Student led documentary features history of WLAF

Production on the WLAF project began in August of 2025

By Matthew Moore

LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF)- Click HERE to watch On Air – The WLAF Story.

May 17 marks 73 years of WLAF radio being on the air. The station was started by local businessmen Ed Balloff and Ed Wheeler, Sr., in 1953. For a shade more than half of those 73 years, it has been locally owned and operated by Stair Company. This is much unlike many other radio station this size in a small community. When I was told I would need to produce a documentary on a topic of my choosing, it didn’t take long to realize what it would be.

This documentary features Bill Waddell, Clayton Carroll, Charles Hutson, Aaron Hopkins, Jim Freeman and Matthew Moore. Moore produced the film.

Thank you to my Pellissippi instructors Jessie Tipton, Katie Lovette, and Rus Harper for their guidance on the film. Also, thank you to production assistants Josh Marler and Nathan Cubero. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED-05/08/2026-6AM)