November 28, 2024 • 34 mins
Join us as we welcome Ross McCampbell, a passionate radio veteran with over 30 years of experience in the broadcasting industry. Growing up on a dairy farm in southwest Ohio, Ross discovered his love for music and radio early on. A graduate of Ohio State University in Communications/Broadcasting, he began his career in Columbus and has since worked at several stations, including roles as News Director and Executive Director at WBCL in Fort Wayne, IN. In 2018, Ross made waves by launching Fort Wayne's first Black Gospel station online, Rhythm & Praise, which now broadcasts on 88.9 FM, reaching Toledo and Bowling Green. He has also created multiple online stations, including WBCL BEATZ for teens and young adults and WBCL Classic Christian for older adults. Tune in to hear Ross share his journey and the impact of music and faith on his life and community.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:24):
Welcome to the voices of legacy today. We welcome and
are honored really to have a radio legend, as it were,
none other than mister Ross mccampbell, executive director of WBCL
Radio in Fort Wayne, Indiana and beyond. With over three
(00:44):
decades of broadcasting, Ross has a journeyed from dairy farm
in southwestern Ohio or south was the Southwestern Southeast Southwest
southwestern Ohio to become a pillar in Christian radio after
studying communications and brought casting at Ohio State. Now I
understand the comment about the Jersey. He built a diverse
(01:06):
career in radio, starting at Salem Media, which I'm very
familiar with Salem Broadcasting in Columbus, then moving to rock
and urban and country stations in Knoxville, Tennessee, before finding
a home at WBCL in Fort Wayne. Since taking on
(01:28):
the helm in twenty eleven, Ross has overseen incredible growth
and change really for the station and expanding it in
a very responsible and effective way, including the launch of
Fort Wayne's first Black gospel station, Rhythm and Praise, which
I think he's very excited about, and expanding wbcl's reach
(01:49):
into Toledo and beyond. WBCL now connects listeners of all ages,
and a variety of demographics over online stations as well
as over the air media. We're excited to have none
other than mister Ross mccampbell. Good morning, mister Ross.
Speaker 2 (02:11):
How are you well, Hello, pastor Carl. I'm excited to
be here. I'm honored to be here. Thanks for having me.
Speaker 1 (02:16):
Oh, we're honored to have you and excited to see
see your vision for the future and to hear about
what you're doing now. In a little bit about your background,
the good stuff, hopefully hopefully.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
Well, yeah, that's the We won't touch on the other stuff.
Speaker 1 (02:34):
Ross, Can you share a bit about your early years
on the dairy farm in southwestern Ohio? Well, you know,
I have to mention that my family, the Mitchell's, down
in Union Grove, North Carolina, at a place called Grassy
not Mountain. My father brought read about sixteen acres I
think it is, and right next to us was the
(02:55):
Mitchell farm and it was a cattle farm. And if
you know anything about the cows, beck gray our grass
was very green. Oh, yes, being nice about it. So
tell us how how was that experience and how do
you think that has affected you moving forward?
Speaker 2 (03:13):
Well, I know. It was a dairy farm, of course,
and it was southwest Ohio is it was real close
to the Indiana state line. And so I grew up
listening while doing chores on the farm. We had a
radio on the tractor. We had a radio in the barn.
Oh could you hear radio? And how you could? You
had to really crank it up. Yeah, and there were
some primitive headphones back then that you could do but
(03:36):
or rig Okay, but yeah, I grew up listening to
Cincinnati and Dayton Media, and so it was always listening
to the radio growing up. We're doing chores or whatever,
because dairy farm you never went anywhere, and so you
had to milk the cows twice a day, whether you
want to or not. So always had it on and
(03:57):
just loved listening to radio. Got so where there was
a couple stations, the music stations in town where I
would I was able to predict the next song coming
up because I was so familiar with their rotation of
their song rotation. So and so I always had a
love for that, love for music. I love the fact
(04:17):
that I grew up on a farm. Never regret that.
But I just have no desire to ever farm again.
That was my two older brothers tried that as far
as long as they could, but really didn't have that
d n A. So I always loved the music. I
love people. The tall The cows wouldn't talk back, you know.
(04:39):
I talked to them, but there was just no answer.
But there they were nice. No no, no, that's no,
that's just you don't want to mess with that. And
they're too heavy, you know. Anyway, But had had a
great youth, hard work. You learned hard work on the farm.
I mean there's just no wayre around that. So that's
(05:00):
that's a good lesson to learn early. Uh, And so
you stick with it when you start something and finish it.
And so that's what I learned early. But I kind
of knew by high school that I wanted to do
something else. And it was actually my vocational agriculture teacher F. Fag.
(05:22):
I was always messing with the radio when we were
in shop shop class, fixing stuff and everything. And one
day I blew up the radio because I was trying
to get better reception, so I put the intended too
close to the outlet and it blew it up. So
he was kind of annoyed at me, and he said, Russ,
you know there's a there's a major you could measure
(05:43):
in communication or broadcasting. You'd be on the radio, always
fooling with the radio. And it's like the light bulbs
went off. I said, what you know, I could get
paid for doing being on the radio, and you know,
actually go to college for that.
Speaker 3 (05:58):
And this was in high school.
Speaker 2 (05:59):
This was in high school. Yeah, and so that's where
I first even heard of communication major, and right then
and there I knew that's that's what I wanted to do.
So it was either going to be radio or TV.
So majored in communication at Ohio State and through interning,
realized it was radio. Really loved radio TV. My grades
(06:21):
were actually better in TV, but the labs weren't so great,
the facilities weren't so great for that radio that was
in college. That was in college, and so kind of
determined in college that I wanted to stick with radio,
and so interned at a station of Salem Media station.
That was my first station. I was their very first
(06:42):
intern in Columbus and that was an AM station. It's
still there. I don't think it's quite like it was then.
They were kind of pioneers back then with contemporary Christian
music along with some talk teachings. They had a mix
about It was mostly talked teaching, but I think in
the mornings they had a morning drive radio and in
(07:05):
the evenings and if it was after sunset, I would
get to DJ because they didn't sell the programming because
they had to sign off at sunset, so they only
sold programming up to about I think five o'clock maybe
six pm because it wouldn't hold up year round. So
in the summer months, that's where I cut my teeth
(07:26):
being a DJ.
Speaker 3 (07:27):
And you preferred the music to the talk.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
Absolutely, yeah without it. You know, I grew up listening
to music and did music in school and that kind
of thing. So yeah, so I got that's where I
got coached, and in the middle of summer, you know,
you'd have like three four extra hours of music and
it was great. It was it was great to learn
(07:49):
some of the ropes early on that way.
Speaker 1 (07:51):
So you've been in radio the whole wild, Yeah, Yeah,
I was really the last I think two years of college.
Speaker 2 (07:59):
I really didn't do a whole lot of fun stuff.
