The Fayetteville Press Newspaper

Anyone who is an avid listener of radio in Fayetteville is familiar with the name Mac Edwards. Regardless, of the music format, if you know him, you immediately recognize his voice—a voice he lends to radio and television projects. He has become a fixture in this area. Today, after moving up the ladder strategically, Mac sits in an executive office.

Mac Edwards was born in Aiken, South Carolina, and grew up in Belmont, NC; he graduated from South Point High School, and later attended Appalachian State University. Today, Mac’s seat might be in a different office, but his focus and thirst to be successful have not faltered.

Mac Edwards, a broadcasting veteran hinging on legendship—one of my new words. Mac said he found his "voice" while growing up emulating area announcers he admired. One day he sort of discovered his comfort zone. Serving as the voice of Campbell University basketball— he handles play-by-play duties on television; the show is aired in the Raleigh and Fayetteville markets. Since 1994, he’s been co-hosting high school football on television with Coach John Daskal. He has also worked with Robert Warren Mobile Television Productions as a commentator on regional high school, college, and professional sports broadcasts.

Mac said he was bitten by the broadcasting bug, when, as a kid in Belmont, N.C. —he rode with his father to pick up a prize his father had won at a radio station. After that, pure fascination was born. Today, in Fayetteville, Mac is as synonymous with broadcasting excellence as red is to a popular "flavor" of Kool-Aid.

As Mac matured, he was excited about the chance to work the knobs at a real radio station. That happened in 1974; he was an intern for WCGC-AM in Belmont. Mac had the dutiful chore of running the board for ballgames—-and among other things, keeping the evening engineer clear-headed, literally! Not long after that in 1977, Mac landed his first professional position in Dallas. I know right away your mind went back to the ‘77 Dallas Cowboys, who was on the team, who was the quarterback or running backs, and possibly, what team members Mac may have interviewed. Well, let me stop you right there. It was Dallas, North Carolina. I know, I know, I thought the same thing. Mac worked part-time for WAAK-AM. Then in 1978, not wanting to settle, he was determined to secure full time job in radio, and he did. Mac earned full-time responsibilities in Charlotte at WAME-AM as the morning new anchor. In broadcasting, it’s not uncommon to move around looking for that "perfect" fit, so from 1980 until 1991, Mac did his share of playing air chess, with one strategic move after another. Then in 1988, he joined the Beasley family at KSSR-FM in Austin, Texas. Once on the inside, Mac moved around within the company at various stations. In 1990, he returned to New Bern. This time, he worked with WRNS-FM, Kinston/Greenville/New Bern. Years earlier in 1986, WFAI-1230AM, in Fayetteville, then a Beasley property, was sold and the new WKML, Carolina’s best country was launched, and veteran broadcaster Danny Highsmith was promoted to general manager. Highsmith is a longtime radio professional who started his broadcasting on a sales team in 1971 with WFAI-1230AM. In 1991, Mac Edwards left for Fayetteville to work with Danny Highsmith at WKML. This union would prove to be "dynamic." From a consistent team of air generals, WKML continues to bounce between first or second place in the Fayetteville market with the Arbitron ratings. The ratings are a barometer of where your station ranks among the listeners. "I have great admiration for Danny.  The fact that he has been with Beasley Broadcast Group for over 35 years...all in Fayetteville is unfathomable. In this business 5 years in one market is considered "lengthy." When we first came to Fayetteville, he took time to introduce me throughout the community Former Fayetteville mayor the late Mayor J.L. Dawkins personally give us our initial tour of the area. My relationship with Danny also helped open my mind to new opportunities and want more," Mac said. Never to settle, he took advantage of another opportunity in 1996 and moved across the hall to WFLB-96.5 FM and WAZZ- 1490AM as the station’s general manager.  The drive to succeed is habit forming, so Mac made yet a more dramatic move in 2001. He accepted the upper managerial tasks of working directly for the Beasley Broadcast Group as vice president of programming for the Fayetteville cluster – WZFX Foxy 99, /WUKS KISS 207.7FM /WKML 95.7FM /WFLB-96.5 "The Drive" then Oldies 96.5, and WAZZ 1490 AM. He held that position for four years. Then later in 2005, he was promoted to VP of station operations. 2005-2006. Then, near the end of 2006, he landed in the driver’s seat; he moved up the ladder to VP and Market Manager. Let me interpret that for you. He sits on the throne eating grapes. He’s the last stop, the final straw!       

Mac Edwards has given of his time, and "paid his dues," even when it wasn’t always the popular vote with his family, especially when you have young children. Today, Mac Edwards and his wife, Angela have three daughters — Emery, a recent graduate of UNC Charlotte, Chatham—a rising senior at Village Christian Academy, and Lauren—a rising freshman also at Village Christian. "It is always a joy to watch them mature into young responsible women," Mac said.

Mac also sits on the board at United Way of Cumberland County, The March of Dimes and The Methodist University Foundation.

When asked what was most rewarding about his new role with Beasley, Mac said "Everyday brings new opportunities and new challenges; no two days are the same." With Mac, sometimes, those who have the biggest influences sit quietly allowing room for growth and effective decision making. He adds, "Plus, I’ve been blessed to work with a great group of professionals, and I wouldn’t trade it for a million dollars. Did I just say that?—maybe a $100,000. I‘m not sure about a million dollars!"