By Paul C. Jones, KBOA President
Who conceived the idea of a radio station in Kennett? Who was responsible for the organization of the company that raised the money to make the initial investment? It all started back in the late summer and early fall of 1945.
At that time there was no Chamber of Commerce in Kennett and meetings were being held to discuss the re-organization of a Chamber of Commerce. It was at one of these meetings that the discussion got around to things that might be done to improve business and to advertise this trade territory.
Someone suggested that a radio station might be worthwhile considering. It was then that Charles B. Baker reached into his desk and pulled out a sheaf of correspondence which he had been having with the General Electric Co. relative to the construction of an FM radio station. He had gone so far as to obtain an option on delivery of equipment as soon as it became available. Your writer then told of the inquiries which he had been making relative to cost and the possibility of obtaining a construction permit.
No one of this small group had had any experience with radio, but most everyone thought it would be a good idea to explore the idea, and possibly proceed with the organization of a company to go ahead with the plans.
Started by 30
To make a long story short, within a few weeks some 30 individuals in Kennett had signed articles of agreement to invest a total of $50,000 in a company which was to engage in the business of operating a radio station.
Some thought it might prove to be a sound investment; most, however were dubious, but all agreed that it would be a good thing for the community and would serve to advertise this section of the state, particularly the Kennett trade territory. No one was pressured to buy stock, but it was generally known that anyone who cared to risk a little cash could buy stock in the company.
The original list of subscribers who put up from $50 to $500 each, on the basis of a 10 percent down payment, included in the order of their signing: R. Irl Jones, Sam Graber, Julius Kohn, Dr. E. L. Spence, H. R. Tribble, E. K. Striegel, Earl G. Vandiver, Hal H. McHaney, T. M. McCaul, Lamb-Nutt, Charles B. Baker, James Kahn, Hemphill Brothers, Wright Brothers, Ben Cash, A. Riggs, Presnell Hospital, Clyde R. Welman, Elbert L. Ford, Jewell Shafer, T. A. Brown, Jr., W. F. Shelton III, Flake L. McHaney, J. C. Welman, Paul C. Jones, L. A. Pickard, Mrs. A. C. Landsdell, Elmo Blakemore, Cecil Campbell, Amiel Campbell, and Felix Kraft.
That was in September, 1945. By February, 1946, the group had approved the purchase of equipment, but it was not until April 1946, that an application was filed with the Federal Communications Commission, and the purchase of a site was authorized.
Things Moved Slowly
Things were not moving too fast. Everyone was apparently interested but no one was sufficiently interested to devote much time to the project. While Paul C. Jones had made a trip to Washington and had arranged for the employment of a Washington (unreadable) with the FCC, there were still no paid employees.
Most of the details were being handled through the original board of directors consisting of Paul C. Jones, Earl Vandiver, Dr. E. L. Spence, Sam Graber, and Hal H. McHaney.
By the time it became necessary to raise the additional money which was needed to buy the site and make a down payment on the equipment, some of the interest had waned, and some of those who had gone into the venture solely because of their desire to cooperate in a community enterprise, were willing to transfer their interest to others.
Some of the original signers dropped out of the picture and others took over their stock, with some of the stock being reserved for those who were to be later identified with the station in key capacities.
By October, 1946, the construction permit had been approved by the FCC. Things were still moving slowly and it was (about this time) Paul C. Jones was designated as general manager and given the authority to begin looking around for someone who knew something about the business.
By January, 1947, it was decided to build a temporary building and two old army barracks buildings were moved to the site and converted into a studio, office and transmitter room.
Staff Is Gathered
Equipment was still hard to acquire. While the tower and antenna had been purchased and was being installed during the latter part of May and early part of June, 1947, it developed that the transmitting equipment which had been contracted for could not be delivered before fall, and a change in plans had to be made.
During this time, a contract had been made with Robert H. Conner who at that time was working at Yazoo City, Miss., to come to Kennett as the chief engineer for KBOA. He arrived and started to work on June 5, 1947. Shortly thereafter John T. Reeder (Johnny Mack) was hired as assistant engineer and announcer, and he and Conner installed the equipment, which came in sooner than expected.
Ray Van Hooser, who up until that time had been working at Blytheville as an announcer, came to Kennett the early part of July to assume his duties as station manager, announcer and salesman, and everyone was looking forward to KBOA getting on the air.
On the morning of July 19, 1947 the call letters, “This is KBOA in Kennett, Mo.,” went out to listeners over a five-state area for the first time.
At that time the staff consisted of Paul C. Jones, general manager; Ray Van Hooser, program director-salesman; Bob Conner, chief engineer; Johnny Mack, engineer – announcer; Norman Shainberg, announcer; Bernice Davis (now Mrs. Rudy Pylant), secretary and Dona Rae Ford, (now Mrs. Lynn Grisham), record librarian.
Helped in Programs
Since that morning in July, 1947, many changes have come about in the Bootheel of Missouri and KBOA is proud that it has been permitted to share in the progress made and we feel a modest pride in the fact that the station has made a contribution to the betterment of the way of life of all the people who live in this section.
Advertising creates competition and competition results in better products at the lowest possible prices.
Through the sponsorship of KBOA programs, the local firms have spread the word of their goods and services and at the same time provided the people of the area with the type of programs which they have indicated they wanted.
Gives Local Program
KBOA’s Program Department has always operated on the principle of giving its listeners local programs, something they can’t get anywhere else—for example, local news, hillbilly bands and gospel quartets, when they were all the rage.
But times change and tastes change and KBOA was one of the first stations in the area to realize that to survive competition from other radio stations and television the listener had to be served a brand of entertainment that he could not get from any other source.
Today the KBOA daily schedule gives the listener a fast moving format of entertainment that fits in with the day’s activities. The early morning schedule is filled with music which the early rising rural listeners have proved they preferred over the years, coupled with plenty of news and weather forecasts.
Before Dad gets off to work the scores of the ballgames the night before and other sports items are rounded up. After Dad and the kids have had a chance to get out of the house, Mom is giving fare of smooth listening and plenty of local news.
As the noon hour approaches the time signals are given a little more frequently and when noon arrives the morning news is summarized for the man of the house who has been out of touch with world happenings for the morning. So that farm families can combine the noon hour meal with some valuable information the market reports are given then and a complete weather program covers the local and national weather situation.
Plenty of Music
The early afternoon is filled with programs that can be enjoyed while you’re doing something else; plenty of good music and little talk, but with enough news to keep in touch with what is going on in the world.
As the late afternoon comes around the teenagers have their rock and roll sessions and Dad gets his sports reports and the closing market situation as well as a last minute look at the news and the weather forecast before sundown makes the chief engineer put his hand on the big switch.
KBOA, like many other small town kilowatt stations, is licensed for daytime broadcasting only. In other words, from sun-up to sun-set local time, and of course that varies with the seasons.
Stockholders of the Kennett Broadcasting Corporation now include: Charles Harrison, station manager; Joe R. Bankhead, advertising manager; Robert H. Conner, chief engineer; John Reeder (Johnny Mack), program and news director; Paul C. Jones, president, Earl G. Vandiver, E. K. Striegel, Elmo Blakemore, and Hal H. McHaney, members of the board of directors; Julius Kahn, H. R. Tribble, Mrs. A. Riggs, Mrs. Nettie Presnell, Flake McHaney, Mrs. Tom Mobley, Mrs. Joe Cash, Paul C. Jones, Jr., Jonella Vandiver, and Mrs. Paul C. Jones.
Source: Daily Dunklin Democrat, Monday, July 15, 1957