Earle J. Gluck

Who was Earle J. Gluck?

Earle J. Gluck, was a radio pioneer, born in Maryland. One of the originators of WBT-AM in Charlotte, NC. The station dates to December 1920, when Fred Laxton, Earle Gluck and Fred Bunker set up an amateur radio station in Laxton's home. Four months later, the station received an experimental license as 4XD. The trio decided to go commercial in 1922, and incorporated as the Southern Radio Corporation. In April, the station signed on as the first fully licensed radio station south of Washington, D.C. WSB in Atlanta was the first station in the Southeast to actually broadcast, a month before WBT. However, the Commerce Department only authorized WSB to broadcast weather reports until it received its license a few months after WBT.

Gluck then moved on to Charlotte's WSOC, for which he was also an originator, and was also a pioneer in Amateur Radio and was active in the hobby from its infancy. He also was an active community leader and served on the Housing Authority of the city. He was a charter member of the Charlotte Amateur Radio Club and was instrumental in offering guidance and advice in its organization. Gluck also served in organizations such as the Kiwanis Club, Civitan Club, and the Boy Scouts of America. He died in Charlotte, NC. After he became a Silent Key, his wife donated some of his amateur radio equipment to the Club.