JET radio began as a small AM station on Erie's Ash Street back in 1951.
Founded by two young men, Myron Jones and William Fleckenstein, with big dreams and little cash,
JET would evolve into the areas best known and most successful boradcasting company with a 50-year history.
WJET premiered as Erie's first independent all music radio station, an entirely new kind of
station with exciting disc jockey personalitites such as Frank Martin, Bob Conners, Ray Otis, Ernie Davis, Don Evans and Barney
Pip. JET was among the first stations anywhere to have a strict playlist, and Kay Jones served as Music Director for
the first twenty years.
More personalities evolved through the 60's & 70's such as Johnny Holiday, Randy Michaels,
Oggie Pringle and Al Knight. Ron Seggi, Barney Luv, and Jim Cook led the way into the start of the 80's.
JET radio's 35th year brought about a change to FM...JET-AM 1400 became JET-FM 102, and regained
#1 ratings behind the leadership of PD Jim Cook. Frank Martin celebrated 40 years as JET's morning DJ, and was inducted
into The Museum of Television & Radio in New York City.
JET's co-founder William Fleckenstein retired in 1990 after a successful 35-year career with
WHOT in Youngstown, OH, a sister-station of WJET. Myron Jones , JET Broadcasting Founder and CEO for 50 years, retired
in 2001, having pioneered a radio style that is emulated everywhere today.
(Special thanks to Myron Jones for providing this information, excerpted from a forthcoming
book about Erie history.)
