Bernie Dittman (1927-2006) was born in Ohio, and his interest in broadcasting became known in the sales and marketing department of his family’s appliance store in Cleveland, Ohio. He was involved in the purchasing of advertising time at local radio stations.
When he attended the University of St. Louis, he did not study broadcasting, but engineering. After earning his engineering degree, Bernie’s interest in broadcasting kept him away from a career in engineering. His interest finally peaked when he decided to buy a radio up for sale, with the help of a broker. He found out that the Mobile Register was selling its country music station WABB. He seized the opportunity in 1959 and shortly after arriving in Mobile a year later, the station began broadcasting Top-40 music. The format was such a success in the 1960s that WABB added a new FM simulcast in 1973. Since he assumed ownership in 1959, WABB has been one of the longest running Top-40 radio stations in the United States.
His service to his fellow man included sponsorships of the Greater Gulf State Fair for 40 years. WABB created the Community Club Awards Program of Greater Mobile and in its 47th Year of rewarding local civic, religious and cultural institutions it awarded over $250,000 in financial rewards. WABB sponsored many community events in the Mobile area, Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo- 35 years, Senior Bowl, GMAC Bowl (since its inception in 2000), USA Men’s and Women’s Tennis, Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Mobile, Sponsor of Junior Achievement (1970’s-1980’s), Newton Cox Pro Classic Tournament and Kids’ Tennis Clinic and the Lyons Park Tennis Association. WABB had a 9 year involvement with the U.S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots Campaign. WABB sponsored a Radiothon (2000-2003) and helped raise funds to build the Ronald McDonald House.
WABB is the Emergency Broadcast Station for the Mobile area and played a crucial role in disseminating information to residents during Hurricanes Frederick (Sept. 1979) and Ivan (Sept. 2004). WABB was one of the only stations in the area to broadcast continually without losing transmission power during Hurricane Ivan. WABB also conducted and promoted a relief effort to supply donations to neighboring states that were severely affected by Hurricane Ivan. WABB call letters stand for Alabama’s Best Broadcasters and in 1984- WABB FM changed to CHR format. WABB was one of the first stations in Mobile to hire women and African Americans as announcers and was one of the first stations in the country to broadcast Casey Kasem’s American Top 40 Countdown.
Industry Honors
· Broadcaster of the Years 2005
· Greater Mobile Advertising Federation Silver Medal Award 2000
· Member of the National Broadcasters Association
Upon his passing it was said “I wish I knew exactly how many competitors made a run at Bernie, but I know the number who succeeded, zero. Bernie would fight you for business as hard as anyone, but if you needed something, like a place to stick an emergency antenna when your tower went down, he was the first to volunteer”.
He and his wife Judy had three daughters, Betsy, Stephanie and Marsha.
