COLUMBUS — What started as a three-kilowatt, Class A radio facility in 1972 now puts out 6,000 watts of power at its location off Highway 71 North in Columbus. Owner John L. Labay received permission from the Federal Communications Commission for a construction permit to build a new facility to house the radio equipment and offices in August of 1973. In March of that year, construction began for a brick building.
The new brick offices held a lobby, a manager's office, two recording studios, a record library, control and transmission room with other amenities. The big news is there was room now for a fax machine, CD players and computers that play music and commercials with just a push of a button.
Much like today, the format features news, weather, sports, country music and weekly church services.
In 1973, then-Mayor W.A. Kuchar opened ceremonies with 400 guests and an appearance by U.S. Representative Jake Pickle on Tuesday of that week.
The station has been beaming radio waves for 50 years this year, except for an unfortunate incident involving an 18-wheeler and guy wires that brought the radio tower down and the station off the air in 1989.
KULM is going strong and operates seven days a week. Its current owner, Roy Henderson, owns seven radio stations in Texas and more in Michigan. His son, Ryan Henderson, is the general manager of the Texas stations. Ryan makes sure the Texas stations stay true to their Texas roots.
The people who work at KULM are what keep listeners tuning in.
Judy Barrett is the backbone of the radio station. She has been the business office manager for 50 years.
Carl Geisler is an on-air personality many know and has listened to for years.
He has been with KULM on and off for many years. His distinctive “radio” voice is perfect for the radio listener. He has brought classic country music back to the airwaves on KULM, much to the de light of an older generation.
Darrel Appelt runs the morning show.
He has KULM fans riveted to their radi os during their morning drive. At the same time, he discharges prime-time country music, hosts interesting guests, provides information on what’s happening around the county and generally talks to himself on the radio. He has been a KULM icon for years and has over 30 years of "spin ning records.”
Long gone are the vinyl records spin- ning on a tabletop. It is all digitized and computerized, but the country music keeps beaming over the airwaves and KULM keeps the county informed.
At KULM, it's always time to Get It Up and Get It Going!
