Two Winona natives are set to release a nostalgic journey through the golden age of small-town radio. Candy Justice, daughter of radio station owner Bob Chisholm, and Bryan Cottingham, who worked for Chisholm at WONA, will launch their book "World vs. Bob Chisholm - Surviving Small Town Radio" on Nov. 1, with copies available at Hammond's Pharmacy & Gifts in Winona.
The book offers readers an intimate glimpse into the workings of WONA, Winona’s small-town radio station, during the 1950s and 60s. Through a blend of humor and history, it chronicles the mishaps of novice announcers, technical difficulties, and the charming consequences that played out over the airwaves.
Beyond the radio station's walls, the authors paint a vivid picture of small-town life when social activities centered around high school football games and Community House dances. Readers will be transported to an era when young people gathered at the Satellite drive-in restaurant before heading to movies or cruising around town, fueled by 20-cent gasoline and 15-cent hamburgers.
Justice said her favorite chapter to write was "Imaginary Big Brothers," while Cottingham particularly enjoyed capturing Winona's humorous moments and the behind-the-scenes radio station mishaps.
The collaboration between Justice and Cottingham began approximately six years ago, bringing together their considerable expertise. Justice, a former reporter and columnist for the Memphis Press-Scimitar, is currently an award-winning journalism professor at The University of Memphis, where she serves as faculty advisor to The Daily Helmsman, the independent student newspaper.
Cottingham brings his own impressive credentials as an Emmy Award-winning television producer, director, and writer. His career highlights include producing the Arthritis National Telethon, creating and producing an HGTV Network television series, and producing national sports coverage. He has also served as Communications advisor to two Congressmen and two Governors.
The book documents the local impact of national events while highlighting radio's crucial role in small-town life, offering readers a unique perspective on the transformation of the old South through the eyes of those who witnessed it firsthand – from inside the town, the radio station, and the family of a man who helped shape its legacy.
