WWW.KNUS99.COM or WWW.DFWRADIOHISTORY.COM
PRESENTED BY LOCAL HISTORIAN AND RADIOHEAD MIKE SHANNON
FOUNDED NOVEMBER, 1999

A COMPREHENSIVE LOOK AT EACH DALLAS-FORT WORTH RADIO & TELEVISION STATION, INCLUDING CALL LETTER HISTORIES, OWNERSHIP, PERSONALITIES, FORMATS, DATES OF OPERATION AND STATION LOGOS
Who is this website designed for?  Click here to find out

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L-R:  KGBS logo, WBAP-TV's Boyd Matson, KTVT logo, WFAA's Don Harris, KOAI logo, KBOX's Frank Jolle, WBAP-TV logo, KLIF's Cuzzin' Linnie, Q102 logo

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"THE HI-FI CLUB" IS BACK ON 1360AM IN DFW!

The "talking" version of this website is back on KMNY-1360 AM every Sunday night, 6PM-7PM!  Join Mike Shannon, Chad Hoker, Ray Whitworth and John Lewis for an audio trip-back-in-time, with lots of oldies, special features, tributes to local stations and talent, old airchecks, and lots of interesting trivia and tidbits only a group of lifetime Texas boys would know!  Check out the show's website at www.thehificlub.net.

In April, 2008, former KVIL personality JACK SCHELL and others put together a 40th anniversary reunion of KVIL employees who worked at the station from 1968-present.  See photos and reflections of a true first-class event at www.radiohomecoming.com.

A gathering of about 30 of DFW's favorite radio folks last met in Irving, Texas, on February 29, 2008 to eat, swap stories and reminisce.  Want to come to the next one?  Email me and I'll make sure you're on the list.  Photos now posted at www.km5r.org/funstuff/lunchbunch (thanks to Melissa Rasmussen!)  Next date:  MAY, 2008.

Longtime DFW radio personality BLAKE LINDSAY has just written his first book, entitled, "Out of Sight Living: A Sightless Person with 20/20 Vision."
"I share true stories about the challenges – well, opportunities - growing up in a sightless world," BLAKE explains. "These stories tell you how my family encouraged me and how they empowered and equipped me to be self-determined and achievement-motivated.  I share the trials and tribulations of developing habitation skills in a sighted world, my passion for radio, my career in radio as a disc jockey, and many other things I have been able to accomplish with a strong belief system, a positive heart attitude, and a fighting determination of moving from self-sufficiency to a life mission of inspiring and serving others.  I tell you about employers who were willing to take a gamble on me, and how I did all that I could to make it a win-win partnership. In the process, you will learn how I overcame the challenges of transportation, modifying the work environment to overcome my lack of sight, and the challenges of competing in a sighted world.  I wrote this book to inspire parents with sightless children and other handicaps that must be overcome in order to live a happy and fulfilling life. As my mentor and friend ZIG ZIGLAR says, 'It is not where you start in life, but how you finish that counts.'"  To order BLAKE'S new book, go to his website at www.blakelindsay.com.

BILL MERCER, legendary sports announcer and DFW TV and radio personality, just published his first solo work, "Play By Play:  Tales from a Sports Broadcasting Insider."  MERCER is most familiar to area TV fans for handling Dallas Cowboys play-by-play duties in the 1960s, Texas Rangers games in the early 1970s, sports anchoring at KRLD-TV, and for announcing duties on "Saturday Night Wrestling" and "World Class Championship Wrestling" in the 1970s and 80s.  BILL'S keen insight into the world of sports from the announcer's booth promises to be a compelling read!  Check out excerpts from the book at billmercersports.com, and you can order your own copy there as well.

The first lady of Dallas-Fort Worth radio is now an author!  SUZIE HUMPHREYS, best known for her 25 years of waking up the Metroplex as part of the morning teams at WFAA's "News 8 Etc" and KVIL-FM, has been a full-time motivational speaker since giving up the airwaves (and city life) in 1995.  Now she brings her unique stories to life in print with "If All Else Fails...LAUGH!"  The book was released last summer, and is available exclusively through SUZIE'S website, www.suziehumphreys.com.  To read more about SUZIE'S career as a morning show host at Channel 8, click here.

Station histories:

All Dallas-Fort Worth AM stations (1920-present:)  Click here. AUGUST, 2007
All Dallas-Fort Worth FM stations (1946-present:)  Click here. AUGUST, 2007
All Dallas-Fort Worth TV stations (1948-present:)  Click here.  AUGUST, 2007
 

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. (UPDATED AUGUST, 2007)

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. (UPDATED NOVEMBER, 2006)

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.  Former 'DNT jock and current Pampa, TX newscaster MIKE EHRLE chronicles the history of KDNT from its beginnings in 1938 to its sale in 1972, and a new overview of the station's entire 55-year history is coming soon.  Read about radio vet GEORGE GIMARC's first professional radio gig, and see where singer WILLIE NELSON used to work!  A timeline of the station's background from 1937-1993 is included, along with historic photographs.  JAY WEAVER, LEE WOODWARD, webmaster MIKE SHANNON and others recall their time at KDNT as well, with reflections and rare photos provided by owner HARWELL SHEPARD and his son SANDY.
(TONS OF UPDATES AND NEW PHOTOS COMING SOON!)
 

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. (UPDATED AUGUST, 2007)

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. (UPDATED AUGUST, 2007)

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 on the local notables who have passed on.
(COMPLETELY UPDATED SEPTEMBER, 2007 WITH OVER 700 NAMES)
 

Newsgroups, quick links to other pertinent DFW radio history sites:

KNUS99.COM's GUIDE TO DFW RADIO/TV LINKS:  Click here.AUGUST, 2007
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.

RADIO-INFO.COM:  Click here
Includes forums for DFW radio and TV enthusiasts.  Not affiliated with this website.

TRIBUTE TO KXOL:  Click here
Former KXOL jock JOHN LEWIS PUFF examines the history of the legendary Fort Worth station.  Not affiliated with this website.

TRIBUTE TO KLIF:  Click here
Longtime DFW air personality STEVE EBERHART takes an intense look back at the trendsetting McLendon station.  Not affiliated with this website.

DFW RADIO ARCHIVES:  Click here
Historian CHRIS HUFF takes the history of DFW radio and organizes it by year, with ratings information and in-depth analysis.  Not affiliated with this website.
 

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 from DFW and beyond.
 

Webmaster and contact info:

ABOUT THE WEBMASTER AND THIS SITE:  Click hereAUGUST, 2007
EMAIL THE WEBMASTER:  Click here

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THINKING OF RON McALISTER...PLEASE HELP

Longtime DFW newsman RON McALISTER (JENKINS) is recuperating from a series of strokes over the last few years.  For most of five decades, Ron was one of the best known radio news voices in the area, working for KLIF, KBOX, KNUS and, most recently, the USA Radio Network.  If you remember Ron on the radio or ever worked with him, he needs our help now as he slowly regains his memory and health.  Just a card or letter would brighten his day so much.  Please take a moment to write and say hello, and let him know that DFW radio hasn't forgotten him or his contributions.  Send them to:  RONALD JENKINS, ROWLETT NURSING CARE CENTER, 9300 LAKEVIEW PARKWAY, ROWLETT, TX  75088.

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DEDICATION:  CHIP MOODY 1947-2001

KNUS99.COM is dedicated to the memory of 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.

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 80,000 hits in August, 2007!

This entire website and its contents are copyright 1984-2007 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.