PART FOUR:
THE FUTURE OF 1480 & 100.3

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After the switch to KMEZ-AM in late 1982, the 1480 frequency continued with an easy listening format until September 28, 1989, when it flipped to KDBN ("Dallas Business News") as an all-business talk automated format.  On September 4, 1991, 1480 returned to easy listening under the name KCMZ.  It remained under those calls and format until April 1, 1993, when Hispanic Broadcasting Corporation bought it, renamed it KMRT (later KDXX [on 2/20/1998] and KHCK [on 6/18/2002,]) and began simulcasting one of its local outlets to it, KHCK-FM, by August, 2002.  The KDBN calls were revived in 2002 for Susquehanna's 93.3-"The Bone."

Owner Group One sold the AM and FM stations to DKM-Dallas Broadcasting on July 16, 1986, and DKM soon sold them to Summit Broadcasting in September, 1988.  Summit then traded KMEZ-AM to Gillmore Broadcasting for KHVN-AM (the former longtime KNOK-AM.)  So Summit's new combo consisted of 100.3 FM and 970 AM, while Gillmore's combo now consisted of 107.5 FM and 1480 AM.

Summit took ownership of the 9900 McCree building where, on Christmas week of 1988, they premiered the new Urban/Contemporary Hits KJMZ-FM, "100.3 Jamz,"  while Gillmore took the KMEZ calls and format to 107.5 at the same time.  KJMZ and KHVN stayed in Radio Park until 1990, when they relocated to 545 W. John W. Carpenter Freeway in Irving (and moved the AM transmitter from Radio Park to St. Augustine Road in SE Dallas.)  The Summit combo was subsequently sold to Granum on June 15, 1994, and became part of Infinity in March, 1996.  Infinity later sold KHVN to Mortenson Broadcasting in December, 2001.

The FM frequency is still under Infinity ownership, and has been home to an assortment of trail-and-error formatting since.  On September 1, 1995, the station became KRBV, playing a slower mix of R&B.  By March 15, 1999, the station returned to an Urban CHR format under the same calls, and reimaged the station on July 1, 2001 as "Wild 100."  "Wild" saw two more reimaging attempts since, with no real change in format or moniker.  Finally, in 2005, programmers settled on the new "Jack-FM" format, and the station has found mild success with it.

A year after Summit and Gillmore negotiated the station swap in 1988, Gillmore had built new studios in a high-rise at 5956 Sherry Lane in Preston Center for their combo, which opened on September 28, 1989.  (107.5 and 970 had long been housed at 3601 Kimbo Road in Fort Worth since their KNOK days, but a fire had damaged the building beyond repair.)

KMEZ-FM at 107.5 continued in name and format through July 4, 1991, when it flipped to a "Classic Rock without the Heavy Metal" format as KCDU-"CD 107.5."  Three months earlier, Granum had bought both stations from Gillmore.  But after 16 months, the rock format was trashed...and the frequency was involved in another trade of sorts when the owner of 106.1, Gannett, dumped out of that station's Smooth Jazz format after five years to bring back their retired "Kiss" format to that frequency.  107.5 picked it up immediately and seamlessly on November 2, 1992, taking Gannett's call letters, music collection and most of 106.1's air talent.

In June, 1994, Granum purchased 100.3 and 970 from Summit...putting all the formerly-connected stations under one ownership.  They relinquished 107.5's and 1480's Sherry Lane studios in 1995, and moved them along with KHVN and KJMZ to the former KRLD studios at the venerable Maxwell Building, 7901 John W. Carpenter Freeway in Dallas (aka "1080 Metromedia Place," it was the former home to defunct KMEC-TV.  KRLD moved there in 1970, and had recently vacated the building for nicer digs at the new Ballpark In Arlington in April, 1994.)

