WRCR Home

WRCR/Rockford College Radio

James Landis Buchman and Kathy Hackwith Groth, February 1970

A Brief History

WRCR was conceived by a group of students in the fall of 1962. On December 20, 1962, the establishment of a radio station on campus was approved by Rockford College Board of Trustees. The Executive Board of Rockford College Student Government recognized WRCR as a communications medium on Feb. 5, 1963, and WRCR began regular carrier current broadcasting on March 17, 1963, from room 206 in Nelson Hall. Here's a link to an interview with one of the founders of WRCR, Eric Hansen, talking about the beginnings of WRCR.

In the Fall of 1964, WRCR moved to a larger space on the first floor of Burpee Center. Then in the Fall of 1970 the station moved to custom designed studios in the lower level of the new Burpee Center addition. In 1985 the college needed the space in lower Burpee and WRCR was again on the move. The new location was three rooms in the former Lang Infirmary. By 1993 as the college population changed from primarily residential to half-commuter student body, it became more and more difficult to staff the radio station. WRCR ceased broadcasting in the Spring of 1995. On January 21, 2011 WRCR returned as an internet stream. In 2019 the station again ceased operation.

What we've collected...

On this site you will find hundreds of photos of WRCR from its beginning to end. There are also dozens of audio samples. Most of these are from the 1968--1973 period. As more audio is found it will be added. You will also find a collection of college newspaper articles about WRCR, copies of music playlists, program schedules and other WRCR printed material. Browse the links on the left to find the collections. The history pages are still being worked on. Your input is welcome.

Join the WRCR Alumni email list...

There is a companion Yahoo Groups list serve for former WRCR staffers where we exchange memories of WRCR, Rockford College and talk about college radio past and present. You are welcome to join the list. Click this link to get to the Yahoo page where you can join the WRCR Alumni list: www.groups.yahoo.groups/wrcr.com and if you find it's not for you, it is easy to unsubscribe.

This site is not an official part of Rockford College. It was established and is maintained by former Rockford College students who were part of WRCR Radio.

To make suggestions or ask questions, use this link to reach the webmaster (Ross Hunter): ross at dmrmail dot com
Recent site updates--
February 21, 2005 found Karen Dimond
March 3, 2005 found Crystal Tinucci
March 11, 2005 found Rich Hoge
April 1, 2005 found Sebastian Bravo
April 25, 2005: found Pete Dunn
June 20, 2005: found Walter Brody
July 18, 2005: found Dennis Hinde
August 12, 2005: Jan Gillis '63 reported deceased
August 17, 2005: found Stan Liljekvist '71 and Greg Nielson '82
September 15, 2005: found Ken Flack '72
October 4, 2005: found Dave Benson '68
October 20, 2005: found Joe Kvidera '82
November 4, 2005: found Matt Miller '78
February 6, 2006: found Shelia Wylie '76, deceased 7/30/2011
February 16, 2006: found Will Rider '78
February 28, 2006: found Drew Becker '69
March 6, 2006: found Jim Supple
March 27, 2006: found Joyce Wintersteen '88
April 13, 2006: found Mike Trotter
April 14, 2006: found Michael Campbell
June 4, 2006: found Scot Buckley '80
July 19, 2006: found John May and Melissa Johnson
October 10, 2006: found Mark Hardie '81
December 7, 2006 found George Wollman '79
December 8, 2006 found Angie Wendt '93
December 8, 2006 found Stephen Mintz '85
December 8, 2006 found Doug Williamson on '75
December 9, 2006 found Margee Claudon '86
December 22, 2006 found Tim Maloney '68
December 23, 2006 found Fred Brodsky '82
December 28, 2006 found George Benda '75
January 2, 2007 updates to Missing list
January 5, 2007 found Michael Wespiser '78
March 27, 2007 found Audwin Barnes '88
April 23, 2007 found Stephen Gagne '75
June 21, 2007 added WTPB coverage map to the WTPB page (click "photos", then "WTPB")
July 12, 2007 found Ken Hallaron '90
July 28, 2008 found Rick Blanchette
July 30, 2008 found Freddie Pilipuf '93
July 30, 2008 found Karen Boomgaarden
September 25, 2008 found Lori Hankenson '74
October 1, 2008 found Dan Hardman '66
February 6, 2009 found Vicki Jones Lay '88
February 6, 2009 found Mary Ann Jeffers Hoegberg '89
February 10, 2009 found Jeremy Griner '91
March 23, 2009 found Vimal Shaw '71
March 25, 2009 found Larry & Karen (Pitrowski) Rudnick '72
September 19, 2009 found Vicki Woolf '84
October 9, 2009 found Lyn (Hosier) Larson '75
January 26, 2010 found Verna (Chastain) Morris '73
February 3, 2010 found Bob Birss '69
March 28, 2010 confirmed Jeff Lind '70 deceased
April 23, 2010 found Kurt Harris '76
May 6, 2010 found David Martin'78
January 18, 2011 found Jake Shisha '80 and Mike Tellison '80
January 20, 2011 found Dave Duncan '95
January 31, 2011 found Eric Hoffman '86
February 15, 2011 found Dave Paulsen '81
March 2, 2011 found Kenneth Kane '78
March 4, 2011 found Paul Anderson '67
April 14, 2011 found Mark Thuente '85
April 29, 2011 found Alan Silverman '68
August 30, 2011 updates to All-Time Staff list and Missing List
September 16, 2011 found Warren Boykin '81
November 15, 2011 found Mike Lamps