On the weekends. I was at the radio station or
at least in the summer most of the time, because
some days I would be signed on to sign off
and work there and just study and do breaks and
got a lot of experience that way, and they got
hired there out of college, So that's awesome.
Speaker 3 (08:20):
That's awesome.
Speaker 1 (08:21):
So after studying at Ohio State, you ventured into broadcasting
and your first role was in sale meeting media. As
you had mentioned, what was the initial experience like working
for a real company outside of just interning.
Speaker 2 (08:37):
Oh, it was exciting. I mean that was what I
wanted to do. And until they had hired me, I
was canvassing for memberships for Sam's Club or it was
the Warehouse Club at the time. Yeah, it was a precursor,
so I couldn't wait, you know, I really even though
so you just knew, Oh, I just knew. Yeah, So
it was it was exciting. It was thrilling to get
hired on. You know, it wouldn't get paid hardly anything,
(08:59):
but but still I was getting experience. I had the
foot in the door and was starting in the career.
And initially what caught their attention it was a commercial station,
so writing commercial copy was what really got me hired
there initially, and then did music research for them and
then some on air things as well.
Speaker 1 (09:22):
So did you enjoy the on air as opposed to
the administration behind the scenes technical or That's a good question.
Speaker 2 (09:31):
And if you ask some of my closest college friends though,
they'll tell you that even back then, I wanted to
either own or manage radio stations eventually and be on
that side of things long term after djane and so
I've loved both. I was a DJ for about thirty
years at three stations prior to WBCL and WBCL and
(09:57):
love that. But I was able to try transition pretty
well because I was always looking forward to when I
could manage the station, lead a team, and you know,
help serve them and serve their needs and those kinds
of things. That's what I get to do now. So yeah,
I absolutely.
Speaker 3 (10:12):
Love Do you still read commercials?
Speaker 2 (10:14):
Just no, we're a non commercial station.
Speaker 1 (10:16):
So or PSAs or anything of that nature.
Speaker 2 (10:19):
I don't. I really kind of walked away from it
my line as I fired myself well, and I appreciate that,
and I do, and you know, I take it as
a compliment and I enjoyed it and can do it
once or twice a year. I'll go on the year,
and it's mostly during a fundraiser, so that's in January.
So then I'll go on as well, but it's not
(10:39):
a whole lot. Now I'm really okay with I like,
I love what I do.
Speaker 1 (10:44):
So the formats, You've worked a bunch of different formats. Yes,
I'm not going to ask you the stereotypical question which
is your favorite? And okay, but how has each genre
influenced your pro to radio?
Speaker 2 (11:01):
Well, I will say, I mean, I have no bones
about it. Contemperar Christian music is probably my favorite. I
feel called to it. I feel it's more than just
because of the lyrics. I feel there's more to it
than just entertainment. But it can do both at the
same time.
Speaker 1 (11:16):
But oh, I've had that argument. Yeah, this is truly
not about me, but some people believe that gospel entertainment
is a thing, and I tend to kind of lean
to the side of ministry exactly.
Speaker 2 (11:31):
I mean, our mission is the minister first, but it's
not just entertained, so it's including both at the same time.
But I mean, I feel called to it, and so
that was my first station that format as well. But
then I really wanted to learn a lot about radio.
So I followed a guy to Knoxville and we were
at a station that was he was trying to do
(11:54):
a gradual format shift. You should never do that. That's
where I learned. You pick a format, any form at
but just do it, don't try. We we were doing
urban because that's what primarily was, but he was gradually
transitioning to oldies rock. That's when that format was new
or pretty new, and basically everybody was ticked off. So
(12:19):
what do you do? I get calls from folks who
love the urban music, and then then I I literally
in the same hour would be playing LL Cool J
and the Beach Boys. Oh wow, And so I was like,
what's happening?
Speaker 4 (12:33):
Here?
Speaker 2 (12:34):
Was it was? It was a lot of lessons learned.
But you know, there was things about each format I
like because I like music, so I'm pretty I have
pretty eclectic taste in music. So uh, there were certain
songs in the urban market that I wouldn't have heard
otherwise that I enjoyed. And and of course Oldie's music,
you know, kind of grew up on that too, so
(12:55):
Oldie's rock was a lot of fun.
Speaker 1 (12:56):
Then how do you gradually transition usually you don't when
there's a format change, it just changed.
Speaker 2 (13:02):
Don't do it.
Speaker 1 (13:03):
Well, one day it's Radio Libre in the next day.
Speaker 2 (13:07):
I only heard it that time when I was experienced,
and I've never heard it since. And I don't know
where the authorities at the time. I don't know what
they were thinking about a gradual because yeah, you just
have to, yeah, cut the cord and pick one. So no,
I can't even answer how you do because I don't
think you can do gradual for it.
Speaker 1 (13:29):
In twenty eleven, you became the executive director of WBCL.
What drew you to this role and how have you
seen the station evolve under your leadership?
Speaker 2 (13:39):
Well, lots happened. Yeah, I know. I was a DJ
when I first arrived in nineteen ninety and then had
some roles in it was assistant program director for a while.
Speaker 1 (13:50):
Then you took over to from the role of someone
that was retired that actually there were a retiring.
Speaker 2 (14:00):
Well she was changing positions so she didn't retire the
person before her retire and so you know, I won't
go into all the details. It was all good, it
was all positive, but we had we had really a
pioneer lady pioneer woman laughed at us. She was kind
of the stalwart that got us really going and was
(14:22):
there for a long time and was excellent, and then
Lady followed her and was kind of mentored by her.
But she just decided about after five or six years,
it's not what she wanted to do. She didn't want
to retire being the executive director. That just wasn't her thing,
and hats off. She realized that instead of being miserable.
(14:45):
Then they opened up the position and did a search,
national search, and I knew by then I was starting
to get the itch to be in leadership again. I
didn't need to be because we had good leadership for
many years, and so she stayed on, actually moved to
front office, more of the front office part and on
leadership team. I survived the national search, put my name
(15:06):
in the hat, and actually became her boss, so that
rarely happens. And the program director at the time was
my boss up until twenty eleven, and then I became
his supervisor and he's still there and as our program director.
But there's not many places that can survive that kind
of switching around. But the Pride was not involved in
(15:32):
our view it's ministry, yeah, mission first. What's best for
the station and the ministry and the people. Absolutely absolutely,
and so I've always been grateful for her to have
been able to do that, and to our program director,
who again was my boss for the first eleven years
there eleven twelve years and now I've been his boss
(15:54):
since then, and there's been really no certainly no hiccups.
I mean, we may not agree on everything, but but
it's been amazingly good.
Speaker 3 (16:05):
That's great. That's great.
Speaker 1 (16:08):
So your perspective, coming from on air going into leadership,
do you think that's helped you?
Speaker 2 (16:15):
I do?
Speaker 3 (16:16):
I do.
