PRESENTED BY LOCAL HISTORIAN AND RADIOHEAD MIKE SHANNON
FOUNDED NOVEMBER, 1999
Who is this website designed for? Click here to find out
BIG CHANGES
COMING SOON!
A new name,
cutoff dates for both the radio and TV sections, an overhaul of the
KBOX section,
and a fresh and new look for the entire site. STAY TUNED!
KDNT Symposium
a success!
On November 12, 2011, a
group of about 30 KDNT fans, listeners and former employees gathered at
the Denton Public Library to hear my two-hour history lesson on former
Denton radio station KDNT. But the big stars that day were the many
former employees and listeners who shared many great memories & stories
about the station! And Sandy Shepard, Scott Causey & Ray Whitworth
each gave special presentations about their time at KDNT.
A big THANK YOU to all
who attended! Photos will be posted at the KDNT History link below.
Check out the complete history of station KDNT here
Station histories:
All Dallas-Fort
Worth AM stations (1920-2005:) Click here.
All Dallas-Fort
Worth FM stations (1946-2005:) Click here.
All Dallas-Fort
Worth TV stations (1948-2005:) Click here.
Station tributes:
KBOX, Top
40 & later popular C&W station: Click
here
KBOX was
one of the unsung heroes in DFW radio: First, as the only worthy
competitor to powerhouse KLIF from 1958-67, KBOX managed to carve a respectable
dent in KLIF's phenomenal ratings. By 1967, KBOX gave up the fight
and changed formats to country...becoming the first station in DFW to play
C&W 24 hours a day, and with a signal strong enough to penetrate the
entire Metroplex (during the day, at least!) ALLAN PECK, CHUCK DUNAWAY,
CHARLIE VAN DYKE, BOB WHITNEY, the late BILL WARD and a host of others
share their reflections of KBOX in the most intense station history undertaking
on this site! A history of predecessor KGKO is provided as well.
KCPA, first
Texas radio station to lose its license: Click here
KCPA-FM
was the first station in Texas to have its FCC license revoked. Former
jocks BOB FOX, BOB JOHNSTON, FRANK HALEY and JOHN LEMBURG provide insight
into the rise and fall of KCPA in a special report for KNUS99.com.
KDNT, Denton's
first station & springboard for future jocks: Click here
KDNT was
the first station to exclusively serve Denton County, just north of Dallas.
Read about radio vet GEORGE GIMARC's first professional radio gig, and
see where legendary country singer WILLIE NELSON used to work! A
timeline of the station's background from 1937-1993 is included, along
with historic photographs. MIKE EHRLE, JAY WEAVER, LEE WOODWARD,
webmaster MIKE SHANNON and others recall their time at KDNT, with reflections
and rare photos provided by owner HARWELL SHEPARD and his son SANDY. (UPDATED
SEPTEMBER, 2011)
Profiles, biographies, personality info:
RUSS BLOXOM,
KXAS news anchor and reporter: Click here
Former news
anchor/reporter RUSS BLOXOM reflects on his career in DFW radio and TV...based
on an unaired piece written for KXAS-TV's 50th anniversary in 1998, RUSS
shares his memories of the radical changes that occurred in local TV in
the 1960s and 70s, along with recollections of covering major news events
such as the T. CULLEN DAVIS murder trials and the 1976 Republican Convention.
A photo tribute to RUSS's early days in radio is also included.
DICK RISENHOOVER,
KDFW sports anchor & baseball announcer: Click
here
A tribute
to the late DICK RISENHOOVER, who was a KDFW sports anchor and voice of
the Texas Rangers throughout most of the 1970s. RISENHOOVER's exclamation
of "Goodbyyyyye, baseball!!" after a home run is legendary and fondly remembered
by devoted Rangers fans. DICK'S long career in Texas sports is explored,
from his earliest days as a high school basketball coach in Childress,
to his first TV sports anchor position in Amarillo, and to the height of
his broadcast career at KDFW-TV and the Texas Rangers.
SUZIE HUMPHREYS
AND "NEWS 8 ETC...": Click
here
The quintessential
"First Lady" of DFW radio and TV provides her memories of Channel 8's live
morning program, "News 8 etc..." SUZIE, also known as RON CHAPMAN's
longtime sidekick on KVIL, co-hosted "News 8 etc..." from 1970-74, and
shares her photographs & recollections of the show & her co-hosts,
including the late DON HARRIS & GENE THOMAS.
CHIP MOODY,
news anchor for all seasons: Click here
As part
of the RUSS BLOXOM section, a comprehensive biography of CHIP's years in
DFW TV is included. CHIP was the first news anchor to work at all
three major TV stations in the area. Follow the story of CHIP's rise
to the top of the local ratings, to a brief stay in Houston television,
and to a heralded return to DFW at WFAA-TV. Track Chip's illness
from its onset in 1986 to his untimely passing in 2001 at age 54.
BOB SCHIEFFER,
CBS news correspondent & former WBAP-TV anchor: Click here
As part
of the RUSS BLOXOM section, read about BOB SCHIEFFER's earliest days in
broadcasting as a news reporter and anchor for local KXOL-AM and WBAP-TV.
