co-owns a restaurant with her husband and operates it,” Chuck Kramer said of his daughter. “She hires and fires, keeps the books and has three children — all young children. She said, ‘It’s time.’ Mary said, ‘It’s time.’ I’m saying, ‘It’s time.’”
Florida Broadcast Media Group Inc. is a new organization that Kramer said was created specifically to purchase WEAG.
In a statement provided to the Telegraph-Monitor Times, Florida Broadcast Media Group President Dave Krieger wrote, “Florida Broadcast Media Group is excited about the opportunity to continue the Kramer family legacy, serving Starke and surrounding areas with news, weather, sports, emergency broadcast information, agricultural and public affairs programming, along with entertaining content. We know that local sports are important to the area and that will not change.
“Our group comes from a community minded background, always in ‘pay-it-forward’ mode. We have nationally recognized journalists on staff, and we are community focused with a truth-based, conservative-minded business plan to expand on what the Kramer family has done and to continue to make WEAG-FM something Starke can be proud of. And yes, we will continue to provide a morning show as Chuck Kramer has done for so many years.”
Chuck Kramer started his career in radio at the age of 14 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. He worked one night a week on Sundays “pushing buttons.”
Kramer, who began talking on radio during short station breaks at the age of 16, would work for more than 10 stations — mostly in southern New Jersey — before taking the job at WEAG and then owners Ben and Ruth Dickerson. Kramer already knew Ben Dickerson, who was from New Jersey. Dickerson always told Kramer that he should move to Florida.
The day came when Kramer decided to visit the Sunshine State. He told Dickerson he was interested in working at WEAG, but also said he had appointments at other stations in cities such as Orlando, Safety Harbor and Tampa.
When Kramer returned to New Jersey, he had made up his mind to move to Florida and take the job at WEAG.
Mary Kramer admitted she didn’t want to make the move. It took her a while to get used to Florida.
“She cried on our first Thanksgiving because she had to wear shorts,” Chuck said. “It was hot.”
Mary began settling into her new home and feeling more comfortable when her and Chuck’s daughters got older.
“Once they started preschool, and I got a job and got to meet people, then it was a lot easier,” Mary said.
Now, Mary can’t think of any other place being home. She said the people in Bradford County have been wonderful to her and her family.
“When we first moved here, I thought it was the wrong decision, but (Chuck) made the right decision,” Mary said.
The family stresses that Bradford County will continue to be home.
“We’re going to very much be a part of the community,” Chuck said. “We’re not moving away. We’ll still be involved in the community.”
Chuck will still be at WEAG to celebrate his 34th anniversary there, which will occur on Sept. 23.
“A lot of things happened in those 34 years,” he said. “I hear about them a lot of times from people who come up to me saying that not only did they grow up with us here at the radio station, but their children have grown up listening to the radio station and us.”
It’s possible Chuck will still be at the station to celebrate his 60th anniversary in radio, which will occur Dec. 26.
“Every station has been special to me,” Chuck said. “I’ve loved every one of them.”
Yet WEAG has been a special place for him and his family.
“I wish I had found it earlier,” Chuck said of the Starke station.
As he eyes his retirement, Chuck said he won’t miss waking up at 4:15 a.m. What he will miss is “dealing with the listeners and advertisers on a day to day basis.”
He may miss being a part of radio, but he also looks forward to the future.
“I am glad that I’m healthy enough and young enough to enjoy my retirement years with family, spending a lot more time with the kids and the grandchildren,” Chuck said.
