WCTC AM marks 60th anniversary

Greater Media Inc. CEO/President Peter Smyth and Terry Marano, widow of Tony Marano, former WCTC/WMGQ general manager, cut the ribbon during the rededication of the WCTC/WMGQ Tony Marano Broadcast Center in Somerset on Oct. 11. On left is Station Manager Dan Henrickson; Marano family members are on the right.

WCTC AM 1450, Somerset section of Franklin, celebrated 60 years of excellence in radio broadcasting Oct. 11 with the official rededication of its building in memory of the late Anthony "Tony" Marano.

The building was officially rededicated as the Tony Marano Broadcast Center by Greater Media Inc. President and CEO Peter Smyth. Marano was a former Greater Media executive and was known to football and basketball fans as the voice of Rutgers University sports.

A resident of Somerset, Marano began his career in radio at WCTC as a part-time morning newsman while still in college. He became the full-time night newsman and sports editor in 1949, and was promoted to news director in 1952. Marano was named assistant station manager in 1959, was promoted to general manager in 1965, and in 1970 became vice president of the Raritan Valley Broadcasting Co., licensee of radio stations WCTC and WMGQ. Marano was named secretary of Greater Media Inc., the parent company of Raritan Valley Broadcasting, in 1991.

Tony Marano, 1961 photo

He led the construction effort of the new building at 78 Veronica Ave. in Somerset and the stations' relocation from downtown New Brunswick.

Besides his achievements in the radio industry, Marano was known for his dedication to civic causes, volunteering thousands of hours to local organizations. Marano died in 2005 at age 78.

Participating in the event were current and past WCTC employees; New Brunswick Mayor Jim Cahill; Franklin Mayor Brian Levine; Peter Smyth, president and CEO of Greater Media Inc.; members of the Marano family; Phil Roberts, executive director of New Jersey Broadcasters Association; and Tom Taylor of Inside Radio.