RUSS BLOXOM recalls some tense moments when BOB was caught at the wrong
place at the wrong time, in a secured area of the Dallas Police Station
escorting the mother of accused JFK assassin LEE HARVEY OSWALD.
HAROLD TAFT,
"The World's Greatest Weatherman": Click here
As part
of the RUSS BLOXOM section, a tribute to the late HAROLD TAFT includes
a brief history of his 42-year tenure at WBAP/KXAS-TV, and some choice
remembrances of the respected weathercaster. Find out how HAROLD
was given the title of "World's Greatest Weatherman."
DFW BROADCASTER
DEATH ROLL: Click here
A directory
of the late greats of DFW radio and TV. Tons of names, stations,
dates of death and other information about the local notables who have
passed on.
Newsgroups, quick links to other pertinent DFW radio history sites:
KNUS99.COM's
GUIDE TO DFW RADIO/TV LINKS: Click here.
Links to
other local radio/TV websites, along with personal sites of current and
former local broadcasters, and links to local broadcast publications and
other resources.
Photos, memorabilia:
RADIO &
TV MEMORABILIA, PHOTOS & RADIO STATION PLAYLISTS (RETURNING
EVENTUALLY)
Airchecks:
AIRCHECKS
FOR SALE OR TRADE: Click here
Over 14,000
minutes of broadcasts available from DFW and beyond.
Webmaster and contact info:
ABOUT THE
WEBMASTER AND THIS SITE: Click here
EMAIL THE
WEBMASTER: Click here
KNUS99.COM is dedicated to the memory of two DFW media notables, whose contributions and dedication to local radio/TV will not be forgotten, nor will the flair and zest for life that each brought to their respective on-air roles.
For the Television section, CHIP MOODY, longtime anchor at WBAP/KXAS, KDFW and WFAA-TV in Dallas-Fort Worth: Chip passed away December 26, 2001 after a 15-year battle with Hodgkin's disease and the effects of cancer. He is sorely missed. See Russ Bloxom's profile for a tribute to Chip's career. Chip was a longtime supporter of the Children's Medical Center with his annual Pro-Am Classic Golf Tournament, and backed the Children's Cancer Fund. Contributions can be made to the Chip Moody Child Care Fund, c/o Children's Medical Center of Dallas, 2777 Stemmons Freeway, Suite 1025, Dallas, 75207.
For the Radio
section, MICHAEL SELDEN,
disc jockey extraordinaire for KLIF-AM, KNUS-FM, KVIL-FM, KXOL-AM, KPLX-AM
and KIXK-FM: "Old Weird Michael" died March 11, 1997 from an asthma
attack. He is sorely missed as well. Selden was best known
for his "shuck-and-jive" technique, and for being a master of double-entendre
and riding the fine line of blue humor. He was a master of "theater-of-the-mind,"
painting aural pictures and going beyond the listener's ears to make one
think.
Here's an organization that’s doing some good for radio folks. The Broadcasters Foundation of America provides emergency assistance to the less-fortunate in our broadcast family. Over the last few years, they have doled out nearly $3 million to 387 recipients in 33 states. This includes folks who have a catastrophic illness and no insurance, have lost a loved one from a devastating (and costly) disease, and even those affected by Katrina, Ike and the California wildfires. The foundation’s been around for over six decades, and needs your help NOW more than ever. Donations are tax-deductible. Go to broadcastersfoundation.org for all the details.
This site is the culmination of years of tracking radio station formats and call letter changes that I began in 1984. It is a labor of love and its continued growth is a direct result of the many people who have written in with additional information, clarifications, and identifying errors in my research. ALL are appreciated, and if you see any mistakes, need for clarification, or have anything to share that would complement the site, please write me anytime at mike@knus99.com. Hats off to the many media folks who have become friends and regular contributors to the site, including Russ Bloxom, Larry Shannon, Steve Eberhart, the late Steve Farrington, Jim Cumbie, Chip Kelley, Robert Bass, John Lewis Puff, Lee Brumm, Chuck Mohnkern, Mike Ehrle, Gary McBrayer, Bob Fox, Chris Huff and Jay Weaver, to name a very few. Thanks to each of you for all of your help! And thanks to all who have visited the site; it surpassed 130,000 hits in 2012!
This entire website and its contents are copyright 1984-2012 Mike Shannon. Images are copyright of their respective owners. If you feel your copyright is being infringed upon by its appearance in this website, please email me and it will be removed or credited properly. I am not responsible for errors, omissions, incomplete information, misrepresentations or dead links. Information was gleaned from newspapers, broadcasting yearbooks, magazines, personal recollection, recollections of others and the like. Copying of any or all information or images for use on other websites, in print or for other purposes, is prohibited without permission. Links are provided for the user's convenience; I claim no responsibility for the contents, accuracy or relevance of other sites that may be linked to from this site. This entire website is considered a not-for-profit "fan site," to be enjoyed for entertainment and informational purposes only. Usage of this site and/or any sites, sub-sites or pages or images contained within, however accessed, constitutes your agreement to these Terms and Conditions. If you do not agree to these Terms and Conditions, click here and you will be taken elsewhere. Proceeds from advertising & duplication services are directly used for site maintenance, hosting fees and research costs.