K 550: Commending WIBX 950 AM upon the occasion of its 100th Anniversary of broadcasting

 Assembly Resolution No. 550 BY: M. of A. Buttenschon COMMENDING WIBX 950 AM upon the occasion of its 100th Anniversary of broadcasting WHEREAS, The State of New York takes immense pride in the success of radio stations and their ability to communicate with a wide array of citizens to bring them together through news, music, sports, and; and WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with it long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commend WIBX 950 AM upon the occasion of its 100th Anniversary of broadcasting; and WHEREAS, On December 5, 1925, when radio was in its infancy, one of New York's oldest radio stations, WIBX, signed on the air for the very first time; there were only about 1,600 stations operating throughout the United States at the time and only 19% of households had radio receivers; and WHEREAS, WIBX 1460 AM started broadcasting in the Clark Building in downtown Utica, New York, and would proceed to move around the dial until 1948, when it would settle as WIBX 950 AM, almost a year after the FCC granted the move from 1230 AM to 950 AM; and WHEREAS, It wasn't until the late 1930s that radios would be considered standard features in cars, and it was during this time that WIBX would become an affiliate of Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) and would broadcast programs from the "the Golden Age of Radio" including dramas, comedies, soap operas, sports, and newscasts which would become the standard for the top and bottom of every hours; and WHEREAS, In the 1950s, the sports talk program Sportswatch debuted and would continue until 2013, seeing many legendary hosts that would move on to the national scene; and WHEREAS, In the 1960s and 1970s, WIBX continued to evolve and engage their listeners by broadcasting new programs and incorporating everything popular; and WHEREAS, WIBX would become known for its Middle of the Road (MOR) format which would include a mixture of music, personality, sports, nationally syndicated programs, and news; and WHEREAS, As the decades changed, so did their lineup; in the late-1980s, WIBX dropped music and transitioned to the news-talk format that it runs today, featuring Rush Limbaugh's nationally syndicated program and its affiliations with Fox News Radio; and WHEREAS, Throughout its broadcasting history, WIBX has witnessed and reported on major world events such as broadcasting during the Great Depression, Prohibition, the attack on Pearl Harbor, six different wars, the assassination of President Kennedy, the attacks on September 11th, and the Coronavirus pandemic; and WHEREAS, Over the past 100 years, WIBX has covered world-breaking news, been committed to the engagement of their listeners, bringing life to broadcasting, and making way for what it is today; and WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is proud to honor and commend WIBX 950 AM for its outstanding contributions to the broadcasting and radio industry, and bringing people all over the Utica community together through its said contributions; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pauses in its deliberations to commend WIBX 950 AM upon the occasion of its 100th Anniversary of broadcasting, and celebrate its remarkable history, work, and contributions to the broadcasting and radio industry; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to WIBX 950 AM.