KWFS (AM)

As early as 1944, the city's two daily newspapers, the Wichita Daily Times and Record News, began planning to build a radio station. However, they sought not to build an AM radio station but to start an FM outlet. An application for a station on 46.5 MHz was filed on March 29 in the name of publisher Rhea Howard;{{cite news|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1944/1944-04-03-BC.pdf|work=Broadcasting|date=April 3, 1944|page=68|title=Applications|via=World Radio History|access-date=December 4, 2021|archive-date=November 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211108151252/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1944/1944-04-03-BC.pdf|url-status=live}} a conditional grant was issued by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on January 9, 1946.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90003248/times-publishing-co-granted-permission/|date=January 10, 1946|page=1|first=B. N.|last=Timmons|title=Times Publishing Co. Granted Permission For Radio Station|newspaper=Wichita Falls Record News|location=Wichita Falls, Texas|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=December 4, 2021|archive-date=December 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211204061057/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90003248/times-publishing-co-granted-permission/|url-status=live}}

Final approval for a station on 97.7 MHz was granted June 1, 1946, for what the newspapers hoped to be the first FM radio station in Texas. Construction began on a new studio on Seventh Street and a transmitter building in the Westover Hills area by summer, and the new FM station took the call letters KTRN, for the Times and Record News.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89991790/contract-let-on-ktrn-transmitter/|date=June 2, 1946|page=6|title=Contract Let on KTRN Transmitter Building|newspaper=Wichita Daily Times|location=Wichita Falls, Texas|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=December 4, 2021|archive-date=December 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211204060914/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89991790/contract-let-on-ktrn-transmitter/|url-status=live}} KTRN was beaten to air by KTHT-FM in Houston, which began August 22;{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90003774/first-fm-radio-station-in-texas-in/|date=August 23, 1946|page=1|agency=United Press|title=First FM Radio Station In Texas In Operation|newspaper=Wichita Falls Record News|location=Wichita Falls, Texas|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=December 4, 2021|archive-date=December 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211204060906/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90003774/first-fm-radio-station-in-texas-in/|url-status=live}} by year's end, there were also six other stations in operation.{{cite news|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1947/1947-01-20-BC.pdf|date=January 20, 1947|title=142 FM Stations Operating in 33 States|via=World Radio History|work=Broadcasting|page=42|access-date=December 5, 2021|archive-date=November 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211117130146/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1947/1947-01-20-BC.pdf|url-status=live}} Ultimately, KTRN went on air December 23, 1946, an early Christmas gift to Wichita Falls;{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90004004/radio-station-ktrn-dedicated-in-brief-pr/|date=December 24, 1946|page=1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90004234/ 2]|title=Radio Station KTRN Dedicated In Brief Program|newspaper=Wichita Falls Record News|location=Wichita Falls, Texas|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=December 4, 2021|archive-date=December 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211205074503/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90004004/radio-station-ktrn-dedicated-in-brief/|url-status=live}} the day before, it broadcast Handel's Messiah from a local church as a test of its remote control equipment.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90004281/times-opens-citys-first-fm-radio-statio/|date=December 23, 1946|page=1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90004331/ 2]|title=Times Opens City's First FM Radio Station Monday|newspaper=Wichita Daily Times|location=Wichita Falls, Texas|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=December 4, 2021|archive-date=December 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211205074504/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90004281/times-opens-citys-first-fm-radio/|url-status=live}} The station initially operated with a temporary power of 250 watts,{{r|Wich461223}} but it upgraded to 3,800 watts on 97.3 MHz in September 1947.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90004667/station-ktrn-gets-increase-in-range/|date=September 22, 1947|page=1|title=Station KTRN Gets Increase In Range|newspaper=Wichita Daily Times|location=Wichita Falls, Texas|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=December 4, 2021|archive-date=December 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211204061118/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90004667/station-ktrn-gets-increase-in-range/|url-status=live}} April of that year saw the station obtain affiliation with the Mutual Broadcasting System.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90005239/announcing-monday-april-7th-by-specia/|date=April 6, 1947|page=9|title=Announcing, Monday, April 7th, By Special Arrangement...|newspaper=Wichita Daily Times|location=Wichita Falls, Texas|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=December 4, 2021|archive-date=December 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211205074505/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90005239/announcing-monday-april-7th-by/|url-status=live}}

