Eddy Richmond and Esther, the two shown in the first photograph, are only identified by the name on the photo:
A recent photo of KVCK Radio:
KVCK Radio started up in 1957. I remember when Kenny Karge worked the “Platter Parade” program at 4 PM. Kenny had a bicycle horn and he would squeeze it on the air and say “Karge at large”. I remember Dick Applegren working at the station while I was growing up. Does anyone remember “Hovey-Stone Chevrolet time”? I started working there in 1963, as soon as I got my 3rd class license, and gradually moved to full-time employment for Pete Coffey. Here's a 1969 picture of the staff that I took:
Dennis Johnson, Pete Coffey, Benny
(Butzlaff) Bee, Clare Hekkel and Bob Behr
Dennis is in Idaho.
Pete passed away March 18, 1972, and Bob passed away on
April 14, 1986. Benny is in Kalispell and Clare passed
away in Billings March 4, 2015. KVCK celebrated 50 years in business on September
1, 2007. Thanks to the people at KVCK Radio, here is
the last Editorial that Pete Coffey did. The editorial
runs 3 minutes, 15 seconds. It was broadcast the week
of March 13-17, 1972. It last aired the day before
Pete passed away:
CLICK HERE TO
LISTEN TO THE EDITORIAL (Windows Media Format)
Here is an undated photo of Clare Hekkel, probably taken in
the early '60s:
Here's a KVCK Radio photo taken in
1978. From left to right, employee Randy Dibble, Rex Allen,
Jr., Me (badly needing a haircut), and employee Bobby
Barlow:
In 1977 and 1978 KVCK was instrumental in bringing many
country singers to Wolf Point and Poplar. Among them, Rex
Allen, Jr., Bill Anderson, Leroy Van Dyke, Susan Raye, Cal
Smith, Tommy Overstreet and David Houston. The concerts were
either held at the Wolf Point Elks Club, or the Legion Club
in Poplar. All of the concerts were sellouts. Not
bad for a small town radio station!
Rex Allen, Jr., Me and
Announcer Mark Anderson:
Susan Raye in 1978 at the Legion Club:
The Late David Houston appeared at the Elks Club in Wolf
Point:
Cal Smith appeared at the
Legion Club in Poplar:
Tommy Overstreet was at the Legion:
Leroy Van Dyke, "The
Auctioneer" at the Elks:
One of the best concerts: Bill Anderson and the Po' Boys at
the Elks: (Thank God I've thrown out that white
"leisure suit")
Ed Krebsbach started the first radio
station, moving from Vida to Wolf Point. Here is a
photo of Ed:
I was fortunate enough to purchase a 1923 World
Atlas/Gazetter that was owned by Ed, on Ebay.
