In 1990, Hal Turner had just purchased a home computer.  Pleased with his powerful Packard-Bell 386 SX20 machine, he set out to create documents of great usefulness.  Working with the state-of-the-art Windows 3.0, he began the task of learning software and printing out on a dot-matrix printer.

Hal visited the legendary BW3 in Columbus, Ohio, and fell in love with the wings.  He set out to replicate the recipe for the "off the menu specials."  We now know the first experiment as "Hotter Than Hal" hot wings.

Audrie Meree (now Oulette) was working in Pittsburgh at the time, and requested that Hal trade his recipe for hot sauce in exchange for her marinara sauce recipe.  Hal proceeded to type the recipe out with his powerful Windows 3.0 software.  One thing led to another, and he produced a ten-page "magazine" that he passed around the office.

Everyone seemed to like the idea of Wingazette® Magazine, so another issue appeared about 90 days later.  Another issue followed every quarter, and each issue grew in size.  After two years, the magazine grew to 50 pages, duplexed!  Mailing cost had reached $1.30 an issue, and suddenly Hal was unemployed and lost his "production" facilities (the office copier was no longer accessible).

Having just taken subscriptions from 80 readers, Hal realized that he would have to change the publication to an affordable 8 page format that could be folded and stamped with a single first-class stamp.  Readership grew to 150 people.

During the period of unemployment, Hal re-visited Clemson to see what it would take to finish his degree.  Wingazette® Magazine led to a college degree, as Hal produced a business plan for taking the magazine nationwide.

After registering the trademark, Hal continued to produce Wingazette® Magazine for seven full years.  He published a cookbook in 1993, and updated it in 1995.  In 1997, the Atlanta area wing restaurants sunk to a new level of mediocrity and Hal lost his ability to travel regularly.  Production ceased on the magazine for three years.

As part of the year 2000 celebration, Hal set a goal to put Wingazette® Magazine online.  As a newbie to web publishing, we're still learning a lot and are excited about the possibilities for the future. 

Wingazette® Magazine was designed as an interactive publication from the beginning.  Won't you please take time to drop us an e-mail and let us know about a recent wing-eating experience?

Hal Turner

Home        Wingazette® 2002