While KTRN was busy bringing FM to North Texas, on November 30, 1944,{{Cite web|url= https://cdbs.recnet.com/corres/?doc=44910 |title= History Cards for KWFS|publisher=Federal Communications Commission}} (Guide to reading History Cards) the Texoma Broadcasting Company, part of the Harte-Hanks chain, applied to the FCC to build a new AM station at 970 kHz,{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90004448/new-radio-station-for-city-is-sought/|date=December 28, 1944|page=1|title=New Radio Station For City Is Sought|newspaper=Times Record News|location=Wichita Falls, Texas|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=December 4, 2021|archive-date=December 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211204061103/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90004448/new-radio-station-for-city-is-sought/|url-status=live}} later modified to 1290. After a hearing, the new AM station was approved on January 16, 1948.{{r|hc}} In April, the Times Publishing Company and Texoma Broadcasting Company proposed a merger of their radio interests; KTRN would take over the construction permit for the AM station, KTEN, which in turn would drop the FM permit it held.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90004566/merger-requested-by-radio-interests-here/|date=April 16, 1948|page=6|title=Merger Requested By Radio Interests Here|newspaper=Wichita Daily Times|location=Wichita Falls, Texas|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=December 4, 2021|archive-date=December 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211204060909/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90004566/merger-requested-by-radio-interests-here/|url-status=live}}

With 5,000 watts and 1,000 watts day from a different site in the City View area, KTRN's AM service debuted on January 23, 1949. A two-hour variety show attended by 4,000 people{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89980218/ktrn-shows-wide-growth-popularity/|date=January 23, 1950|page=5|title=KTRN Shows Wide Growth, Popularity After Year as Standard AM Station|newspaper=Wichita Daily Times|location=Wichita Falls, Texas|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=December 4, 2021|archive-date=December 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211204060921/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89980218/ktrn-shows-wide-growth-popularity/|url-status=live}} was held in the Municipal Auditorium to commemorate the occasion.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90004808/at-2-p-m-sunday-in-memorial-auditorium/|date=January 23, 1949|page=40|title=At 2 P. M. Sunday in Memorial Auditorium: Public Invited to Attend Two-Hour Variety Show|newspaper=Wichita Daily Times|location=Wichita Falls, Texas|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=December 4, 2021|archive-date=December 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211205074506/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90004808/at-2-p-m-sunday-in-memorial/|url-status=live}} The expansion to AM turned out to be more of a migration, as the station surrendered its FM license on June 2, 1949, citing "two years of constant losses".{{cite news|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1949/1949-06-06-BC.pdf|work=Broadcasting|date=June 6, 1949|page=73|via=World Radio History|title=FM Deletions|access-date=December 4, 2021|archive-date=November 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211108151333/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1949/1949-06-06-BC.pdf|url-status=live}}

The year that followed the launch of KTRN on the AM dial led to a flurry of growth, including the relocation of the studios to a new building on Scott Street and a growth in the number of employees from seven to 17.{{r|Wich500123}} KTRN even examined television and filed an application in 1951;{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90004971/ktrn-files-application-for-television-st/|date=April 30, 1951|page=1|title=KTRN Files Application For Television Station|newspaper=Wichita Daily Times|location=Wichita Falls, Texas|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=December 4, 2021|archive-date=December 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211205074504/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90004971/ktrn-files-application-for-television/|url-status=live}} KTRN merged its application with KWFT, but it then pulled out of the merger when it felt that the FCC was not acting quickly enough to approve the proposed joint station; it had apparently been pushed back by another application being filed for channel 6.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90005360/new-application-will-delay-another-video/|date=December 24, 1952|page=1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90005425/ 7]|title=New Application Will Delay Another Video Station in This City|newspaper=Wichita Falls Record News|location=Wichita Falls, Texas|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=December 4, 2021|archive-date=December 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211205074505/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90005360/new-application-will-delay-another/|url-status=live}}

