[BC] For a mature audience

[Jay Braswell]

For those who've been around for awhile...especially those in Georgia.

I'm trying to find some details on Howard Gilreath. Here's what I know:


He managed (and was possibly a co-owner of) WVOP/Vidalia, Ga. He changed the 
then WRQN from a 250 watt fulltimer on 1450, to WVOP, a 5kw daytime 
blowtorch on 970.

Gilreath also built (and owned) WMAC (now WHCG)/Metter, WCLA/Claxton, Ga and 
WKIG (license cancelled)/Glennville, Ga

He (and Lowell Register) bought WBBN (now WPGA)/Perry, Ga in 1960

I'm told that he built (and likely quickly sold) WMGE (now WYTH)/Madison, 
Ga, WFPM (now WXKO)/Fort Valley, Ga and WGUS (now WPCH)/North Augusta, SC

To my knowledge, all the stations he built (except WMAC) had Collins 
transmitters...20V-2's for the kilowatters and a 21-E for Vidalia. WMAC had 
a Gates BC-500T, the same as WBBN had when he bought it.

To the best of my knowledge, he was a pretty good engineer. I am told that 
he was never married, always drove a big Cadillac, and had an uncontrollable 
affinity for strong drink. It was the drinking that likely contributed 
greatly to his death from an esophageal rupture, and the resulting 
exsanguination of his blood. I'm not sure about the year of his death, but I 
believe it was 1971.

>From what I know, he had quite an impact on Georgia broadcasting, and I'd 
like to know more about him. Any information would be appreciated.


Thanks,
Jay Braswell