Leroy and Viola Garrett (Jet)

Born:

September 8 1917

Died:

August 22, 1997, Madison County, Alabama

Buried:

Northside Cemetery, Huntsville, Alabama

Wife of:

Leroy Garrett

Notes:

•  Her name was spelled "Vivla" in the 1920 US Census. She was 23 and is married to Leroy. They were living in Birmingham on 14th Street. Her occupation was listed as a "Presser" and at this point it she did not appear to have much formal education. - 1920 US Census

•  Mrs. Garrett was a partner in business and marriage with Mr. Leroy Garrett - Editor's note

•  "WEUP (AM) began broadcasting on March 20, 1958, on a 100-watt 1600 kHz AM station owned by Leroy and Viola Garrett, who became the first African-American owners of a radio station in the state of Alabama. WEUP-AM first broadcast from a pink trailer in the grounds of Syler Tabernacle Church in Huntsville, before moving to its present studios on Jordan Lane. The station's format was a mixture of urban contemporary gospel and soul music as well as news and public affairs catering to the interests of the Tennessee Valley's black population, everyday from sunrise to 6 p.m.
     The Garretts made history when they testified before a congressional committee in 1963, the outcome of which resulted in the change of a Federal Communications Commission law regulating 24-hour broadcasts in the 1960s. That year WEUP-AM began 24-hour broadcasts, yet another milestone for urban radio." - Wikipedia WEUP

•  Garrett applied for a permit to extend broadcasting hours into the night. The permit was refused and so Garrett took his case to the United States Circuit Court of Appeals, and won. The decision led to changes in the Federal Communications Commission law. - Justia.com

•  WEUP Station History
(Huntsville, Alabama) -- In 1958, the beginning of the high tech era, Huntsville proudly announced that the formation of a new Army Missile Command was underway. Meanwhile, an equally important event occured at about the same time -- Alabama's first black-owned and black-operated radio station, WEUP, took to the airwaves on March 20th, 1958. The 100 watt AM station, owned by Leroy and Viola Garrett, signed on from a pink trailer on the grounds of Syler Tabernacle Church. The broadcast was a mix of gospel, sermons, news, and rythmn and blues from sun-up to 6 p.m. every evening.
For the first time ever, black listeners in and around Huntsville, Alabama, had a voice of their own. Listeners of 1600 AM were able to hear a viable mix of gospel and soul music as well as news and public affairs catering to the interests of the Tennessee Valley's black population.
The Garrets continued making history in the 1960s. Their unwavering determination and perserverance, and public testimony before a congressional committee in 1963, resulted in the change of a Federal Communication Commission (FCC) law regulating 24-hour broadcasts. That year WEUP began 24-hour broadcasts -- yet another milestone for black radio.
When Mrs. Garrett decided to sell the station in 1987, there was a silent nod to tradition as another successful, black, husband and wife team, Hundley Batts, Sr. and Dr. Virginia Caples, took the reins of ownership and operation of WEUP.
Realizing the important history and obvious potential of the radio station, the new owners acquired another station, WEUZ 92.1 FM in Minor Hill, Tennessee and brought WEUP onto the FM broadcast airwaves.
Operating under the parent company name of BROADCAST ONE, Mr. Batts & Dr. Caples continued to expand the station's audience by acquiring Moulton, Alabama's WHIY 1190 AM, WEUP-FM 103.1, and adding WEUV-AM 1700 to the group of stations that are part of Huntsville's Heritage Station. Today, with 25,000 watts stemming from WEUP-FM 103.1, 5,000 watts beaming from WEUP AM 1600, coupled with 10,000 watts coming from WEUV AM 1700, 2,500 watts from WHIY AM 1190, and 6,000 watts from WEUZ FM 92.1 in Minor Hill, Tennessee, BROADCAST ONE's owners, along with its management and staff, are poised to continue the legacy of professionalism established by Leroy and Viola Garrett almost half a century ago. Our reach now goes beyond the airwaves, as technology is allowing us to be heard globally on both of our web sites at www.103weup.com or www.weupam.com
We continue to grow and evolve while keeping one important constant in mind, our commitment to deliver the urban perspective, not only to listeners in two states, but also around the world. The WEUP family of stations remains firmly committed to that goal and will continue to carry the torch and provide the community with a voice of its own. - WEUP AM


Related Links:

•  1920 US Census - This view of the census through an Ancestry.com paid subscription. (Originally found at http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=1940usfedcen&indiv=try&h=60050302.)

•  Find A Grave - Page created by Jason Presley.

•  Jet - Jet Magazine's article when Mr. Garrett died. Jet, January 22, 1981.

•  Justia.com - This is the Appeal

•  Leagle - Garrett v. F. C. C. with opinion.

•  WEUP AM - A revised webpage with a new history might be found here: https://103weup.com/our-story/ (Originally found at http://www.103weup.com/page.php?page_id=67.)

•  Wikipedia WEUP - Early history of the radio station.

The Following Pages Link to this Page:
•  Leroy Garrett