AVA - Retirement has never been a part of Harold Lawder's vocabulary. When the 79-year-old Murphysboro man was forced to shut down his coal transfer business in Gorham, he didn't settle into his recliner.

Instead, he decided to purchase a Christian radio station and for the past 25 years has been owner of WXAN, 103.9 FM, in Ava.

"I built it from scratch," Lawder said.

And on Jan. 11, 1982, broadcaster Bill McCarty flipped the switch and filled airways from Mount Vernon to Chester and Harrisburg with gospel music and a little bit of talk.

"I enjoy it," he said. "I wouldn't be here if I didn't enjoy it."

When his lease ran out on his coal business, Lawder said he was torn about what his next step would be. He came home one day and found a newsletter called "The Sword of the Lord" in his mailbox.

He picked it up and saw an advertisement for a Christian radio station. He felt like his prayers had been answered.

"Christian radio is not a money-maker," Lawder said. "It's a mission."

In his 25 years as a broadcaster and salesman, McCarty said he's felt Lawder's continued zest for the station.

When he and Lawder first started working at the station doing ads and handling programming. At times, McCarty said he could work up to 20 hours a day.

"Harold considered it a ministry," McCarty said.

As the years have gone by and more people have been added to the payroll, such as general manager Will Stephens and sales manager Gene Aulgur, the hours are still long but the pride is still the same.

"I was shocked at the amount of stuff they do," Stephens said of his arrival. "We're just an old-time country radio station."

But it's an old time country radio station which has earned its place in the southern gospel radio world. In 1990, the station was named the second best gospel radio station in America by the Southern Gospel Music Association. In 1991, the same association labeled WXAN the best gospel radio station.

"There's been a lot of blessings," Lawder said. "For years and years and years we've had a lot of good people."

Stephens said the station is busy all the time � whether its local programming, voicing games for the Pinckneyville Panthers, Trico Pioneers, or John A. Logan Volunteers or satellite preaching programs.

All of this is produced from a building that Lawder built that sits atop a windy hill on the outskirts of the already rural town of Ava.

"Ava is not a great big town," Stephens said. "I mean, Ava doesn't even have a stoplight."

But that doesn't prevent Lawder or Stephens from thinking about the future of their independent station.

"I see no reason why the station can't continue to grow," Stephens said.

Lawder said as long as he feels like he's still doing the community some good, he'll keep going.

"I love to work," he said. "I'll probably work until my toes turn up."

kristen.cates@thesouthern.com

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