WMPH History
The WMPH Story
Clint Dantinne is the founder and former coordinator of the Broadcast Learning Center of the Brandywine School District from 1993-2010. He was also the general manager for WMPH 91.7 FM radio station serving over a half million potential listeners in the tri-state area.
Jesse Morris, Class of 1968, was running for the Mount Pleasant Senior High School student council. On the Morris Ticket was the proposal for a student-run low power radio station. The radio station was initially proposed in May 1967 prior to the student council election.
The student council election was held on May 20, 1967. Jesse Morris was elected Student Council President for the Class of 1968. On May 23, Robert Huber, also Class of 1968, was appointed radio station manager and project coordinator. The school administration were helpful and supportive of this ambitious project.
On February 19, 1968, the Mount Pleasant Board of Education submitted the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) application. The FCC issued a non-commercial FM low power educational radio station construction permit to the school board on October 15, 1968. This was the first permit of its kind to be granted within the State of Delaware.
WMPH radio first signed on the air October 1, 1969.
The radio station was dark (off the air) from 1990-1993. The school district actually forfeited the FCC broadcast license and nearby West Chester University was trying to obtain it. Clint Dantinne gave a proposal to the superintendent to resurrect the defunct station. Had he not interceded at that time, WMPH would have been closed permanently. Under his management, WMPH returned to the air March 1, 1993. It was at this time he chose 'Super 91.7' as the new slogan.
WMPH has always been located at Mount Pleasant High School on the corner of Washington Street Extension and Marsh Road with the exception of the 1995-1996 school year. The entire building was renovated and the radio studios were temporarily moved to a trailer at the Claymont Education Center.
Clint Dantinne founded the Broadcast Learning Center incorporating radio, television, film club, recording studio, puppets, newspaper, and web team at Mount Pleasant High School. Dantinne remained the faculty manager until the end of the 2010 school year.
The 40th anniversary of WMPH was celebrated on October 23, 2009 at the Mount Pleasant Hall of Fame induction ceremony. The event, held every two years around homecoming weekend, was celebrated at the nearby Brandywine Hundred Fire Company. The Mount Pleasant Hall of Fame CLASS OF 2009 inductees were Arthur Colbourn, John Crum, Carol Hoffecker, Rodney Lambert, John Jancuska, and WMPH founders Jesse Morris and Bob Huber. Dr. Jesse Morris was introduced by student Haley Hirzel and then his wife. Bob Huber was introduced by student Todd Hartsock. Teacher Kelli Bradley presented the plaque to our final inductee of the evening. Student Alex Sprague then introduced WMPH manager Clint Dantinne who gave a multimedia presentation.
Old News Articles and Television Interviews
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WMPH 'No Performance Tax' Campaign
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