Speaker 2 (16:17):
I do it for where I'm at. Yeah, would that
apply for everywhere? I don't know, But I do think
it has helped us because when it came time for
me to start attending meetings out in the community do
some development fundraising related type things, people already knew who
I was. I mean, it's radios, you know, you know media,
(16:40):
you know, you're in their car, you're in their kitchen,
you know all places in the restroom, they're taking a shower,
you know. But they are your family and very much
and we have that kind of a legacy with our
listeners and so yeah, I was on the air a
long time as well, and evenings when I first got there,
(17:01):
and then middays, So yeah, I do think it did
help me for WBCL, and probably the listenership too, Yeah,
I think I think so yeah.
Speaker 1 (17:11):
WBCL has expanded their presence in a unique way, and
I thank god I've actually experienced something similar with the
American Family. They had a branding of Urban Family Talk
for a number of years with your Urban Rhythm and
Praise the twenty four to seven Christian station with WBCL
(17:36):
beats and so forth, or those your ideas or I
guess a community decision to kind of go into a
new direction with the branding.
Speaker 2 (17:48):
Well the rhythm and praise began, you know, to take
credit or blame one of the other, but so far
I think it's credit because it's been a wonderful thing.
Speaker 3 (17:58):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (17:59):
But that was that just evolved out of actually a
sermon at church one day. And the long story short
was it felt convicted to see where we could reach
out and reconcile the larger community and to see, okay,
what did the black community not have primarily and that
(18:22):
was a station that played the music that the culture
really loves. Yet still had the same mission as WS.
It's identical message and mission, but just music that appeals
to the black community. And that was the whole idea
of creating that.
Speaker 3 (18:38):
And so we.
Speaker 2 (18:42):
You know, it's not like I've like have deep experience
in racial reconciliation or community work like that. It's like, no,
I I'll do radio. And it's like they don't have
one of those stations. So it's thought, well, let's give
it a shot. I talked to different black leaders in
our church, in our community, and it says this is
a good idea. Is this dumb or whatever? But to
(19:02):
a person, they said, yeah, we need one, and then
you give me three or four more people to talk to.
Speaker 3 (19:07):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (19:07):
So it was never I never had to beat down
any doors. It was more like, hey, come on through,
you know, here's who we want you to meet. And
so we started it as an online only station in
twenty eighteen and that it went okay. We did our research.
We thought that'd be okay because it's a lot less
expensive to do an online, of course station than a
(19:28):
terrestrial one. And in other markets that worked just fine.
But fort Wayne, it was it was like, no, they
didn't feel that it was totally legit unless it was
we had a terrestrial FM signal and I understand message
heard and it was clear. It was clear to the
(19:49):
folk are folks that we hired to be on Rhythm
and Praise and they were out in the community and
hearing firsthand, and so God made it happen. It was
like during the pandemic. Oh wow, a signal became available
that we just didn't foresee at all. And so we
were online zoom doing discussions and negotiation with the other entity,
(20:12):
and they wanted to see it. They didn't want a
national syndication thing to come in. They wanted to be local,
stay local. Well, that's us.
Speaker 3 (20:21):
And so.
Speaker 2 (20:24):
They were real favorable to where we were heading with that.
And so that's in Fort Wayne on ninety four point one.
You will hear Rhythm and Praise now and it's about
two or three years old now, and it's they're gaining traction.
The community is becoming aware that they're there, and now
they just need to be aware that they have to
support us. Yeah, because it's still listeners supported. There's a
(20:46):
nonprofit that's.
Speaker 3 (20:47):
Like we are.
Speaker 2 (20:48):
But it's been a good thing. It's been a really
good thing, and I've heard a lot of music or
wouldn't otherwise hear, and some great songs, great music, and
it's not just African Americans listening. I mean they're reaching
the community as a whole, those who may not like
other forms of music. But they primarily minister to the
bike immune understood.
Speaker 3 (21:06):
And that's also in Toledo.
Speaker 2 (21:09):
It is it's kind of a you gotta you gotta
know how to get it because they're focused on Fort
Wayne as far as ministry and interaction. But you can
get it actually very loud and clear. And so it's
like a little secret here because people will say they
stumbled on it and really love it. And it's you
(21:29):
have to have an HD receiver. So cars they most
of the do, most of them past certain year are
all yeah. So we had updated when we bought the
Toledo signal. It was a really old some old equipment,
so we updated the transmitter to be and h D
digital digital and so on. Eighty eight point nine FM
(21:52):
is WBCL. If it's eighty eight nine HD one, it's
w b CL. But if you just clicked it or
turn the knob one more to HD two eighty eight
point nine HD two, you're gonna get rhythm and praise
loud and clear, wow, and everywhere eighty eight point nine reaches,
Rhythm and Praise will reach on HD two. So it
has a larger coverage than the Fort Wayne sign.
Speaker 3 (22:16):
That's awesome.
Speaker 2 (22:16):
It's weird engineering stuff, you know.
Speaker 1 (22:18):
But but there hadn't been any real push for the reach.
Speaker 2 (22:23):
That you do, and right now we don't anticipate because
it's just it's we only have two full time employees
and it's everything they can do to really interact with
the Fort Wayne community. It's just a lot, a lot
to do. So it'd be a little bit too much
to ask for, you know, to try to do Toledo
and Fort Wayne as far as promoting, as far as
promoting being being here and that kind of thing.
Speaker 1 (22:44):
As someone with deep experience in Christian media, how do
you see the role of radio evolving? I'd say, especially
with the rise of the digital platform. Do you think
that there's a real opportunity It's pretty much what we
were just talking about of expansion in the messaging and
(23:04):
in that format.
Speaker 2 (23:06):
In digital yes, yeah, well absolutely, yeah. I think it's
transitioning now, it's not transitioning as much as all digital
entities want you to think, and I don't mean that
in a nasty negative way, but terrestrial radio hasn't done
a real good marketing job in both secular or religious.
(23:28):
Doesn't matter people there are people under a certain age, well, no,
even those who might be boomers are older, thinking that
it's radio is dying and it's practically, you know, on
life preserve, and it's just simply not the case. We
look at national numbers every year and we do national surveys,
and most of the people still get their new music
(23:49):
and still listen to Dresstal radio A MFM doesn't matter
the format by far. I mean we're talking probably in
the eighties, low ninetieth percentile of the population. But everybody
thinks because the other entity does such a good marketing
job and just slams you with it that you just
(24:10):
think they've taken over already, whether or not. And we're
on both and we're watching it. But no, we're not
going to turn our transmitters off because that would be
really silly because the majority of the public still listening
to the transmitters. Yes, that's just simply the case. And
I don't care what format I'm you know, not just
Christian and so. But but it is changing, so it
(24:34):
but it's very gradual, and so you really got to
do both right now, and so that's why we do both.
Speaker 1 (24:41):
The change, I think is moving at a pace where
you can, if you're paying attention to the transition, embrace it.
