
By Cindy Peterson
WQBQ Celebrates 10 Years on Air Under Local Ownership

Lake County’s hometown radio station, WQBQ 1410 AM / 95.1 FM, is inviting the community to help celebrate its 10th anniversary with a special event on Saturday, November 1 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Whitney Baptist Fellowship Hall, 32630 N. Whitney Road in Leesburg.
The milestone celebration will feature local barbecue, a community potluck and a Baked Bean Contest complete with a championship belt for the winner. Guests are encouraged to bring their best dish, salad, side, dessert, or non-alcoholic beverage, while local BBQ businesses will provide the meats. Attendees can also meet area business owners, chamber members and listeners, and take part in a live cash auction.
The event marks a decade since James and Patty Floyd took over operations of the long-running Lake County radio station — the county’s last English-speaking AM station still broadcasting locally.
WQBQ has been part of Lake County’s airwaves for more than 60 years, first broadcasting in 1962 as WBIL 1410 AM. The station underwent several name changes before officially returning to the WQBQ call letters in 2010.
The Floyds, who had leased the station building since 2015, officially became its owner in 2023, fulfilling a lifelong dream they never imagined possible.
“Never in my life did I ever think I would own a radio station, but here I am,” James says.
For James and Patty, running the station is more than a business, it’s a mission.
“The heartbeat of every radio station is mom-and-pop businesses,” he says. “I want to be a voice for small business, and that’s what we try to convey.”
Today, WQBQ broadcasts a mix of local news, talk, sports and gospel, while also serving as the home for Leesburg, Eustis and Tavares high school football games. The station also highlights veterans’ stories and provides a platform for local businesses through advertising and interviews.
“I don’t do it for the money, though money helps us stay on the air,” James says with a laugh. “I do it to build relationships and support local businesses that help us help them. It’s a win-win for everyone.”
As WQBQ prepares to celebrate its 10th anniversary, James and Patty say they are grateful to the community that has kept local radio alive in Lake County.
“Buy local, shop local, support local — that’s what it’s all about,” James says “We’re so thankful for every business and listener who’s stood by our side these last 10 years.”
Originally from the small town of Berryville, Arkansas, Cindy has become a multimedia specialist in journalism, photography, videography, and video editing. She has a B.S. in Communications from the University of Central Arkansas and produces Style Magazine's Sports Hub Podcast and the Healthy Living Podcast. She also produces for Beacon College’s Telly Award-winning PBS show, “A World of Difference.” When she isn’t working, Cindy loves traveling the National Parks with her husband , Ryan, and son, David, photographing wildlife.