WLRA

WLRA-FM

Romeoville, Illinois
Broadcast area	Chicago, Illinois area and greater Joliet, Illinois region
Frequency	88.1 MHz
Branding	88.1 FM WLRA
Programming
Format	Variety
Ownership
Owner	Lewis University (College of Arts and Sciences - Communications Department)
Sister stations	Lewis University Television Network
History
First air date	1972
Call sign meaning	W-L-ewis RA-dio
Technical information
Facility ID	37190
Class	A
Power	333 watts forward power
ERP	140 watts effective radiated power
HAAT	40.0 meters
Transmitter coordinates	41°36′10.00″N 88°4′49.00″W
Links
Webcast	[1]
Website	[2]

WLRA-FM (88.1 FM) is a college radio station broadcasting a Variety format. Licensed to Romeoville, Illinois, USA, the station serves the Chicago / greater Joliet region. The station is currently owned by Lewis University.

Lewis University's Radio Station History

WFJL-FM - WLCL-AM - WERA-AM - WLRA-FM

• WFJL-FM -- (w - FJL - Frank J. Lewis)(93.1 FM Chicago) in the late 40s and 50s, operated as a non-commercial station by a Lewis College of Science and Technology (previous name of Lewis College, now Lewis University) . Lewis College sold WFJL-FM in 1958. The new owners of WFJL-FM renamed the call letters to WSBC-FM - from 1959 to 1963, now it is called WXRT-FM. WFJL-FM, under the leadership of Roman Catholic Bishop Bernard J. Sheil of the Archdiocese of Chicago, radio format consisted of religious, educational, news, talk, and CYO Boxing. WFJL's facilites were located at the Lincoln Tower Building, 75 East Wacker Drive, Chicago, 600 feet above the ground and had an effective radiated power of 29,000 watts.

• WLCL-AM - (w - LCL - Lewis College Lockport) AM carrier current radio station on college campus. Located in Sheil Hall dormitory basement.

• WERA-AM - (WERA - WE're a RAdio station) was the renamed WLCL-AM carrier current radio station to match new FM station license - WERA-AM and WLRA-FM. Studios were built for the station in Fitzpatrick Hall dormitory basement.

• WLRA-FM - (w - LRA - Lewis RAdio) went on the air in 1972 on 88.1 in mono, 250 watts of effective radiated power at 90 feet HAAT. WLRA is licensed as a non-commercial educational radio station. In 1976 WLRA added stereo.

WLRA was the first college radio station to become digital. Lewis University received a digital radio project grant in the 1990's from a major communications corporation. The studios, music archives, music scheduling system, audio storage and retrieval systems (including audiovault, audio consoles, cd players & recorders, mini-disc player and recorders, and DAT), phone system, codecs, processing, delays, fm exciter, and transmitters were upgraded from analog to state of the art digital AES/EBU type I balanced and AES/EBU type II optical. The entire digital project was a joint venture with the Freberg Communications Corporation, Illinois, Harris Corporation, Florida, Pacific Research and Engineering, California, AWare Corporation, Wisconsin, and Broadcast Electronics Corporation, Illinois. WLRA also added RDS radio data system to the FM transmission allowing information about the artist and song to be displayed on a radio tuned to 88.1fm. Lewis University installed a self standing 250 foot radio tower and new digital IBOC or HD Radio ready ERI Rototiler single bay fm antenna in 2000 adjacent to DeLaSalle Hall. WLRA increased the antenna height to 200 feet HAAT and had to reduce the effective radiated power to 140 watts. WLRA moved from the basement of Fitzpatick Hall dormitory basement to new studios and broadcasting center in 2005. The new broadcasting facility was named the Andrew Center for Electronic Media at Lewis University. The broadcasting studios and transmitters are located in DeLaSalle Hall on the Romeoville campus.

WLRA's Programming

WLRA Radio's diverse programming reflects a traditional college radio format known as variety presented in block style (2-3 hour show).

WLRA Radio has hosted many innovative radio programs over the years, free-form experimental college radio programming, weekly live radio talk shows, [[Lewis University] Flyer sporting events from around the country, remote broadcasts, and community service events.

WLRA's current programming includes news and talk, coverage of Lewis University Flyer Sports, local high school football and basketball; music genre formats including: Adult Album Alternative, Alternative Rock, Hip Hop, Rap, Rock and Roll, Blues, Jazz, Reggae, Religious, Country, seasonal Christmas music, and Latina-American cultural immersion [3].