We're sitting right here in the WGTE Studio public Aedia
right now and broadcasting over pretty much every platform there
is in existence.
Speaker 3 (24:58):
That's the change. It's WGT Public Media.
Speaker 2 (25:01):
The best illustration I've heard is it's like in the
old and in another era. It's it's those who used
to make buggies. Some refuse to accept the fact that
cars were coming. But then the ones were successful learn
how to adapt their buggy frame into a car frame
and made the transition. And that's what's happening right now.
Speaker 3 (25:23):
Coach Building, that's where that came.
Speaker 4 (25:24):
There.
Speaker 1 (25:24):
You go there with so much focus on uplifting and
inspiring content. What message do you hope WBCO brings to
your listeners every day?
Speaker 2 (25:39):
Well, our mission we communicate God's redemptive truth and love,
and that's the first statement of our mission statement. That's
the most important, and we do it through captivating media.
So it includes different channels, different types of things. So
we encourage, inspire, educate, entertain as part of that.
Speaker 1 (25:57):
From part of it, from listening, it sounds like if
you guys have a lot of fun, we do.
Speaker 3 (26:01):
We do.
Speaker 2 (26:02):
We require our DJs to have a sense of humor. Yes,
so yeah, it's a mix of all that, but primarily
that's our mission. Yeah, to communicate God's loving and truth.
Speaker 1 (26:16):
What is your plan for growth? And we talked about
the digital media, We've talked about your footprint going into
Toledo in the surrounding area and how massive that is
in comparison. What's the vision moving forward?
Speaker 2 (26:30):
You want to just to reveal the whole game plan
right here on this podcast. Honestly our approach and really
there's no hidden agenda here. We're still trying to figure
it all out. Gotch We really are. And so as
everybody is to say you would have a five to
(26:53):
ten year plan, that's almost comical because how do you
do that? I mean, there's so much that can change.
There's so much can change in three years with the
technology now, so I really can't. We have no like
we're going to take over the world. A broadcasting plan.
The way for us expansion has kind of evolved in
a real rhythm for us, and it's really been it's
(27:16):
not like we've been looking, Oh, what's the next available
open air signal, we must have it. No, it's been
more like our listeners would tell us, Hey, I live
closer to the Indiana state line, but I go to
work in Lima and I'd love to be able to
hear you in Lima. That's how it evolved. And originally
(27:37):
it was Archbolt, Ohio. That was our first signal outside
of the Fort Wayne. Signal was in arch bowlt or Spencerville. Well, no, Archbowl, Ohio.
That was the first one, and we have one in Spencerville.
But it was more like I either listened at work
or I listened at home, but I can't eat you
in both places. Why can't you?
Speaker 3 (27:55):
You know?
Speaker 2 (27:55):
And then enough you get enough of that, it was like, well, okay,
when then if something opens up there, we'll have to
take a look at it. And that's how we've expanded,
I mean really over the years.
Speaker 3 (28:05):
So they have a lot of commuter listening.
Speaker 2 (28:07):
We do, we really do, and we're blessed to be
kind of a regional station. Yes, I mean the signal
originates in Fort Wayne and that's where the studios are.
But just over the years it is just expanded. And
that's how it's expanded. I mean, even the Toledo signal
was we weren't looking for the eighty eight point nine.
We really weren't, honest to goodness, and it was kind
(28:32):
of a happy accident. Although I don't believe in accidents,
but you know, that's part of my faith. I think
God's in control of it all. But I guess this
is my stupidity. I didn't realize we found out was
available and our first honest to goodness, our engineer will
tell you this because when he told us about I
our first look at it was like, okay, it'll fill
(28:53):
in some gaps of coverage in southwest Michigan and extreme
northwest Ohio. It'll fill in some of those and maybe
north of that a little bit. But at first time
was like we were going to get more cows and
sheep listening. I mean, there's not really you know, we
first weren't interested. And Chris, our engineer, buried the headline.
(29:16):
He said, oh, and we were driving around and listening
to the signal. He said, oh, by the way, it
will cover all of Toledo and Bowling Green. Why didn't
you lead with that? Why didn't you just start with that?
Because you know, we had enough listeners over the years,
we had a signal in on the east I'm sorry,
the west side of Toledo since nineteen ninety two, probably
(29:38):
four or five counties, but it wasn't to the point
where it was worth the investment to get over here
because you were only talking It was more of northwest Ohio,
a little bit of Toledo in that market. But once
this signal was available, it just became obvious that, okay,
we need to pursue this. And the seller was favorable
(29:59):
towards it, towards us, and he actually wanted it to
stay a Christian format because it was before I guess.
Speaker 3 (30:07):
Catholic ques.
Speaker 2 (30:08):
I think it was Calvary, Yes, I think so. I
think they were looking to reduce their footprint and they
really wanted to stay ministry and in the region, and
that's where we were.
Speaker 1 (30:19):
And well, thank god for those Bob Ross a little happy.
Speaker 2 (30:24):
Because that's what I really was. And then of course
then I realized, oh, well, it's that way. With every
signal expansion we were, well, we got to get over there.
How can we serve the listeners, because again we're nonprofit
and we're more ministry oriented, so it's like, how can
we help the ministries, the nonprofits, pastors all that. And
that's how you and I got connected because there's a
(30:44):
ministry called Merge over here that everybody was telling me,
you got to meet the folks at Merge. You know,
I was interviewing leaders and pastors and all that, and
so started attending. They're wonderful people and a wonderful, uniting
kind of ministry. And so you came one of those
and we exchanged cards or whatever, and here we are, here,
(31:05):
here we are right now.
Speaker 1 (31:07):
Last question, what do you think Ross's legacy is and
what would you like for it to be?
Speaker 2 (31:16):
Holy Cow? That's a question, Okay, that's question. You have
to edit out the dead air then, thinking I think
current would be. I've always tried to utilize the strengths
of the people God has put in our ministry, on
(31:37):
our team in every position. I think I've been diligent
to do that. You know, I certainly tried to do that.
You know, He's perfect. You make mistakes, but I've tried
to enhance our ministry to get the people in the
right places to do the best radio media that we
(32:00):
can possibly do. So that'd be the current future. Like
I said, I don't know if I can determine.
Speaker 3 (32:05):
I can't.
Speaker 2 (32:06):
That'd be other people determine what. Okay, they did a
great job and they had a good time doing it.
That's a good there you go. That would I'd be
fine with that.
Speaker 3 (32:17):
Oh man, awesome, awesome, Oh Russell.
Speaker 1 (32:19):
I thank God that you made a way to get
here to talk to me, my pleasure and share your
your life with us and hopefully with the listeners. You know,
I do believe that we're not just healed by the testimony,
but it's inspiring to folks. Sometimes we have no idea
how our lives may inspire others. So I thank you
(32:40):
for sharing your life with us today on the Voices
of Legacy.
Speaker 4 (32:44):
Thank you, Thank you for listening to the Voices of
the Legacy. This is your friend, Pastor Carl Mitchell, the third,
your host of this program. We want you to go
(33:06):
to w GTE dot org slash Legacy to like, share, subscribe,
and hear all of our past podcast and our future podcast.
Be a friend and join with us in the voices
of legacy, where you're writing your own legacy every day
that you live. Have a blessing
Speaker 2 (34:00):
And
Welcome to the voices of legacy today. We welcome and
are honored really to have a radio legend, as it were,
none other than mister Ross mccampbell, executive director of WBCL
Radio in Fort Wayne, Indiana and beyond. With over three
(00:44):
decades of broadcasting, Ross has a journeyed from dairy farm
in southwestern Ohio or south was the Southwestern Southeast Southwest
southwestern Ohio to become a pillar in Christian radio after
studying communications and brought casting at Ohio State. Now I
understand the comment about the Jersey. He built a diverse
(01:06):
career in radio, starting at Salem Media, which I'm very
familiar with Salem Broadcasting in Columbus, then moving to rock
and urban and country stations in Knoxville, Tennessee, before finding
a home at WBCL in Fort Wayne. Since taking on
(01:28):
the helm in twenty eleven, Ross has overseen incredible growth
and change really for the station and expanding it in
a very responsible and effective way, including the launch of
Fort Wayne's first Black gospel station, Rhythm and Praise, which
I think he's very excited about, and expanding wbcl's reach
(01:49):
into Toledo and beyond. WBCL now connects listeners of all ages,
and a variety of demographics over online stations as well
as over the air media. We're excited to have none
other than mister Ross mccampbell. Good morning, mister Ross.
Speaker 2 (02:11):
How are you well, Hello, pastor Carl. I'm excited to
be here. I'm honored to be here. Thanks for having me.
Speaker 1 (02:16):
Oh, we're honored to have you and excited to see
see your vision for the future and to hear about
what you're doing now. In a little bit about your background,
the good stuff, hopefully hopefully.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
Well, yeah, that's the We won't touch on the other stuff.
Speaker 1 (02:34):
Ross, Can you share a bit about your early years
on the dairy farm in southwestern Ohio? Well, you know,
I have to mention that my family, the Mitchell's, down
in Union Grove, North Carolina, at a place called Grassy
not Mountain. My father brought read about sixteen acres I
think it is, and right next to us was the
(02:55):
Mitchell farm and it was a cattle farm. And if
you know anything about the cows, beck gray our grass
was very green. Oh, yes, being nice about it. So
tell us how how was that experience and how do
you think that has affected you moving forward?
Speaker 2 (03:13):
Well, I know. It was a dairy farm, of course,
and it was southwest Ohio is it was real close
to the Indiana state line. And so I grew up
listening while doing chores on the farm. We had a
radio on the tractor. We had a radio in the barn.
Oh could you hear radio? And how you could? You
had to really crank it up. Yeah, and there were
some primitive headphones back then that you could do but
(03:36):
or rig Okay, but yeah, I grew up listening to
Cincinnati and Dayton Media, and so it was always listening
to the radio growing up. We're doing chores or whatever,
because dairy farm you never went anywhere, and so you
had to milk the cows twice a day, whether you
want to or not. So always had it on and
(03:57):
just loved listening to radio. Got so where there was
a couple stations, the music stations in town where I
would I was able to predict the next song coming
up because I was so familiar with their rotation of
their song rotation. So and so I always had a
love for that, love for music. I love the fact
(04:17):
that I grew up on a farm. Never regret that.
But I just have no desire to ever farm again.
That was my two older brothers tried that as far
as long as they could, but really didn't have that
d n A. So I always loved the music. I
love people. The tall The cows wouldn't talk back, you know.
(04:39):
I talked to them, but there was just no answer.
But there they were nice. No no, no, that's no,
that's just you don't want to mess with that. And
they're too heavy, you know. Anyway, But had had a
great youth, hard work. You learned hard work on the farm.
I mean there's just no wayre around that. So that's
(05:00):
that's a good lesson to learn early. Uh, And so
you stick with it when you start something and finish it.
And so that's what I learned early. But I kind
of knew by high school that I wanted to do
something else. And it was actually my vocational agriculture teacher F. Fag.
(05:22):
I was always messing with the radio when we were
in shop shop class, fixing stuff and everything. And one
day I blew up the radio because I was trying
to get better reception, so I put the intended too
close to the outlet and it blew it up. So
he was kind of annoyed at me, and he said, Russ,
you know there's a there's a major you could measure
(05:43):
in communication or broadcasting. You'd be on the radio, always
fooling with the radio. And it's like the light bulbs
went off. I said, what you know, I could get
paid for doing being on the radio, and you know,
actually go to college for that.
Speaker 3 (05:58):
And this was in high school.
Speaker 2 (05:59):
This was in high school. Yeah, and so that's where
I first even heard of communication major, and right then
and there I knew that's that's what I wanted to do.
So it was either going to be radio or TV.
So majored in communication at Ohio State and through interning,
realized it was radio. Really loved radio TV. My grades
(06:21):
were actually better in TV, but the labs weren't so great,
the facilities weren't so great for that radio that was
in college. That was in college, and so kind of
determined in college that I wanted to stick with radio,
and so interned at a station of Salem Media station.
That was my first station. I was their very first
(06:42):
intern in Columbus and that was an AM station. It's
still there. I don't think it's quite like it was then.
They were kind of pioneers back then with contemporary Christian
music along with some talk teachings. They had a mix
about It was mostly talked teaching, but I think in
the mornings they had a morning drive radio and in
(07:05):
the evenings and if it was after sunset, I would
get to DJ because they didn't sell the programming because
they had to sign off at sunset, so they only
sold programming up to about I think five o'clock maybe
six pm because it wouldn't hold up year round. So
in the summer months, that's where I cut my teeth
(07:26):
being a DJ.
Speaker 3 (07:27):
And you preferred the music to the talk.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
Absolutely, yeah without it. You know, I grew up listening
to music and did music in school and that kind
of thing. So yeah, so I got that's where I
got coached, and in the middle of summer, you know,
you'd have like three four extra hours of music and
it was great. It was it was great to learn
(07:49):
some of the ropes early on that way.
Speaker 1 (07:51):
So you've been in radio the whole wild, Yeah, Yeah,
I was really the last I think two years of college.
Speaker 2 (07:59):
I really didn't do a whole lot of fun stuff.
On the weekends. I was at the radio station or
at least in the summer most of the time, because
some days I would be signed on to sign off
and work there and just study and do breaks and
got a lot of experience that way, and they got
hired there out of college, So that's awesome.
Speaker 3 (08:20):
That's awesome.
Speaker 1 (08:21):
So after studying at Ohio State, you ventured into broadcasting
and your first role was in sale meeting media. As
you had mentioned, what was the initial experience like working
for a real company outside of just interning.
