Growing Pains: 1971-1991
Following Turnell’s retirement from DePauw in 1971, WGRE faced a new era without one of its most visible faces from the past two decades. While changes were felt around the station when WGRE’s first advisor Herold Ross retired in 1961, upon Turnell’s retirement WGRE was forced to enter a transition period which would necessitate new leaders coming into the fold. The first of such leaders was John Bittner who was named WGRE’s general manager and faculty advisor at the beginning of the 1973-1974 school year. For the years between Turnell’s retirement and Bittner’s hiring WGRE had general managers, most notably Rick Gudal who had been a 1972 graduate of DePauw, but Bittner represented the first faculty advisor since Turnell retired from the position. (more)
