Our station was created as an innovative way to produce content that is cutting-edge, positive-themed and entertaining, while honoring the intense service my father provided during his lifetime of service as a veteran of the United States Army, and then as a non-profit executive.
My father, Reverend Donald L. Coleman Sr., was a radio DJ for over 30 years, with the purpose of winning souls for Christ Jesus through the ministry of old-time gospel music.
"W" (the call letter), "DON" (My father’s first name), and "1204" (My time of birth).
Biography of Reverend Donald L. Coleman
Reverend Donald L. Coleman, Sr., “The Rev“, was born in Greenfield, Ohio in 1937. The son of Charles E. Coleman, Sr., and Susie (Jackson) Coleman, he was the 5th child of 14 siblings. He married Ann L. Byrd on May 31, 1959, in Greenfield, OH. They moved to Dayton, OH, and started a family. With 5 children in tow, the family eventually settled in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Rev. Don Coleman is a graduate of Doane College, and awarded membership in The Pinnacle (national honor society for non-traditional students), Who's Who in American Colleges & Universities, and the Alumni Senior Award. He holds an Honorary Associate Degree in Applied Science and a Business Administration Degree from Lincoln School of Commerce.
Modern Woodmen of America recognized Rev. Don Coleman as a Hometown Hero on September 17th, 2012. He received the Lincoln Inter-Faith Council Leadership Award (1997), and was named University of Nebraska Forensic Speaker of the Year. He was awarded the Optimist Friend of Youth (1999) and was selected as a Community Hero Torch Bearer for the 1996 Olympic Games.
In 1995, Rev. Coleman was awarded the Local & District Service to Mankind Award by the Greater Lincoln District Sertoma International Organization. He received the first of three gold keys to the city of Lincoln, Nebraska from Mayor Mike Johanns and the second for the work MADDADS did in the city of Lincoln. He was honored as the United Way Volunteer of the Year.
Rev. Coleman was senior chaplain for the Lincoln Police and Fire Departments. SFC Coleman is a retired disabled Vietnam Vet. He received the Individual Meritorious Service Award, the Army Commendation Medal from The Nebraska Army National Guard, and one Meritorious Unit Citation for his service in Vietnam. Rev. Coleman was also Chaplain for the Vietnam Veterans of America in Lincoln.
Rev. Coleman and his wife, Rev. Ann Coleman, were the 1999 Nebraska Parents of the Year and National Parents of the Year in 2000 followed by a third Gold Key to the city of Lincoln from Mayor Don Wesley. In 2001 Rev. Coleman was honored in Who's Who Among African Americans. He was selected as the 2009 & 2010 Hall of Famer Buck O'Neil Legacy Seat Recipient. In 2011 he was selected as the Dr. Marin Luther King Jr. Humanitarian of the Year for Nebraska and inducted in the Hazel G. Scott Middle School wall of honor. In 2012 Rev. Coleman was selected as the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. humanitarian of the year by the 21st Century Lions Club of Lincoln.
In 1993, Rev. Coleman was the Founder and President of the Lincoln, Nebraska chapter of MAD DADS (Men Against Drugs, Defending Against Social Disorders). Twice per year, he would run the MAD DADS Bike Giveaway where hundreds of children would receive bikes, free of charge. Rev. Coleman had a facility where citizens could drop off old bikes, and volunteers would come and refurbish them. Once they were "like new", the bikes would be lined up and youth would be able to come and select the bike of their choice.
Rev. Coleman's supernatural ability to problem-solve and network broke down many defenses and promoted unity. You may recall a joke or two when his favorite color is, "plaid“ or how he's, "good and couldn't be gooder." Perhaps the greatest of all achievements and certainly that which he was most proud of, are; winning souls for Christ and being Hero to his beloved family.
WDON1204.com is a subsidiary of Coleman Global Initiative, LLC.
Find us online at @ColemanGlobal