Speaker 2 (08:37):
Oh, it was exciting. I mean that was what I
wanted to do. And until they had hired me, I
was canvassing for memberships for Sam's Club or it was
the Warehouse Club at the time. Yeah, it was a precursor,
so I couldn't wait, you know, I really even though
so you just knew, Oh, I just knew. Yeah, So
it was it was exciting. It was thrilling to get
hired on. You know, it wouldn't get paid hardly anything,
(08:59):
but but still I was getting experience. I had the
foot in the door and was starting in the career.
And initially what caught their attention it was a commercial station,
so writing commercial copy was what really got me hired
there initially, and then did music research for them and
then some on air things as well.
Speaker 1 (09:22):
So did you enjoy the on air as opposed to
the administration behind the scenes technical or That's a good question.
Speaker 2 (09:31):
And if you ask some of my closest college friends though,
they'll tell you that even back then, I wanted to
either own or manage radio stations eventually and be on
that side of things long term after djane and so
I've loved both. I was a DJ for about thirty
years at three stations prior to WBCL and WBCL and
(09:57):
love that. But I was able to try transition pretty
well because I was always looking forward to when I
could manage the station, lead a team, and you know,
help serve them and serve their needs and those kinds
of things. That's what I get to do now. So yeah,
I absolutely.
Speaker 3 (10:12):
Love Do you still read commercials?
Speaker 2 (10:14):
Just no, we're a non commercial station.
Speaker 1 (10:16):
So or PSAs or anything of that nature.
Speaker 2 (10:19):
I don't. I really kind of walked away from it
my line as I fired myself well, and I appreciate that,
and I do, and you know, I take it as
a compliment and I enjoyed it and can do it
once or twice a year. I'll go on the year,
and it's mostly during a fundraiser, so that's in January.
So then I'll go on as well, but it's not
(10:39):
a whole lot. Now I'm really okay with I like,
I love what I do.
Speaker 1 (10:44):
So the formats, You've worked a bunch of different formats. Yes,
I'm not going to ask you the stereotypical question which
is your favorite? And okay, but how has each genre
influenced your pro to radio?
Speaker 2 (11:01):
Well, I will say, I mean, I have no bones
about it. Contemperar Christian music is probably my favorite. I
feel called to it. I feel it's more than just
because of the lyrics. I feel there's more to it
than just entertainment. But it can do both at the
same time.
Speaker 1 (11:16):
But oh, I've had that argument. Yeah, this is truly
not about me, but some people believe that gospel entertainment
is a thing, and I tend to kind of lean
to the side of ministry exactly.
Speaker 2 (11:31):
I mean, our mission is the minister first, but it's
not just entertained, so it's including both at the same time.
But I mean, I feel called to it, and so
that was my first station that format as well. But
then I really wanted to learn a lot about radio.
So I followed a guy to Knoxville and we were
at a station that was he was trying to do
(11:54):
a gradual format shift. You should never do that. That's
where I learned. You pick a format, any form at
but just do it, don't try. We we were doing
urban because that's what primarily was, but he was gradually
transitioning to oldies rock. That's when that format was new
or pretty new, and basically everybody was ticked off. So
(12:19):
what do you do? I get calls from folks who
love the urban music, and then then I I literally
in the same hour would be playing LL Cool J
and the Beach Boys. Oh wow, And so I was like,
what's happening?
Speaker 4 (12:33):
Here?
Speaker 2 (12:34):
Was it was? It was a lot of lessons learned.
But you know, there was things about each format I
like because I like music, so I'm pretty I have
pretty eclectic taste in music. So uh, there were certain
songs in the urban market that I wouldn't have heard
otherwise that I enjoyed. And and of course Oldie's music,
you know, kind of grew up on that too, so
(12:55):
Oldie's rock was a lot of fun.
Speaker 1 (12:56):
Then how do you gradually transition usually you don't when
there's a format change, it just changed.
Speaker 2 (13:02):
Don't do it.
Speaker 1 (13:03):
Well, one day it's Radio Libre in the next day.
Speaker 2 (13:07):
I only heard it that time when I was experienced,
and I've never heard it since. And I don't know
where the authorities at the time. I don't know what
they were thinking about a gradual because yeah, you just
have to, yeah, cut the cord and pick one. So no,
I can't even answer how you do because I don't
think you can do gradual for it.
Speaker 1 (13:29):
In twenty eleven, you became the executive director of WBCL.
What drew you to this role and how have you
seen the station evolve under your leadership?
Speaker 2 (13:39):
Well, lots happened. Yeah, I know. I was a DJ
when I first arrived in nineteen ninety and then had
some roles in it was assistant program director for a while.
Speaker 1 (13:50):
Then you took over to from the role of someone
that was retired that actually there were a retiring.
Speaker 2 (14:00):
Well she was changing positions so she didn't retire the
person before her retire and so you know, I won't
go into all the details. It was all good, it
was all positive, but we had we had really a
pioneer lady pioneer woman laughed at us. She was kind
of the stalwart that got us really going and was
(14:22):
there for a long time and was excellent, and then
Lady followed her and was kind of mentored by her.
But she just decided about after five or six years,
it's not what she wanted to do. She didn't want
to retire being the executive director. That just wasn't her thing,
and hats off. She realized that instead of being miserable.
(14:45):
Then they opened up the position and did a search,
national search, and I knew by then I was starting
to get the itch to be in leadership again. I
didn't need to be because we had good leadership for
many years, and so she stayed on, actually moved to
front office, more of the front office part and on
leadership team. I survived the national search, put my name
(15:06):
in the hat, and actually became her boss, so that
rarely happens. And the program director at the time was
my boss up until twenty eleven, and then I became
his supervisor and he's still there and as our program director.
But there's not many places that can survive that kind
of switching around. But the Pride was not involved in
(15:32):
our view it's ministry, yeah, mission first. What's best for
the station and the ministry and the people. Absolutely absolutely,
and so I've always been grateful for her to have
been able to do that, and to our program director,
who again was my boss for the first eleven years
there eleven twelve years and now I've been his boss
(15:54):
since then, and there's been really no certainly no hiccups.
I mean, we may not agree on everything, but but
it's been amazingly good.
Speaker 3 (16:05):
That's great. That's great.
Speaker 1 (16:08):
So your perspective, coming from on air going into leadership,
do you think that's helped you?
Speaker 2 (16:15):
I do?
Speaker 3 (16:16):
I do.
Speaker 2 (16:17):
I do it for where I'm at. Yeah, would that
apply for everywhere? I don't know, But I do think
it has helped us because when it came time for
me to start attending meetings out in the community do
some development fundraising related type things, people already knew who
I was. I mean, it's radios, you know, you know media,
(16:40):
you know, you're in their car, you're in their kitchen,
you know all places in the restroom, they're taking a shower,
you know. But they are your family and very much
and we have that kind of a legacy with our
listeners and so yeah, I was on the air a
long time as well, and evenings when I first got there,
(17:01):
and then middays, So yeah, I do think it did
help me for WBCL, and probably the listenership too, Yeah,
I think I think so yeah.
