WRJN Turns 99

RACINE, Wis. (WRJN) – WRJN marks 99 years on the air this week with a celebration that brought together memories, milestones, and nostalgia. 

The station, which first signed on in December 11th, 1926 and now broadcasts on AM 1400, 98.1 FM in Kenosha and 99.9 FM in Racine, hosted a special anniversary program anchored by longtime host Don Rosen from its Victory Avenue studios at Radio Park. WRJN has operated from that location since the late 1950s after earlier homes downtown in the Arcade Building, Hotel Racine and atop the American Bank Building.

Former news director and “resident historian” Tom Karkow joined the broadcast to share archival audio from decades of programming, including voices of iconic hosts such as Frenchy Boutan, Ralph Schoenleben and the “Party Line” team. Karkow revisited stories from ethnic programs and parade coverage to the first radio broadcasts from Miller Park, tracing how the station chronicled Racine life through wars, elections and everyday events.

General manager Chris Moreau, now in his second tenure leading WRJN, described returning as a “full-circle moment.” He credited Civic Media, WRJN’s current owner, for reviving the station’s identity. “Civic Media has re-energized this historic broadcast outlet,” Moreau said. “It sounds like Racine’s radio station again.”

Former owner Dave Magnum, whose family operated WRJN from 2014 to 2023, said it was a privilege to be part of the station’s story. He cited the addition of FM signals and upgrades to the Victory Avenue facility as key accomplishments, calling WRJN “one of America’s truly heritage radio stations.”

Civic Media founder and CEO Sage Weil said his company came to appreciate the depth of WRJN’s history soon after acquiring it. He praised Rosen, Moreau and the staff for rebuilding the station into a trusted local voice. “WRJN is truly serving the community with local news and information,” Weil said. “It’s a happy beginning to our 99th year of broadcast.”

Rosen told listeners the 99th anniversary sets the stage for an even bigger centennial celebration in 2026, highlighting a century of local news, talk and community programming.