The 107.5 frequency continues today under Infinity ownership as KOAI, and still shares the Maxwell studios with KRBV.  KMEZ veteran Tim Kase can still be heard on the 107.5 frequency, giving traffic reports on behalf of Infinity's Metro Networks during morning drive.  Tempie Lindsey made the transition from 106.1 to 107.5 in 1992, and still handles afternoon drive duties for the station.  Bret Michael (Menassa) began working at 107.5 under the KCDU calls in 1991, and continued through the transition to KOAI.  He was most recently the morning show host until 2003.

The 17 acres at 9900 McCree Road were sold to Centex Development, a division of longtime DFW home developer Fox and Jacobs, in 1991.  The studio and towers were demolished and removed, and luxury homes were built across the property thereafter.

1953:  Marvin Williams, Buddy Harris, Sam Bennett, Gene Thompson, John Knapp, Leonard Coe, E.C. “Doc” Harrell, Jimmy Harris, Bill Borom, Ed Jordan, Carmine Anthony, Clem Cooper, Ken Knox, Don Keyes, Meador Lowry, Bill Morgan, Henderson Rogers, W. L. Pickens, H. H. Coefield, Jack Howard, Bud Vincent, Henry Steele, Hal Bakke, Gordon Sanders, Gordon Vaughn

1954:  Buddy Harris, Bud Vincent, Leonard Coe, Henry Steele, Bill Morgan, Harvey Matusow, Gary Wood, W. L. Pickens, H. H. Coefield, Henderson Rogers

1955:  Buddy Harris, Bill Morgan, Henderson Rogers, W. L. Pickens, H. H. Coefield,

1956:  Dallas “Tex” DeWeese, W. L. Pickens, H. H. Coefield,

1957:  Dallas “Tex” DeWeese, Tony Davis, "Gene," W. L. Pickens, H. H. Coefield, Buddy Harris, Hal Bakke, Gordon Sanders, Gordon Vaughn

1958:  Robb Robbins, Johnny McKinney, Dick Clayton, Al Lohman, Dan Ingram, Jerry Clemmons (“The Clemmons Caper,” and host of the “Coca Cola Hi-Fi Club,”) Pat Hughes, Johnny Borders (“The Borders Patrol,” later known as "Johnny Dark" on KLIF) Roger Barkley (host of the “Roger Barkley Go-Go Show,”) Chuck Benson (“The Benson Blast,”) Dallas “Tex” DeWeese, Bob Whitney, Tony Davis, John Box, Dick Morrison, Harriet Baker, Robb Robbins, Charles Boland, Gordon Vaughn, Pat Conway, Bill Jenkins, Irene "Iron Baby" Runnels, W. L. Pickens, H. H. Coefield,

1959:  Air Schedule:
5:30AM-9:00AM-Al Lohman, "Big" Dan Ingram
9:00AM-12:00PM-"Joltin'" Johnny McKinney, "Groovy" Johnny Borders
12:00PM-3:00PM-Roger Barkley
3:00PM-7:00PM-"Swinging" Chuck Benson
7:00PM-12:00AM-Johnny Borders
12:00AM-5:30AM-Bob Dayton, "Jumpin'" Jerry Clemmons (“The Morning Mayor”)

Also:  Chuck Dunaway (“The Round Mound of Sound,”) future game show host Jim MacKrell (as Jimmy Kaye,)  Chuck Benson, Hal Raymond, Bill Holley (“The Night Creature,”) Pat Hughes, Dallas “Tex” DeWeese, "Brother" Bob Whitney, Gary Mack (McDowell,) Irene Runnels, John Box, Tom Matts, Edward Hunt, Lloyd George, Robb Robbins, Gordon Vaughn, Dick Moore

1960:  Air Schedule:
5:30AM-9:00AM-Jerry Clemmons, Dan Ingram
9:00AM-12:00PM-Gary Mack, Johnny Borders
12:00PM-3:00PM-Pat Hughes
3:00PM-7:00PM-Chuck Benson
7:00PM-12:00AM-Bill Holley
12:00AM-5:30AM-Gary Mack, Jerry Clemmons