Speaker 1 (17:11):
WBCL has expanded their presence in a unique way, and
I thank god I've actually experienced something similar with the
American Family. They had a branding of Urban Family Talk
for a number of years with your Urban Rhythm and
Praise the twenty four to seven Christian station with WBCL
(17:36):
beats and so forth, or those your ideas or I
guess a community decision to kind of go into a
new direction with the branding.
Speaker 2 (17:48):
Well the rhythm and praise began, you know, to take
credit or blame one of the other, but so far
I think it's credit because it's been a wonderful thing.
Speaker 3 (17:58):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (17:59):
But that was that just evolved out of actually a
sermon at church one day. And the long story short
was it felt convicted to see where we could reach
out and reconcile the larger community and to see, okay,
what did the black community not have primarily and that
(18:22):
was a station that played the music that the culture
really loves. Yet still had the same mission as WS.
It's identical message and mission, but just music that appeals
to the black community. And that was the whole idea
of creating that.
Speaker 3 (18:38):
And so we.
Speaker 2 (18:42):
You know, it's not like I've like have deep experience
in racial reconciliation or community work like that. It's like, no,
I I'll do radio. And it's like they don't have
one of those stations. So it's thought, well, let's give
it a shot. I talked to different black leaders in
our church, in our community, and it says this is
a good idea. Is this dumb or whatever? But to
(19:02):
a person, they said, yeah, we need one, and then
you give me three or four more people to talk to.
Speaker 3 (19:07):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (19:07):
So it was never I never had to beat down
any doors. It was more like, hey, come on through,
you know, here's who we want you to meet. And
so we started it as an online only station in
twenty eighteen and that it went okay. We did our research.
We thought that'd be okay because it's a lot less
expensive to do an online, of course station than a
(19:28):
terrestrial one. And in other markets that worked just fine.
But fort Wayne, it was it was like, no, they
didn't feel that it was totally legit unless it was
we had a terrestrial FM signal and I understand message
heard and it was clear. It was clear to the
(19:49):
folk are folks that we hired to be on Rhythm
and Praise and they were out in the community and
hearing firsthand, and so God made it happen. It was
like during the pandemic. Oh wow, a signal became available
that we just didn't foresee at all. And so we
were online zoom doing discussions and negotiation with the other entity,
(20:12):
and they wanted to see it. They didn't want a
national syndication thing to come in. They wanted to be local,
stay local. Well, that's us.
Speaker 3 (20:21):
And so.
Speaker 2 (20:24):
They were real favorable to where we were heading with that.
And so that's in Fort Wayne on ninety four point one.
You will hear Rhythm and Praise now and it's about
two or three years old now, and it's they're gaining traction.
The community is becoming aware that they're there, and now
they just need to be aware that they have to
support us. Yeah, because it's still listeners supported. There's a
(20:46):
nonprofit that's.
Speaker 3 (20:47):
Like we are.
Speaker 2 (20:48):
But it's been a good thing. It's been a really
good thing, and I've heard a lot of music or
wouldn't otherwise hear, and some great songs, great music, and
it's not just African Americans listening. I mean they're reaching
the community as a whole, those who may not like
other forms of music. But they primarily minister to the
bike immune understood.
Speaker 3 (21:06):
And that's also in Toledo.
Speaker 2 (21:09):
It is it's kind of a you gotta you gotta
know how to get it because they're focused on Fort
Wayne as far as ministry and interaction. But you can
get it actually very loud and clear. And so it's
like a little secret here because people will say they
stumbled on it and really love it. And it's you
(21:29):
have to have an HD receiver. So cars they most
of the do, most of them past certain year are
all yeah. So we had updated when we bought the
Toledo signal. It was a really old some old equipment,
so we updated the transmitter to be and h D
digital digital and so on. Eighty eight point nine FM
(21:52):
is WBCL. If it's eighty eight nine HD one, it's
w b CL. But if you just clicked it or
turn the knob one more to HD two eighty eight
point nine HD two, you're gonna get rhythm and praise
loud and clear, wow, and everywhere eighty eight point nine reaches,
Rhythm and Praise will reach on HD two. So it
has a larger coverage than the Fort Wayne sign.
Speaker 3 (22:16):
That's awesome.
Speaker 2 (22:16):
It's weird engineering stuff, you know.
Speaker 1 (22:18):
But but there hadn't been any real push for the reach.
Speaker 2 (22:23):
That you do, and right now we don't anticipate because
it's just it's we only have two full time employees
and it's everything they can do to really interact with
the Fort Wayne community. It's just a lot, a lot
to do. So it'd be a little bit too much
to ask for, you know, to try to do Toledo
and Fort Wayne as far as promoting, as far as
promoting being being here and that kind of thing.
Speaker 1 (22:44):
As someone with deep experience in Christian media, how do
you see the role of radio evolving? I'd say, especially
with the rise of the digital platform. Do you think
that there's a real opportunity It's pretty much what we
were just talking about of expansion in the messaging and
(23:04):
in that format.
Speaker 2 (23:06):
In digital yes, yeah, well absolutely, yeah. I think it's
transitioning now, it's not transitioning as much as all digital
entities want you to think, and I don't mean that
in a nasty negative way, but terrestrial radio hasn't done
a real good marketing job in both secular or religious.
(23:28):
Doesn't matter people there are people under a certain age, well, no,
even those who might be boomers are older, thinking that
it's radio is dying and it's practically, you know, on
life preserve, and it's just simply not the case. We
look at national numbers every year and we do national surveys,
and most of the people still get their new music
(23:49):
and still listen to Dresstal radio A MFM doesn't matter
the format by far. I mean we're talking probably in
the eighties, low ninetieth percentile of the population. But everybody
thinks because the other entity does such a good marketing
job and just slams you with it that you just
(24:10):
think they've taken over already, whether or not. And we're
on both and we're watching it. But no, we're not
going to turn our transmitters off because that would be
really silly because the majority of the public still listening
to the transmitters. Yes, that's just simply the case. And
I don't care what format I'm you know, not just
Christian and so. But but it is changing, so it
(24:34):
but it's very gradual, and so you really got to
do both right now, and so that's why we do both.
Speaker 1 (24:41):
The change, I think is moving at a pace where
you can, if you're paying attention to the transition, embrace it.
We're sitting right here in the WGTE Studio public Aedia
right now and broadcasting over pretty much every platform there
is in existence.
Speaker 3 (24:58):
That's the change. It's WGT Public Media.
Speaker 2 (25:01):
The best illustration I've heard is it's like in the
old and in another era. It's it's those who used
to make buggies. Some refuse to accept the fact that
cars were coming. But then the ones were successful learn
how to adapt their buggy frame into a car frame
and made the transition. And that's what's happening right now.
