Mourning the Loss of W. Charles Welch

Floor Speech

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Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, northwest Ohio mourns the passing of W. Charles Welch, who passed on Sunday, April 21, 2024.

He became known far and wide simply as ``Charlie Chuck.''

Born in 1938 in Talladega, Alabama, he later moved to Detroit and joined Greater St. Peter AME Zion Church where he met his wife Marjorie Chester at choir rehearsal.

They became sweethearts at 13 and 14, eventually marrying and raising five children--Rosalind, Katrina, Debra, Charles Bernard, and Trina.

Charles played piano at Detroit nightclubs, but his true calling came when he started his radio career in the 1960s. He was working for free at WJLB when he was hired by Toledo's WKLR in 1969.

Charlie Chuck was off and running. He spent years in radio, later founding The Juice FM 107.3 WJUC, the first African-American radio station in Ohio in 1997. It became known as the People's Station.

He lived by the credo that if you have a good idea about a dream, think of the three P's: prayer, perseverance, and patience.

May his inspiration bring comfort to his dear family, friends, and listening audience for whom he created a beloved community.

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