Also:  Tony deHaro, Ray Carnay, Dick Moore, Dallas “Tex” DeWeese, Harry Hines, Bob Whitney, Frank Glieber, Irene Runnels, John Box, Lloyd George, Joseph Wolfman, Earl Bodine, Alan Abbott, future game show host Jim MacKrell (as Jimmy Kaye)

1961:  Air Schedule:
5:30AM-9:00AM-Jerry Clemmons
9:00AM-12:00PM-Gary Mack
12:00PM-3:00PM-Pat Hughes
3:00PM-7:00PM-Chuck Benson
7:00PM-12:00AM-Bill Holley
12:00AM-5:30AM-Gary Mack, Jerry Clemmons, Danny Preston

Also:  Tony deHaro, Dick Moore, Charlie Van Dyke (who served as an intern at the station as a teen, and hosted an occasional feature on high school happenings,) Chuck Dunaway, John Borders (Johnny Dark,) Ray Carnay, Bob Whitney, Frank Glieber, Dan Ingram, Irene Runnels, John Box, Parker Daggett, Stanton Pearson, Earl Bodine, Jim MacKrell (as Jimmy Kaye)

1962:  Air Schedule:
5:30AM-9:00AM-Tom Murphy/Pat Harrington
9:00AM-12:00PM-George Cooper
12:00PM-3:00PM-Ken Dowe
3:00PM-7:00PM-Chuck Dunaway, Hal Raymond
7:00PM-12:00AM-Jack O'Day
12:00AM-5:30AM-Jack West (Schell)

Also:  Jerry Clemmons, Charlie Van Dyke, Irene Runnels, John Box, Dick Moore, John Borders (Johnny Dark)

1963:  Air Schedule:
5:30AM-9:00AM-Tom Murphy
9:00AM-12:00PM-George "Super" Cooper, Frank Malone
12:00PM-3:00PM-Jerry Kunkel
3:00PM-7:00PM-Ken Dowe, Gary Mack
7:00PM-12:00AM-Jimmy Kaye (Jim MacKrell,) Bobby Brock
12:00AM-5:30AM-Jack West

Also:  Sam Pate (fired after the JFK assassination,) “Emperor” Bill Ward, Ron Jenkins (McAlister; began 8/1/1963,) Bill Hampton (ND,) Dick Moore, Karl King (fired after the JFK assassination,) Irene Runnels, John Box, Dan Hydrick, Hal Raymond, Betty Verrell, Don Buehler, John Borders (Johnny Dark; left in 1963 for KLIF)

1964:  Air Schedule:
5:30AM-9:00AM-Tom Murphy, Bill Ward (Wardlaw; began late 1964)
9:00AM-12:00PM-Ron Rice
12:00PM-3:00PM-Jack West (Schell)
3:00PM-7:00PM-Charlie Van, Ken "Great" Scott (Ken Gaines)
7:00PM-12:00AM-Bobby Brock
12:00AM-5:30AM-"Myers Showcase" (jockless)

Also:  Ken Dowe, Stu Hepburn (sales manager,) Ron Jenkins, Ron Rice, Irene Runnels, John Box, Edward Sheridan Jr., Alan Golden, Tom Murphy, Dick Moore, Robert Swortwood

1965:  Air Schedule:
5:30AM-9:00AM-Bill Ward, Rex Miller
9:00AM-12:00PM-Ron Rice
12:00PM-3:00PM-Rex Miller, Bill Ward
3:00PM-7:00PM-Ken Scott
7:00PM-12:00AM-Frank Jolle ("The Jolley Green Giant," began 1/1965)
12:00AM-5:30AM-J. Morgan Van Buren (Joe McChesney)

Also:  Sam Pate (returned to station in 1965,) Jack West, Ron Jenkins, Jerry Knight (John D'Azzo), Irene Runnels, Hugh Lampman, John Box, Alan Golden, Tom Murphy, Bobby Dark (Jay Caple,) Dick Moore, William Wentzell