Speaker 3 (25:23):
Coach Building, that's where that came.
Speaker 4 (25:24):
There.
Speaker 1 (25:24):
You go there with so much focus on uplifting and
inspiring content. What message do you hope WBCO brings to
your listeners every day?
Speaker 2 (25:39):
Well, our mission we communicate God's redemptive truth and love,
and that's the first statement of our mission statement. That's
the most important, and we do it through captivating media.
So it includes different channels, different types of things. So
we encourage, inspire, educate, entertain as part of that.
Speaker 1 (25:57):
From part of it, from listening, it sounds like if
you guys have a lot of fun, we do.
Speaker 3 (26:01):
We do.
Speaker 2 (26:02):
We require our DJs to have a sense of humor. Yes,
so yeah, it's a mix of all that, but primarily
that's our mission. Yeah, to communicate God's loving and truth.
Speaker 1 (26:16):
What is your plan for growth? And we talked about
the digital media, We've talked about your footprint going into
Toledo in the surrounding area and how massive that is
in comparison. What's the vision moving forward?
Speaker 2 (26:30):
You want to just to reveal the whole game plan
right here on this podcast. Honestly our approach and really
there's no hidden agenda here. We're still trying to figure
it all out. Gotch We really are. And so as
everybody is to say you would have a five to
(26:53):
ten year plan, that's almost comical because how do you
do that? I mean, there's so much that can change.
There's so much can change in three years with the
technology now, so I really can't. We have no like
we're going to take over the world. A broadcasting plan.
The way for us expansion has kind of evolved in
a real rhythm for us, and it's really been it's
(27:16):
not like we've been looking, Oh, what's the next available
open air signal, we must have it. No, it's been
more like our listeners would tell us, Hey, I live
closer to the Indiana state line, but I go to
work in Lima and I'd love to be able to
hear you in Lima. That's how it evolved. And originally
(27:37):
it was Archbolt, Ohio. That was our first signal outside
of the Fort Wayne. Signal was in arch bowlt or Spencerville. Well, no, Archbowl, Ohio.
That was the first one, and we have one in Spencerville.
But it was more like I either listened at work
or I listened at home, but I can't eat you
in both places. Why can't you?
Speaker 3 (27:55):
You know?
Speaker 2 (27:55):
And then enough you get enough of that, it was like, well, okay,
when then if something opens up there, we'll have to
take a look at it. And that's how we've expanded,
I mean really over the years.
Speaker 3 (28:05):
So they have a lot of commuter listening.
Speaker 2 (28:07):
We do, we really do, and we're blessed to be
kind of a regional station. Yes, I mean the signal
originates in Fort Wayne and that's where the studios are.
But just over the years it is just expanded. And
that's how it's expanded. I mean, even the Toledo signal
was we weren't looking for the eighty eight point nine.
We really weren't, honest to goodness, and it was kind
(28:32):
of a happy accident. Although I don't believe in accidents,
but you know, that's part of my faith. I think
God's in control of it all. But I guess this
is my stupidity. I didn't realize we found out was
available and our first honest to goodness, our engineer will
tell you this because when he told us about I
our first look at it was like, okay, it'll fill
(28:53):
in some gaps of coverage in southwest Michigan and extreme
northwest Ohio. It'll fill in some of those and maybe
north of that a little bit. But at first time
was like we were going to get more cows and
sheep listening. I mean, there's not really you know, we
first weren't interested. And Chris, our engineer, buried the headline.
(29:16):
He said, oh, and we were driving around and listening
to the signal. He said, oh, by the way, it
will cover all of Toledo and Bowling Green. Why didn't
you lead with that? Why didn't you just start with that?
Because you know, we had enough listeners over the years,
we had a signal in on the east I'm sorry,
the west side of Toledo since nineteen ninety two, probably
(29:38):
four or five counties, but it wasn't to the point
where it was worth the investment to get over here
because you were only talking It was more of northwest Ohio,
a little bit of Toledo in that market. But once
this signal was available, it just became obvious that, okay,
we need to pursue this. And the seller was favorable
(29:59):
towards it, towards us, and he actually wanted it to
stay a Christian format because it was before I guess.
Speaker 3 (30:07):
Catholic ques.
Speaker 2 (30:08):
I think it was Calvary, Yes, I think so. I
think they were looking to reduce their footprint and they
really wanted to stay ministry and in the region, and
that's where we were.
Speaker 1 (30:19):
And well, thank god for those Bob Ross a little happy.
Speaker 2 (30:24):
Because that's what I really was. And then of course
then I realized, oh, well, it's that way. With every
signal expansion we were, well, we got to get over there.
How can we serve the listeners, because again we're nonprofit
and we're more ministry oriented, so it's like, how can
we help the ministries, the nonprofits, pastors all that. And
that's how you and I got connected because there's a
(30:44):
ministry called Merge over here that everybody was telling me,
you got to meet the folks at Merge. You know,
I was interviewing leaders and pastors and all that, and
so started attending. They're wonderful people and a wonderful, uniting
kind of ministry. And so you came one of those
and we exchanged cards or whatever, and here we are, here,
(31:05):
here we are right now.
Speaker 1 (31:07):
Last question, what do you think Ross's legacy is and
what would you like for it to be?
Speaker 2 (31:16):
Holy Cow? That's a question, Okay, that's question. You have
to edit out the dead air then, thinking I think
current would be. I've always tried to utilize the strengths
of the people God has put in our ministry, on
(31:37):
our team in every position. I think I've been diligent
to do that. You know, I certainly tried to do that.
You know, He's perfect. You make mistakes, but I've tried
to enhance our ministry to get the people in the
right places to do the best radio media that we
(32:00):
can possibly do. So that'd be the current future. Like
I said, I don't know if I can determine.
Speaker 3 (32:05):
I can't.
Speaker 2 (32:06):
That'd be other people determine what. Okay, they did a
great job and they had a good time doing it.
That's a good there you go. That would I'd be
fine with that.
Speaker 3 (32:17):
Oh man, awesome, awesome, Oh Russell.
Speaker 1 (32:19):
I thank God that you made a way to get
here to talk to me, my pleasure and share your
your life with us and hopefully with the listeners. You know,
I do believe that we're not just healed by the testimony,
but it's inspiring to folks. Sometimes we have no idea
how our lives may inspire others. So I thank you
(32:40):
for sharing your life with us today on the Voices
of Legacy.
Speaker 4 (32:44):
Thank you, Thank you for listening to the Voices of
the Legacy. This is your friend, Pastor Carl Mitchell, the third,
your host of this program. We want you to go
(33:06):
to w GTE dot org slash Legacy to like, share, subscribe,
and hear all of our past podcast and our future podcast.
Be a friend and join with us in the voices
of legacy, where you're writing your own legacy every day
that you live. Have a blessing
Speaker 2 (34:00):
And
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