What are you going to be when you grow up? We like to ask kids that question because you never know what you might find out. Ask youngster David Stewart about his career plans and he would have told you he not only wanted to work in radio … he already was working in radio!  For sticking to his dream for over 50 years, becoming one of the most respected broadcasters in the state, the ABA is proud to honor WMFC’s owner and operator David Stewart with the 2019 Broadcaster of the Year award.

“Dad was born and raised up in Monroeville, and his father had the radio station before he was even born, so it’s been pretty much part of his life from the very beginning,” explains his daughter, Ryanne.

“Yes, he got interested in radio really early,” says Nancy, his wife of 36 years. “When he was just three years old, he made a little radio station out of a playhouse. He used boxes to make a board and put in some old wires and things.”  By the time he was ten, David was hosting his own Saturday morning kid’s show.

“There was a guy that ran the board and made sure the commercials aired correctly, but David picked out the songs and talked about each one,” explains Nancy. “Then when he was fifteen, he got his license and started working a weekend shift on his own.” David has been “playing” radio ever since.  David, who is a little person, once said, “There, stature was about how you sounded, what you did, not physical size.”

When David’s father, William Stewart, died in 1995, he helped his mother, Carolyn Stewart, manage the business and then took over full ownership of the company upon her death in 2014. His longevity at WMFC has made David one of Monroeville’s most well-known residents.

“Everybody knows him and talks to him wherever he goes,” says Ryanne. “Sometimes when people want to know about something, they don’t wait to hear it on the radio, they call the station or his cell phone to find out what’s going on.”

“When the hurricane knocked us off the air, the pulp mill brought in some generators and David had the station up and running in a day and a half,” Nancy says. “When people need local information, they turn to our station.”

Radio Day featuring the local Kiwanis Club has become an event the whole community looks forward to each year.  David’s father started giving up a day of airtime to the club in the 1950s and David, also a Kiwanian, has faithfully continued the tradition.  Fellow club member, Paul England says, “People ask when it’s coming up.  It has turned into a really fun event that highlights local businesses and supports different Kiwanis projects.”  England added that David has always been good about airing public service announcements, covering local elections and carrying area high school football games.  He continued, “David is community oriented, providing local news when a lot of communities just don’t have that anymore.”

Keeping WMFC local has been one of David’s most important goals. Over the years, he has been recognized by numerous groups for using WMFC to aid their causes.  Groups include the American Red Cross, Hospices South, American Heart Association, Alabama Special Olympics, American Cancer Society, United Way, Monroeville Chamber of Commerce, numerous schools and churches.  Alabama Broadcasters Association President Sharon Tinsley commented, “David has harnessed the power of his station to help with everything from raising money, driving the local economy, featuring local personalities and even finding peoples’ dogs over the years!  He and his family define local radio.”

“You know, David is a little person, and you have to work hard … you have to work harder to be accepted,” Nancy continues. “Even though he’s from a small market, large markets listen to what he has to say. He’s not only accepted, he’s respected.”

“It’s a family operated business and Monroeville has seen some hard times,” says Nancy. “We used to have a staff of 10-15 and now David literally runs the station with two full time employees, of which he’s one, and two part time employees.”  “But,” says Nancy, “…his goals for the future are what they’ve always been. “This station is his baby. He feels responsible for keeping it going. He wants it to have a good, good reputation and provide a service to the community. Radio is he all he’s ever wanted to do.”

When interviewed for a newspaper feature about his long lasting career in the family business, David (now silver haired but still playing at radio) said in his booming baritone voice, “I was fortunate to have this.  I’m proud of it.”