KUFO-FM in Texas

[Bob Mitchell]

I came to Texas in 1975 as to work at KUFO-FM, 106.5, on Galveston Island, Near Texas, as morning personality (The KUFO Teddybear) and news director. The studios were, indeed, in the saucer-shaped building on the Flagship Pier that Grady McAllister has spotlighted. The station was originally KGBC-FM, which they later automated as KESY-FM, an easy listening station. Somewhere in the early 70s, before the rise of FM, KGBC - unfortunately - sold off their FM license to a group of executives from American National Insurance Company, who formed Beacon Broadcasting. It was under their ownership that I was hired there by GM Chuck Adams. The PD at that time was Nolan Baade, who, last I heard, was working at an FM in Round Rock, TX, with the air name Nolan Cruz (sic.), and the format was AOR. Originally, the studios were somewhere in downtown Galveston, under the banner ('branding' was not used back then) of "The People's Radio Station". By the time I arrived, Beacon Broadcasting had leased space on the Flagship Pier and bought the 'flying saucer' building. We had a great group of people at KUFO, which had gone from automation to live programming, and had made a unanimous decision to phase out of AOR and into a more Americana/Freeform format, playing some Willie Nelson, Rusty Weir and other outlaw music. After I was there a couple of years, Beacon Broadcasting decided to sell the station to an out-of-town owner, who - as is usually the case - fired everyone and brought in their own new staff, changing the format to country music. I was immediately hired by Vandy Anderson at KGBC AM, where I stayed for the next 35-plus years. I have some great stories about my time at KUFO, which I will share if asked,

 

[davideduardo]

I have some great stories about my time at KUFO, which I will share if asked,

Radio stories are always fun... bring them on!

 

[BamaTX]

By the time I arrived, Beacon Broadcasting had leased space on the Flagship Pier and bought the 'flying saucer' building.

Do you know the origin of the call letters and "banner" of "KUFO"? Was the building the inspiration for the call letters or was the building bought to add to the existing theme? 1975 was a few years before the sci-fi Hollywood explosion. I guess NASA up the road inspired the station's call letters?

Posts like these make me miss websites such as Radio Emporium. It had a ton of older radio logos/bumper stickers from stations of the past. Unfortunately, wayback machine didn't save all of the pictures from the site.

 

[Kent]

The PD at that time was Nolan Baade, who, last I heard, was working at an FM in Round Rock, TX, with the air name Nolan Cruz (sic.), and the format was AOR.

I remember a Nolan Cruise on KKMJ 95.5 in Austin and, briefly, KOOI 106.5 in Tyler/Longview in the 90’s. I'm thinking he had the brief stint in Tyler in-between gigs at KKMJ. Pretty sure it’s the same guy. Not sure where else he worked, though.

 

[ContinuousWave]

I came to Texas in 1975 as to work at KUFO-FM, 106.5, on Galveston Island, Near Texas, as morning personality (The KUFO Teddybear) and news director. The studios were, indeed, in the saucer-shaped building on the Flagship Pier that Grady McAllister has spotlighted. The station was originally KGBC-FM, which they later automated as KESY-FM, an easy listening station. Somewhere in the early 70s, before the rise of FM, KGBC - unfortunately - sold off their FM license to a group of executives from American National Insurance Company, who formed Beacon Broadcasting. It was under their ownership that I was hired there by GM Chuck Adams. The PD at that time was Nolan Baade, who, last I heard, was working at an FM in Round Rock, TX, with the air name Nolan Cruz (sic.), and the format was AOR. Originally, the studios were somewhere in downtown Galveston, under the banner ('branding' was not used back then) of "The People's Radio Station". By the time I arrived, Beacon Broadcasting had leased space on the Flagship Pier and bought the 'flying saucer' building. We had a great group of people at KUFO, which had gone from automation to live programming, and had made a unanimous decision to phase out of AOR and into a more Americana/Freeform format, playing some Willie Nelson, Rusty Weir and other outlaw music. After I was there a couple of years, Beacon Broadcasting decided to sell the station to an out-of-town owner, who - as is usually the case - fired everyone and brought in their own new staff, changing the format to country music. I was immediately hired by Vandy Anderson at KGBC AM, where I stayed for the next 35-plus years. I have some great stories about my time at KUFO, which I will share if asked,

Growing up in the SE Texas area of Beaumont -Port Arthur market, Galveston was a frequent spot to visit in the summer...first time I saw UFOs studio, I thought WTH?? Hung out with folks at KOLE1340 Port Arthur and DJed/engineered at 560KLVI along with 1450KAYC and KAYD FM ...Papa John Hicks, father of Steve and Tom, who owned 560 did a big mistake selling 94.1 FM to Airwaves out of Baton Rouge..we could have moved the Top40 format to the FM and cleaned up...(leaving Gordon Baxter on the AM of course lol) so KGBC wasn't the only one who did a big goof selling the FM off..and KGBC AM had some of the best audio for a music AM in 2008...shame it couldn't hold on..it covered the coast extremely well.

 

[stan]

A lot of station owners in the early to mid 1970s made the same mistake about not putting Top 40 on FM. When I worked at KAKC in Tulsa the staff attempted to convince the owner to swap the AM (Top 40) and FM (Drake Chenault automated oldies). It didn’t happen, although we simulcast the AM on the FM at night because of the woeful AM coverage in the metro area. In 1977 the owner sold the FM station to a group that put a ‘beautiful music’ format on it. ☹️

 

[AnyHuman]

A bit off-topic, but I remember in early 2011 when KUFO in Portland flipped from rock to talk. Everybody got mad.

Portland now has 105.9, which is rock.