1966:  Air Schedule:
5:30AM-9:00AM-Dan Patrick
9:00AM-12:00PM-Ron Rice, Dave Tucker (with newsmen Glenn Sims, Dick Moore and Joe Long)
12:00PM-3:00PM-Bill Ward (promoted to PD)
3:00PM-7:00PM-Khan Hamon, Bill Holley
7:00PM-12:00AM-Frank Jolle, Jerry Knight
12:00AM-5:30AM-Terry Byrd, Jerry Knight

Also:  Dan Casey, Hyman Childs, Irene Runnels, Hugh Lampman, John Box, Bobby Dark, Alan Golden, Robert Hanna, Ken Scott, Ron Jenkins, Bill Thompson, Leo Letterer

1967:  Air Schedule:
5:30AM-9:00AM-Jack Gardiner (PD under new country format)
9:00AM-12:00PM-Ron Rice
12:00PM-3:00PM-Bill Ward
3:00PM-7:00PM-Art Keller
7:00PM-12:00AM-Allan King
12:00AM-5:30AM-Larry Scott

Also:  Bill Holley, Dan Patrick (to 1/1967,) Glenn Sims, Jerry Knight, Dave Tucker (to 1/1967,) Frank Jolle (to 1/1967,) Joe Long, Hugh Lampman, Bill Thompson, Irene Runnels, Jack Gardiner, Bob Davis, Davie White aka Davie Lee

1968:  Allan Peck, Joe Long, Hugh Lampman, Bill Ward, Bob Bostian, Roger Berk, Irene Runnels, Jack Gardiner, Bill Thompson, Dave Malone, "Emmett," David Perkins, Ron Rice, Bob Davis, Davie White aka Davie Lee

1969:  Chet Maxwell, Allan Peck, Joe Long, Bob Bostian, Irene Runnels, Bobby Dark (Jay Caple; returned to KBOX after a four-year absence,) Jack Gardiner (PD,) Ron Rice, Bill Thompson, Roger Berk, Dave Malone, Bill Ward, Bob Davis

1970:  Chet Maxwell, Allan Peck, Joe Long, Bob Bostian, Roger Berk, Bobby Dark, Ron Rice, Roger Dimick, Gordon Vaughn, Dave Malone, Bill Ward (promoted to station manager,) Bob Davis

1971:  Len Mohnkern, Chet Maxwell, Allan Peck, Sherman Cohen (noted for filing a discrimination lawsuit against the station in 1971!), Joe Long, Bob Bostian, Jim Rose, Roger Berk, Ron Rice (who was voted Music Director of the Year by the CMA for 1971,) Gordon Vaughn, Bobby Dark (Jay Caple,) Bill Ward (left station in 1971,) Russ Knight (yes, the longtime "Weird Beard" from KLIF once jocked in morning drive for KBOX!), Bob Davis

1972:  Len Mohnkern, Chet Maxwell, Allan Peck, Jim Rose, Joe Long, Bobby Dark, Bob Bostian, Roger Berk, Ron Rice, Gordon Vaughn, Bob Davis

1973:  Len Mohnkern, Allan Peck, Penny Reeves, Chet Maxwell, Joe Long, Dick Moore, Bob Clayton (PD,) Dave O'Brien (Loren Wilhelm,) Roger Berk, Ron Rice, Bobby Dark, Gordon Vaughn, Bob Davis

1974:  Len Mohnkern, Allan Peck, Penny Reeves, Bobby Dark, Chet Maxwell, Bob Clayton, Dave O'Brien, Roger Berk, Ted Roney, George Pechacek, Bob Davis