In 1955, the newspapers sold KTRN to a new Texoma Broadcasting Company headed by Boyd Kelley, who had previously been a part-owner.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90005524/ktrn-is-under-new-ownership/|date=January 27, 1955|page=1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90005530/ 2]|title=KTRN Is Under New Ownership|newspaper=Wichita Falls Record News|location=Wichita Falls, Texas|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=December 4, 2021|archive-date=December 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211204061124/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90005524/ktrn-is-under-new-ownership/|url-status=live}} The Kelley family and Robert A. Harmon sold five years later to Broadcasting Associates, Inc., a company majority controlled by Sammons Enterprises, and in 1961, the licensee name was changed to T & O Broadcasting Company.{{r|hc}}

Over the years, KTRN adopted a country music format and also maintained a local news staff. In 1979, it was the only AM station and one of just two total that was on the air after a major tornado devastated Wichita Falls, as most of the city lost power.{{Cite news |last=Roberts |first=Lauren |date=April 10, 2018 |title=39 years after Terrible Tuesday Wichitans tell their stories |language=en-US |work=Times Record News |url=https://www.timesrecordnews.com/story/news/local/2018/04/10/39-years-after-terrible-tuesday-wichitans-tell-their-stories/477182002/ |access-date=December 3, 2021 |archive-date=October 27, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027142911/https://www.timesrecordnews.com/story/news/local/2018/04/10/39-years-after-terrible-tuesday-wichitans-tell-their-stories/477182002/ |url-status=live }} It was able to remain on the air because of an auxiliary power system; the station had a two-week supply of propane.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90363705/auxiliary-power-kept-station-ktrn-on-air/|date=April 26, 1979|page=2A|title=Auxiliary power kept station KTRN on air|newspaper=Wichita Falls Record News|location=Wichita Falls, Texas|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=December 10, 2021|archive-date=December 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211210220555/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90363705/auxiliary-power-kept-station-ktrn-on-air/|url-status=live}} The station held a promotional giveaway for a new Toyota truck in 1984 in which the winner hung on to the truck for more than 76 hours to win; his rival collapsed and fell asleep.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90007024/truck-goes-to-man-who-hung-on-longest/|date=June 11, 1984|page=6A|title=Truck goes to man who hung on longest|newspaper=The Miami Herald|location=Miami, Florida|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=December 4, 2021|archive-date=December 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211204064447/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90007024/truck-goes-to-man-who-hung-on-longest/|url-status=live}}

Raymond Ruff retired from broadcasting in 1983 and sold KTRN after 24 years of ownership to the Brandon family, whose Sunshine Broadcasting Corporation (a predecessor to American General Media and already owner of KKQV (103.3 FM)) spent $500,000 to add the station to its portfolio.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90593656/radio-station-purchased/|date=January 27, 1983|page=2C|title=Radio station purchased|newspaper=Wichita Falls Record News|location=Wichita Falls, Texas|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=December 15, 2021|archive-date=December 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211215025102/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90593656/radio-station-purchased/|url-status=live}}

In May 1985, KTRN became KLLF and adopted a Christian radio format, the first such station in the city.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90593592/ktrns-demise-marks-end-of-an-era-in-rad/|date=May 13, 1985|page=9A|first=Glenn|last=Shelton|title=KTRN's demise marks end of an era in radio here|newspaper=Wichita Falls Record News|location=Wichita Falls, Texas|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=December 15, 2021|archive-date=December 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211215025102/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90593592/ktrns-demise-marks-end-of-an-era-in/|url-status=live}} This evolved to news/talk/sports by the early 1990s, with the last religious programming being dropped in 1994{{cite news|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-M-Street/M-Street-Journal/M-Street-1994-08.pdf#page=26|work=M Street Journal|date=August 24, 1994|page=2|title=Format Changes & Updates|via=World Radio History|access-date=December 4, 2021|archive-date=March 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309181633/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-M-Street/M-Street-Journal/M-Street-1994-08.pdf#page=26|url-status=live}} alongside a Spanish-language radio program,{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90061952/spanish-station-switches-to-sports/|date=July 6, 1994|page=1A, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90061978/ 2A]|first=Trish|last=Choate|title=Spanish station switches to sports|newspaper=Times Record News|location=Wichita Falls, Texas|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=December 5, 2021|archive-date=December 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211205074504/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90061952/spanish-station-switches-to-sports/|url-status=live}} and KLLF became KWFS in 1995, sharing the base designation with KWFS-FM.{{cite news|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-M-Street/M-Street-Journal/M-Street-1995-03.pdf#page=18|work=M Street Journal|page=4|date=March 15, 1995|title=Call Letter Changes|via=World Radio History|access-date=December 4, 2021|archive-date=July 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210719232752/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-M-Street/M-Street-Journal/M-Street-1995-03.pdf#page=18|url-status=live}}

