McCook said he got his start in radio at the age of 14.
“My first gig was WLMG 1490 Sunshine Radio,” McCook said. “I got a job over the summer, worked my way through that station to a 5,000-watter, finally a 10,00-watter. And by the time I got to college I was a professional. I went into my first college radio station, burst into laughter and walked out.”
McCook worked at eight commercial radio stations before starting his journey with Flagler in 1993.
“Many people don’t know how much work went into WFCF before it was WFCF,” McCook said at the Radio Station’s 30th anniversary celebration. He said from the time the process started in 1989, it took the College four years to get its FCC license.
“President Emeritus William Abare, on August 13, 1993, in a moment of temporary insanity, hired me to be the Station Manager and I can never thank him enough for that,” McCook said.
What does your position on Flagler’s Staff entail?
My role at Flagler is as the Radio Station Manager. I manage WFCF, a 10,000-watt noncommercial, educational FM broadcast radio station and an iHeartRadio station licensed by the Federal Communications Commission. I instruct Flagler’s Radio Workshop and Media Management Practicum in addition to overseeing a staff of more than 50 students and community volunteers. I am also our resident specialist in broadcast radio regulatory compliance.
How has your professional and educational background informed your work at Flagler?
Before joining Flagler 30 years ago in 1993, I had a 20-year career in commercial broadcasting at more than eight radio stations. My areas of expertise include radio station operations, volunteer coordination and management, communication programming, audio production, and student leadership training.
What do you enjoy most about working at Flagler?
The students. The students are the fun part, it’s the most rewarding part of my job.
Do you have a stand-out memory from working with students or other campus community members?
There was a young man, Justin Cousart, he was a regular student, I taught him production. He leaves and gets a job with Cox Media at least twelve years ago if not more. He worked his way up through Cox between the seven stations in the Jacksonville area. Here he is, this kid who I just thought was another kid. Now he’s the head of WAPE, the biggest pop station in the southeast and they just won a Marconi Award. It’s like getting an Oscar in radio. And he recently sent me an email thanking me for everything that I taught him.
Another story, one time the station gets a letter after being on air for only a month or two. He said, “I’ve always seen Flagler College as an island in St. Augustine. WFCF is a bridge to that island for that community.” I’ve really held onto that.
What is one thing no one would guess about you?
I enjoy novel writing and am also a federally licensed Master Falconer specializing in red-tailed hawks and is the Northern Director of the Florida Hawking Fraternity.
