Oxford native and Lapeer resident Greg Bullen, and his broadcasting partners Tom McDonald and Ron Wolfe, were recently awarded the 2004 Best Live Broadcast Award from the Associated Press for the second year running. The trio broadcasts on WMPC 1230 AM, Lapeer’s gospel radio station.
Bullen, 39, McDonald and Wolfe were recognized for their September 26 broadcast of the Oxford Wildcats versus the Lapeer West Panthers. Bullen, the son of longtime Oxford residents Joe and Lanette Bullen, provides play-by-play while McDonald provides color commentary and Wolfe provides his view from the sideline.
‘We were just really excited when we learned about it,? said Bullen.
The trio’s broadcast on WMPC is unique and award winning for two reasons. First, the broadcasts are live and direct, with no delay or editing. Second, Bullen describes the commentary as having a ‘strong local flavor.?
‘It’s very local. Most communities in America don’t have their own local radio station,? he explained. ‘We’re very lucky that we do.?
Bullen began working for WMPC in the fall of 2002. He originally began assisting with color commentary, but discovered he was better at the play-by-play.
‘They were looking for a play-by-play man,? explained Bullen. ‘Someone at church mentioned it to me. They said the station was looking for someone to revamp the sports broadcasts.?
That first season the trio covered just football with a couple basketball games sprinkled through. This past season, the broadcasting team incorporated more basketball games, and even began including some girl’s games.
‘I had not done any of this before,? said Bullen. ‘We truly owe our success to Tom McDonald, who does color commentary and is the department manager. He’s really the driving force behind it. He’s really encouraged me.?
Although Bullen may still be relatively new to radio broadcasting, he’s not new to sports. The Oxford native began participating in sports in the fifth grade at Oxford Christian Academy, and has been playing ever since. Bullen also added that his sports roots go back even farther, thanks to a strong athletic background in his family.
In fact, Bullen said his father, Joe Bullen, has been coaching for as long as he can remember, and that he actually ‘grew up as a bit of a gym rat.?
Outside of the broadcasting studio, Bullen works as a secondary History and Bible teacher at Wesleyan Christian Academy in North Branch. He holds bachelor’s degrees in Bible and Church History from Bob Jones University, and a master’s degree in History from Clemson University.
So what has kept a history buff in broadcasting for the past two years? Simply stated, the sports.
‘I think that high school sports are the purest sports in America,? said Bullen. ‘I’m still amazed when I see a (senior citizen), with no children or grandchildren on the field, show up at 5:15 p.m. and wait for the game to start.?
‘The love for the sport and the dedication are what makes this special. It’s what sports were meant to be.?
In the end though, Bullen credits his family – wife Jaymie, and children Bailey, 7, and Julia, 4, – for enabling him to continue with the broadcasts.
‘I couldn’t do this without the support of my wife and the love of my children,? he said.
WMPC, located just north of Lapeer on M-24, is America’s oldest continuously broadcasting religious station. The station signed on in December of 1926, and stills carries on a tradition of Christian music and programs as well as local news and sports.
‘We do this in and for the grace of God,? said Bullen, ‘but it’s still really gratifying for such a small radio station to be recognized.?