1975:  Air schedule:
6:00AM-10:00AM-Peck and Penny
10:00AM-2:00PM-Joe Greer
2:00PM-6:00PM-Tom Allen (Lundgren)
6:00PM-10:00PM-Bobby Dark
10:00PM-2:00AM-Jack Weston
2:00AM-6:00AM-Bob Clayton

Also:  Len Mohnkern, Chet Maxwell, Ken Knox (McClure), Ken Loomis, Dave O'Brien, George Pechacek, Roger Berk, Craig Magee, Bob Davis

1976:  Len Mohnkern, Allan Peck, Penny Reeves, Peggy Sears (Newman,) Chet Maxwell, Craig Magee, Ken Knox, Ken Loomis, Dave O'Brien, George Pechacek, Roger Berk, Bobby Dark, Tom Allen, Bob Davis

1977:  Len Mohnkern, Allan Peck, Peggy Sears, Chet Maxwell, Danny McDuff, Jack Weston (Bullard,) Rick Fulgham, Jay Ward, Bobby Dark, Ken Knox, Ken Loomis, Dave O'Brien, George Pechacek, Tom Allen, Craig Magee, Roger Berk

1978:  Air Schedule:
6:00AM-10:00AM-Peck and Peggy (with newscaster Rick Fulgham)
10:00AM-12:00PM-Bobby Dark
12:00PM-3:00PM-Jack Weston
3:00PM-7:00PM-Danny McDuff (with newscaster Jay Ward)

Also:  Len Mohnkern, Chet Maxwell, Ken Knox, Ken Loomis, Dave O'Brien, George Pechacek, Tom Allen, Craig Magee, Roger Berk

1979:  Len Mohnkern, Jack Weston, Allan Peck, Peggy Sears, Chet Maxwell, Bob Marion, Bill Anderson, Dave O’Brien, Russ Campbell, Patricia Smith-Melton, Ken Knox, Ken Loomis, Bobby Dark, George Pechacek, Tom Allen, Craig Magee, Roger Berk

1980:  Air Schedule:
6:00AM-10:00AM-Peck and Peggy
10:00AM-12:00PM-Bobby Dark
12:00PM-3:00PM-Ken Loomis
3:00PM-7:00PM-Jack Weston
7:00PM-12:00AM-Jason Walker
12:00AM-6:00AM-Mac Daniels

Also:  Len Mohnkern, Chet Maxwell, Patricia Smith-Melton, Amy Graf,  Russ Campbell, Ken Knox, George Pechacek, Roger Berk, Dusty Black, Rick Fulgham, Dave O'Brien, Glen Martin

1981:  Air Schedule:
6:00AM-10:00AM-Peck and Peggy
10:00AM-12:00PM-Bobby Dark
12:00PM-3:00PM-Ken Loomis
3:00PM-7:00PM-Jack Weston
7:00PM-12:00AM-Jason Walker
12:00AM-6:00AM-Mac Daniels

Also:  Len Mohnkern, Chet Maxwell, Amy Graf, Ken Knox, Russ Campbell, Dusty Black, Roger Berk, Jim Rohnes, Rick Fulgham, Dave O'Brien

1982:  Len Mohnkern, Chet Maxwell, Ken Knox, Ken Loomis, Russ Campbell, George Pechacek, Darcel Barnes, Dave O'Brien, Roger Berk, Bobby Dark, Dusty Black

Unknown years-KGKO:  Sam Bennett

Unknown years-KBOX:  Allen Abbott, Kay Box, Jack Dillon, Earl Vandervoort, Brad Wilson, Mike Terry, Al Smith, Gail Lightfoot, Tim Kase, Alan Holmes, Robert Hanna (GSM,) Dan Casey, Ben Laurie, Gary West, Dave Manders, Bill Jenkins, Paul Potter, Al Smith, Mike Marshall (early 1960s, news,) Tom Matts (ND, then to KVIL as ND,) Don Wade, Ceryl McDonald, Doug Helton, Glenn Sims, David Hultsman, Donald Curtis (host of "Science of the Mind.")

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