KLEM OBSERVES IT’S 70TH BIRTHDAY
Radio station KLEM turned 70 years old over the weekend. Bob McKune was the founder and first station manager of the station which was granted a license to broadcast in October of 1954. The station officially signed on for the first time on October 12th of that year.
In July of 1961, Paul and Patty Olson purchased the station. KLEM station manager, Dave Grosenheider, who started working for the station in high school in 1972, recalls memories of the Olsons.
KLEM now operates 24 hours a day and has an FM translator. In the early days, it was only allowed to operate as a daytime station and listeners became familiar with Paul Olson’s sign-off at sundown that was followed by the Lord’s Prayer.
Over the years many programs have aired on the station including Point of Law, Earl Nightengale and Our Changing World, and Is Anybody Home.
KLEM’s current owner is the Powell Group who purchased KLEM in 1999. Grosenheider says the station operates with the mission of community service, providing local news and high school sports broadcasts. He credits General Manager, Dennis Bullock with continuing the “live and local” mantra.
As KLEM observes this milestone in broadcasting, we would like to thank our many loyal sponsors and listeners. And in the words of Captain Stubby and Charle Homer Bill: (Thanks for listening!)
