A Union College magazine special feature
Since the first scheduled broadcast on Oct. 14, 1920, Union College radio has been a laboratory for generations of students to experiment on-air, and in many cases to launch a career they never expected.
'Music hurtling through the ether'
WRUC celebrates a century on the air
WRUC alumni are unlikely to agree on which era was the golden age of Union radio. But alumni from the 60s and early 70s think they have a pretty good idea. As our commemoration of a century of radio was taking shape, a number of alumni from that era shared their experiences. We are indebted to all, but in particular to Jeff Hedquist '67 and Bob Saltzman '69 for collecting their accounts. With apologies for editing, here we share their memories and updates.
AL NAHMIAS '66
Retired radio executive
DICK FERGUSON '67
Retired radio executive
JEFFREY HEDQUIST '67
President, Hedquist Productions
FRANK MAURO '67
Retired, public service
NORM OLSEN '67
Retired software developer
MARK "THE BIG Z" ZAUDERER '67
Attorney, Ganfer, Shore, Leeds & Zauderer LLP
AL BANGERT '68
Retired manager, Proctor & Gamble
MARK POLANSKY '68
Information technology executive
TOM SEEM '68
Retired TV executive
GARY ABRAMSON '69
Attorney, Legal Aid Society of Orange County, N.Y.
JOEL BLUMENTHAL '69
Tax professional
BOB KILLIAN '69
Retired probate judge
PETE MILLER '69
Cultural consultant
RICHARD REINGOLD '69
Television executive, Hubbard Broadcasting
BOB SALTZMAN '69
Retired GE manager
PETER X. TIERNEY '69
Child psychologist
ALLEN BRAILEY '70
Retired technical professional
ART FORSDICK '70
Retired IT professional
CHARLES CUSIMANO '70
Retired TV executive
PAUL CONSTANTINE '71
Retired publishing director
PHIL ROBINSON '71
Director and producer
KC MACARTHUR '72
Retired, community services
GREG PATTENAUDE '79
Retired, NYS Department of Public Service
JULIE GREIFER SWIDLER '79
Executive Vice President Business Affairs and General Counsel, Sony Music Entertainment
JOHN WELCH '80
Senior Counsel, Chevron Corp.
SCOTT WYKOFF '85
Reporter, WBAL Radio, Baltimore, Md.
SATA DIAKITE '21
General manager, WRUC
NOAH COUTURIER '21
Technical Director, WRUC
'First station in the nation': a timeline
Students set up a "wireless telegraph station" for a senior thesis in electrical engineering
A new radio club transmits Morse code to receivers in Albany and Schenectady
Union is the first licensed station to air a regular scheduled broadcast
"Wireless baby carriage" promotes station in Schenectady
Union's Radio Workshop begins through GE shortwave stations
Union radio airs five hours a day
Debut of "Remaining Standing," a popular quiz show in which students try to stump a faculty panel
A contest produces new call letters: WRUC – “Radio Union College”
After a 1963 shutdown, WRUC schedule at 18 hours per day; 24 hours by 1980
FCC approval to switch to FM broadcasting
The radio set, Union College 1920
What's in a name?
Union College radio, best known as WRUC, has used many call letters.
Some of them, by year of adoption, were:
(GE shortwave stations)
