THE HISTORY OF KDNT RADIO
IN DENTON, TEXAS
By Mike Shannon
with Mike Ehrle and Sandy Shepard

KDNT-1440 AM was the very first radio station established in Denton, Texas.  While it primarily served the city of Denton, listeners between the Dallas-Fort Worth area and southern Oklahoma could easily receive its signal, and relied upon KDNT for information and entertainment for over 55 years.

This feature tracks the station from its beginning in 1938, through the addition of its FM sister station in 1948, through ownership changes in 1972, 1976, 1980 and 1984, to its demise in late 1993.  Also included are numerous photos of studio locations and transmitter sites, including the landmark Radio Center building in downtown Denton, and the Teasley Lane property that was the final home to the towers and studios, as the site was cleared in 2005 for the construction of the Denton Independent School District’s L. A. Nelson Jr. Elementary School.


Former employees gather at the recent KDNT Symposium at the Denton Library,
November 12, 2011.  Front, L-R:  Colonel Mason, Laura Skinner, ?, Boppin' Bob Berry.
Back, L-R:  Roger Emrich, Earl Armstrong, Scott Causey, Ray Whitworth, Sandy Shepard, Jack Bishop, ?, Mike Shannon
(please email me at mike@knus99.com if you can identify the ?'s...sorry that I didn't get everybody's name!)

..
More photos from the KDNT Symposium:  Left, Ray Whitworth (1970s,) Sandy Shepard (1960s-71,) Scott "Dave Scott" Causey (1968-75)
all gave special presentations about their time at the station.  Sandy's father Harwell founded KDNT in 1938

.
Left, Mike Shannon starts the program while his former KDNT co-worker, 1980s sports director Roger Emrich, looks on.
Right, some of the ex's carried the gathering to the recently-reopened Tomato Pizza restaurant, now a few miles north in Sanger, TX.
(The original "Flying Tomato" was on Fry Street, across from the North Texas campus; the background mural salutes their Denton history!)
Left to right, Pam Shepard (wife of Sandy,) Chris and Ray Whitworth, Earl Armstrong and Mike Shannon.  Sandy Shepard attended, but
was behind the photographer's lens at the time!


The Denton Library was most gracious in plugging the event, and allowed Sandy Shepard
to bring up some wonderful KDNT artifacts for exhibition.  Very special thanks to
Leslie Couture at the library for spearheading the event and making it run as smoothly as possible!

TABLE OF CONTENTS
(Click on underlined links to navigate)

  PART 1 - 1938-46:  KDNT signs on, the “142 Club” starts, and the bands play on

  PART 2 - 1947-63:  New studios, tornadoes, and the death of a president

  PART 3 - 1964-71:  Two fires, “Shout That Slogan,” and KDNT becomes a family affair

  PART 4 - 1972-83:  New ownership, new digs in the country, and FM plays musical chairs

  PART 5 - 1984-93:  Another new owner, and headbangers take over FM

  PART 6 - 1994 AND BEYOND:  Habla Espanol? Radio Center sold, and KDNT goes to school

  A “WHO’S WHO” OF KDNT:  Former employees and ‘Where Are They Now’ section, including singer
        Willie Nelson; network newsman Bill Moyers; sportscasters Bill Mercer, Ted Davis, Roger Emrich,
        Mark Followill and George Dunham; Houston and Oklahoma radio’s Josh “Rowdy Yates” Holstead,
        radio programming innovator George Gimarc, Texas newsman Michael Main, Oklahoma weather
        pro Lee “Woody” Woodward, St Louis radio legend Davie Lee, and North Texas TV personality
        George Nolen

  DUSTY MEMENTOS:  Rate cards, coverage maps, newsletters and more photos

  RADIO CENTER STUDIOS INSIDE-OUT:  From funeral home to bandstand to studios to offices over a
        90-year period, starting in 1921

  PHOTO ESSAY:  KDNT studios and property are transformed into an elementary school


CREDITS

This portion of the KNUS99.com website was developed in 2001 from a newspaper article written by former KDNT jock Mike Ehrle (aka Mike Ward.)  Since then, many former employees and listeners of KDNT have submitted stories, photos, names, clarifications, etc, and, hopefully, this new format will do a more thorough job of honoring those that made KDNT successful and memorable.  Special thanks to Harwell V. "Sandy" Shepard II (son of late KDNT owner Harwell V. Shepard,) Mike Ehrle, Josh Holstead, George Lindley, Mike Robinson, Joe Fuchs (aka Jay Weaver,) Roger Daniel, Frank Haley, Betty Whatley, Scott Causey (aka Dave Scott,) Phil Potter, Ray Weathers, Alan Crone, Ray Whitworth, Daryl Stephens, Joe Short, Chris Vochoska, Grant Koeller, Michael Rey, Richard Garner, Lee Woodward, Patrick Woods, Lorraine Wilson, Roger Emrich, Steve Eberhart, Doyle King, Paul Christian, Robert Powell, Colonel Mason, George Gimarc, Andy Waldrop, G. C. Hollowwa, Miles Schulze, Sid King, Bill Mercer, Harley Balew, Joe Rice (Joe Martin,) Vernon Hartman, Scott Fybush, Harry Dierks, Sam Whitmire, Bill Van Ness, Dale Olson, Boppin' Bob Berry, Larry Crippen (Johnny Flash,) Paul Swearingen, Doug Adams, Scott Reese, Jim Johnson, Mark Followill, Larry Shannon and Brule Egan, and published interviews with Leonard Wheeler, Davie Lee (White,) George Nolen, George Marti and Michael Main.  Each of their contributions helped make the story of KDNT as complete and insightful as possible.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF USE

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.

KNUS99.com is in no way related to station KNUS-Denver or the former KNUS-Dallas, or past or present owners including the McLendon Companies, and is not affiliated with the former and now defunct radio station KDNT or any of its owners or management beyond 1971.  No intent is purposely made to infringe upon anyone's copyright.  This site is for entertainment and informational purposes only, and not for profit.