WLRA, with a commitment to community service, has produced marathon broadcasts for a local children's hospital [4]and Christmas music programming with the United Way of Will County.

WLRA Departments

2007-2008 WLRA-FM Radio station departments and Directors:

Department	Director
General Manager	Thomas Graham
Operations and Programming	Brett Mega
Music	Shannon Spector
News	Catie Cryder
Sports	Greg Warnimont
Promotions and Marketing	Zoey Mitronis
Production	Shannon Flannigan
Technology and Engineering	Larry Linka

Notable WLRA-FM Alumni

• Douglas Bobrowski [5], afternoon drive radio personality "Doug E. Styles" for CBS Radio station WBBM-FM B-96.3fm Chicago
• Derrick Brown, WVAZ V103 Clear Channel Radio, Chicago Program Director
• Len O'Kelly [6], WFGR Grand Rapids, Program Director and radio personality
• Spike O'Dell, WGN-AM, Chicago morning drive radio personality
• John W. Kilpatrick, 3 time Daytime Emmy Award recipient for the "Oprah Winfrey Show".
• John V. Strolia, 7 time Daytime Emmy Award recipient for the "Oprah Winfrey Show".
• Deborah Olivia Brown, Director of Station Relations for NBC WMAQ-TV in Chicago
• John Mason [7], television news presenter (News Anchor) for KSTP-TV, Minneapolis
• Kwesi Atowi, radio account executive for WGCI 107.5fm Clear Channel Radio Chicago
• Renee Syzmonick-Thometz, promotions manager for CBS Radio station WBBM-FM B-96.3fm Chicago
• Angelo Lazzara, television producer, for nationally sydicated agriculture television show - Town and Country Living (formerly the US Farm Report) - hosted by Orion Samuelson and Max Armstrong
• Jay Zawaski, executive radio producer for CBS Radio station WSCR The Score Sportsradio 670 AM Chicago
• Ryan Huff, radio producer of sports shows on KFNS-AM in St. Louis
• Eric Wilson [8], television news presenter (News Anchor) for WREX-TV, Rockford, Illinois
• Anthony Musiala, Vice President of Sales/Marketing, Minty Fresh Records, Chicago, [[Illinois]
• Tim Tierney [[9]], Good Karma Broadcasting, Janesville, Wisconsin ESPN Radio-1380 radio personality, and Program Director of WWHG 105.9 The Hawk

Lewis University Radio Station Managers

WLCL-AM General Managers:

Academic Years	Person
1965-1967	Robert Feustal Norb Bora
1968	John McCrea

WERA-AM General Managers:

Academic Years	Person
1969	John McCrea
1970-1971	Dennis Stork
1972	Michael Burlak

WLRA-FM General Managers:

Academic Years	Person
1973	Steve Partman
1974	Diane Drinka
1975	Joseph Vercelotti
1976	Robert Best
1977	James Boles
1978	John Mason
1979	Kate Dolan
1980	David Dolan
1981	Russell Tulacz
1982	Sandra Janicke Edward Vucinic
1983	Paul Yedwofski Martin Albert
1984	Segio Cerda James Duda
1985	Lauria Skala
1986	Thomas Hehir
1987	John J. Sonnefeldt II
1988	Stanley Wysocki
1989	Anthony Musiala
1990	Calvert N. Coleman Eric Wilson
1991	Christopher Thelan
1992	Kathy Holland
1993	Steven L. Jordan
1994	Renee Syzomonik-Thometz
1995	Adam F. Schwake
1996	Candice Foiles
1997	Eugino Garcia
1998	Cindy M. Dardwin
1999	Gennin Bradley
2000	Mara Mishler
2001	Ryan Arnold
2002	Justin Greiner
2003	Patrick J. Brodnicki
2004	Peter J. Turano
2005	Carmen Madia
2006	Ryan Huff
2007	Justin Thomas
2008	Thomas Graham
2009	TBA

WLRA's Memberships

• NAB (National Assoication of Broadcasters)[10] member station
• ILBA (Illinois Broadcaster's Association)[11]
• BEA (Broadcast Education Association)[12]

External links

• Template:FMQ
• Template:FML
• WLRA in Nielsen Audio's FM station database