The Maine Association of Broadcasters has joined with the High School Radio Project–with the goal of getting young people involved and excited about the broadcast industry by creating online broadcast stations at Maine high schools.
Dedication
Bob “Doc” Fuller is a legend in Maine broadcasting history—a journey that continues to this day-and is the reason why the Maine Association of Broadcasters has honored Bob by naming our innovative program the “Bob Fuller High School Radio Project”
Below are some highlights of Bob’s career:
Bob’s brother built a radio studio in the basement of their Newbury, Massachusetts farmhouse when Bob was just 12 years old, connected to two adjacent houses. The station, dubbed “WJFA” (for Johnson-Fuller) started the journey! Fuller’s cousin Dick Johnson later became a DJ on WLOB-AM and WPOR in Portland—and a reporter for WGAN-AM/FM and TV.
Bob signed on WNBP-AM in Newburyport, MA on its first day of operation at the ripe old age of 16!
Thus started a career that included on-air DJ, radio sales, management and ownership in Maine and nationwide. At 18, he was Boston’s youngest DJ.
Duty called—and Bob served two tours in the U.S. Army as a M-48 Tank Driver. He also worked at WDXN in Clarksville, TN while stationed at Fort Campbell in Kentucky.
Bob also worked at WTRY in Albany, NY, KMAK in Fresno, CA, KROY-Sacramento, CA, WPOJ/WPOK in Portland, OR, KGO-AM/FM/TV in San Francisco and KMPC in Los Angeles.
In 1971, Bob was named National Sales Manager for a radio syndication company called Programming DB for Ken Draper and Chuck Blore in Hollywood, travelling to all 50 states, averaging 150 flights a year!
Bob’s first foray into ownership began with WBLM-FM in Lewiston, then Portland. He has owned 37 stations nationwide and more stations in Maine than anyone, all with signals in Portland: 94.3 WCYY in Biddeford, 107.5 Lewiston (WBLM’s original frequency), 102.9 WBLM-FM, 97.9 WJBQ, 98.9 WCLZ, 93.9 in Lewiston (originally simulcast with WCYY), 95.9 WPEI, 95.5 WPPI,and 1400 AM in Biddeford, 1440 AM WRED, 96.3 WJJB (Big Jab Sports-one of the biggest signals in Maine covering over a million people!) and 1310 AM-Portland, 900 AM-Brunswick, 103.7 Mt. Washington and 94.9 WHOM-FM-Mt Washington (the largest land-coverage FM station in North America).
After selling his Fuller-Jeffrey Broadcasting company in 1999, he was asked to on the Board of Directors for Citadel Broadcasting (the company that purchased Fuller-Jeffrey).
Prior to selling the big company, he purchased his original hometown station WNBP-Newburyport, MA—as a gift to his community, offering a format of hits from the 40’s and 50’s.
Bob became one of the early owners and Board members of Alpha Media, based in the “other” Portland (Oregon).
Bob is currently the owner of Atlantic Coast Radio, marking his 70th year in the broadcasting business! Formerly a minority owner with J.J. Jeffrey, Bob, agreed to the wishes of his lifelong friend and business partner to take over following J.J.’s passing. One of those stations, 1440AM–as WJAB was one of Bob’s many successful stints as a DJ (boasting unheard of 56 and 57 % shares of listening to his afternoon show in 1964!)
He has lived in Maine seven times, California three times and is grateful to have worked with so many wonderful people—and proud of all that he has accomplished for broadcasting for decades!
For more information, click the button below –and reach out to Tim Moore at tmoore@mab.org