Bruce Holberg, doing business as Apex Broadcasting, acquired KWFS-AM-FM in 1997 from American General Media for $1.4 million.{{cite news|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1998/BC-1998-02-02.pdf|work=Broadcasting & Cable|date=February 2, 1998|title=The Big Deals Club|page=50|access-date=December 5, 2021|archive-date=November 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211108151217/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1998/BC-1998-02-02.pdf|url-status=live}} Clear Channel Communications acquired the Holberg cluster for $6.5 million in 2000.{{cite news|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-M-Street/M-Street-Journal/M-Street-2000-07.pdf#page=16|work=M Street Journal|date=July 12, 2000|page=8|title=Elsewhere|via=World Radio History|access-date=December 4, 2021|archive-date=March 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309181708/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-M-Street/M-Street-Journal/M-Street-2000-07.pdf#page=16|url-status=live}} The company then sold 52 stations in 11 markets in Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas, including its Wichita Falls stations, to Gap Broadcasting, a Dallas-based company owned by George Laughlin.{{Cite news |date=April 13, 2007 |title=Clear Channel Culls Empire |page=6 |work=Radio & Records |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/2000s/2007/RR-2007-04-13.pdf |access-date=December 4, 2021 |archive-date=September 2, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210902021618/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/2000s/2007/RR-2007-04-13.pdf |url-status=live }} Gap Broadcasting and co-owned Gap West were merged with the former Regent Communications to form Townsquare Media after Oaktree Capital Management, already an investor in the Gap companies, became the majority owner of Regent after its bankruptcy.{{Cite news |date=January 25, 2021 |title=Townsquare To Buy-Out Oaktree Capital's Stake In The Company. |work=Inside Radio |url=http://www.insideradio.com/townsquare-to-buy-out-oaktree-capital-s-stake-in-the-company/article_436ba874-5f3d-11eb-9089-0f33fe4bce5b.html |access-date=December 4, 2021 |archive-date=December 4, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211204064747/http://www.insideradio.com/townsquare-to-buy-out-oaktree-capital-s-stake-in-the-company/article_436ba874-5f3d-11eb-9089-0f33fe4bce5b.html |url-status=live }}

KWFS programming consists primarily of national conservative talk shows. A former affiliate of The Rush Limbaugh Show, KWFS and three other Townsquare talk stations in West Texas chose The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show as its replacement in 2021.{{Cite news |last=Venta |first=Lance |date=June 20, 2021 |title=Number Of Rush Limbaugh Affiliates Decide On Replacement Shows |language=en-US |work=RadioInsight |url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/209827/number-of-rush-limbaugh-affiliates-decide-on-replacement-shows/ |access-date=December 3, 2021 |archive-date=November 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211107231035/https://radioinsight.com/headlines/209827/number-of-rush-limbaugh-affiliates-decide-on-replacement-shows/ |url-status=live }}

One local and one regional show feature on the station's weekday lineup: Mike Hendren's Wake Up Call program in morning drive and the Chad Hasty Show, which is heard on other Townsquare talk stations in the region.{{Cite web |title=Shows |url=https://newstalk1290.com/shows/ |access-date=November 4, 2021 |website=NewsTalk 1290 |language=en |archive-date=November 5, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211105014305/https://newstalk1290.com/shows/ |url-status=live }}

{{Reflist}}

• {{Official website}}

{{AM station data|6639|KWFS}}

• {{FCC-LMS-Facility|201096|K242DG}}
• {{FXL|K242DG}}

{{Wichita Falls Radio}}

{{Lawton Radio}}

{{News/Talk Radio Stations in Texas}}

{{Townsquare Media}}

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WFS

Category:News and talk radio stations in the United States

Category:Townsquare Media radio stations

Category:1949 establishments in Texas

Category:Radio stations established in 1949