Bart Walker III

On May 10, 2022, the Heart of Tennessee Chapter of the American Red Cross named Bart Walker the 2022 Hero Honoree

In 2019 The Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame honored WGNS with the coveted "LUTHER AWARD". The Luther Award honors one outstanding Tennessee radio station for its above and beyond service provided for the community it served. This award was named for Chattanooga radio legend Luther Masingill, who spent more than 70-years at one station and woke listeners up daily with plenty of local news, weather reports, community events, as well as helping the community find missing pets. Like Luther Masingill, those who receive this award not only have a heart for serving, but a desire to devote their lives to serving the radio station’s city of license.

On May 14, 2016, Walker was inducted into the TENNESSEE RADIO HALL OF FAME The Murfreesboro, Tennessee Chapter of the NAACP honored Bart Walker on January 14, 2017, by presenting him the JERRY ANDERSON HUMANITARIAN AWARD at the Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Breakfast that was held at Middle Tennessee State University.

WGNS continues to focus on local news, high school and college sports, local government meetings, plus leaders like the mayor, police chief, judges—all have their own talk radio shows on WGNS. In fact, the man who served as Rutherford County's Sheriff for over 3-decades, Truman Jones, has had a popular talk show every weekday morning on WGNS since early 2011 (9-10am). His topics cover local history and conversations with residents who have made a difference in Rutherford County, Tennessee. "The Truman Show" has become a daily mirror that allows listeners to look into this communities' past.

Commissioner Tate saw the logic, and within a few months had the rule-making procedure moving forward. The National Association of Broadcasters supported the idea, and WGNS received Special Temporary Authority (STA) to use an FM translator. On March 1, 2007, WGNS began translating its AM signal on two translators, making it the first AM station in America to utilize this new service.

In January 2006, she was a guest on WGNS' morning talk show and shared how growing-up in Murfreesboro, Tennessee and attending public schools, prepared her for one of the most powerful positions in the nation.

It wasn't until December 2005 when the U.S. Senate approved President George W. Bush's nominee, Deborah Taylor Tate, of Tennessee to serve an unexpired term as Commissioner with the Federal Communications Commission that was when things began to change. Not only was Mrs. Tate from Tennessee, but she grew up in Murfreesboro.

Walker served as the Chairman of the local Red Cross chapter when several hundred evacuees from Hurricane Katrina were flown to the Smyrna Airport in September, 2005. Nick Paranjape interviewed Walker at the Heroes Breakfast that was held in the ballroom of Middle Tennessee State University's Student Union Building.

In 2004 he applied for an FM translator and received the license. However, the Federal Communications Commission did not approve his request to place WGNS' programming on that FM translator. Regular trips to Washington, visits with our legislative leaders—all proved unsuccessful.”

Walker has been honored with the highest award given by the Tennessee Association of Broadcasters, its Distinguished Service Award (2002), and Leadership Rutherford's Pinnacle Award (2011). The family business also received the 2004 Better Business Bureau's "TORCH AWARD" honoring the highest standards of ethics and conduct.

In 1984, Walker moved into ownership. He and local Weight Watcher's franchisee Ray Kalil purchased WGNS in Murfreesboro. Walker was able to later purchase Kalil's share in WGNS. Ironically, his ownership of WGNS has lasted longer than the combined years of all previous three owners. (Cecil Elrod 1947-1960; Regional Broadcasting was William Vogel and Monte Hale 1960-1979; and Davidson Broadcasting 1979-1984; Walker's Rutherford Group purchased WGNS in 1984).

By 1971, Walker was more than ready to return to radio. His first boss, and mentor, Bill Barry hired him to operate a new big band format station that he had built. WAMB came on the air April 12, 1971 at 1190 kHz with 250 watts daytime only. Barry was able to move to 1170 kHz and jump it to 5,000 watts daytime, then 10,000 daytime and eventually to 1160 kHz with a maximum AM power of 50,000 watts daytime and 1,000 watts at night.

After receiving his BS degree (1968), Walker returned to Nashville where for the next three-years, he was in public relations with the Tennessee Department of Education as well as a Nashville advertising agency.

He noted that his wife, Lee Ann, has encouraged him from when they were married in 1967, including helping with advertising sales and promotions at WGNS. Their daughter Kristin helped with on-air duties for many years, and son Scott has learned all facets of broadcasting and is now President and General Manager of WGNS. Bart points with pride to have a true "Mom and Pop radio station" during a time of "corporate giants".

In the fall of 1965, Walker realized the importance of a college education. He left WLAC-FM to study journalism and English at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. While a student at MTSU, he worked part-time for 3-months at Murfreesboro's WMTS (FM) and WGNS (AM). He was program director at WBJF (AM) in Woodbury, until graduating from MTSU in 1968 (now WBRY). Ironically, he would return to Murfreesboro in 1984 to purchase WGNS (AM).

Life and Casualty Insurance Company purchased WFMB from Barry in 1962, and 105.9 MHz became WLAC-FM and increased power to 100,000 watts. Program Director Mark Prichard hired Walker to do mornings (6AM-noon) on the powerful station. The studios were in the glass-enclosed observation deck of the L&C Tower, 31 stories above Nashville.

During the summer of 1958 (just before Walker's freshman high school year), William O. (Bill) Barry gave him his first break with a Saturday night job on WFMB (105.9 MHz in Nashville).

In 1957, Walker built a low-power AM radio station when he was in the seventh grade. Belle Meade Theater Manager E. J. Jordan invited the youngster to interview greats like Fess Parker, Pat Boone, Diane Baker, Guy Lombardo and others who would come to the theater and sign the "Wall of Fame" in Nashville, TN.

Bart Walker III (born July 15, 1944 in Knoxville, TN) is an American radio personality and broadcast owner from Tennessee. He is the CEO of WGNS Radio in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Murfreesboro is listed as the tenth fastest growing city in the United States.