Troy Broadcasting Corporation, parent company of WTBF AM & FM, began its sixty-second year of broadcast service to South Alabama this February. WTBF began as an idea around the coffee table at Byrd Drug in early 1946.( An earlier radio station had located over the fire department in the 1930’s but moved to Dothan before 1932. ) Sixteen Troy Merchants and Professional Men organized Troy Broadcasting Corporation and received permission from the Federal Communications Commission to construct a 250 watt AM radio station in Troy in early 1946. A number of those first investors remained on the board of directors of Troy Broadcasting Corporation when the station was sold to the present owners Joe Gilchrist, Asa Dudley and Jim Roling in 1986. A remote area of the Troy State Teachers College campus was leased to construct a one thousand  square foot building and a 250-foot broadcast tower.

  Broadcasting began February 25, 1947. The agreement with the college included jobs for students and public relations for the 250 student college. WTBF was to remain at that location for the next fifty years increasing the AM power to 5,000 watts in 1956 and moving their towers to property on U.S. 29 North of Troy. Their studio in the “remote corner of the campus” became the center of  the campus as the university grew. WTBF continued to be a major promotional arm of the college  and developed the Troy State Appreciation Club and Troy State Appreciation Day to promote Troy State sports and activities.

  Over three thousand young men and women have worked their way through the university as announcers and fourteen are on staff today. Approval of a 25,000 watt FM station in 1997 required larger facilities for the two stations. The former Leons Ladies Wear building on the Square in downtown Troy was purchased and the studios were moved in June. WTBF AM programs a varied talk format that includes Rush Limbaugh and Clark Howard  syndicated shows while WTBF FM programs the ABC Networks Memories format, a blend of songs of the 50’s through the early 80’s.

   National Awards from the United States Treasury Department for U.S. Savings Bonds and The March of Dimes.An International Award for Small Market Broadcasters from the International Broadcasters Idea Bank. Local Awards include the Exchange Clubs Book of Golden Deeds. In keeping with their community service, the WTBF Studios now offer the public an opportunity to view over fifty works of The Troy Arts Council’s Collection. The public may view this gallery weekdays from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM.