KBOX Modesto, CA History
In the late 40's a group seeking to put the third AM station on the air in Modesto applied for a frequency of 1010 kcs and then amended their application for 970 kcs which was granted. The station came on the air on November 1, 1951 with the call letters KBOX. The group incorporated as Stanislaus County Broadcasters, Inc. and included Cecil Lynch; Cecil's dad Mat; Ralph Brown, a state assemblyman from Modesto and Ralph Bowen an area rancher among others. In August 1956 the station was purchased by McClatchy Broadcasting and joined with their KBEE-FM station. McClatchy sold the stations to Price Broadcasting of Utah who changed KBEE-AM to KHYV on Feb. 17, 1983. Another call letter change to KOOK occurred on August 29, 1988. The stations were sold to Citidel Broadcasting who changed KBEE-FM to KATM-FM. The AM station became KESP on March 9, 2000.
(Photo and information courtesy of Cecil Lynch)
Engineers preparing to take field strength readings during construction of KBOX in 1951. This jeep belonged to Jay Tapp of T&T Radio at Long Beach. He rigged an elevated platform for the meter, which we strapped in position and carried an external battery in the jeep. The field strength meter we used at that time was made by Federal Radio Company operated off a car battery. The antenna was in the lid with a bayonet connection into the instrument, so the antenna could be rotated to maximize of null the signal.
The engineer standing id Carl Pendergraft. Seated, Jay Tapp, Cecil Lynch standing next to Jay. The man in the dark suit is Cecil Lynch's dad Mat Lynch. Next to him, with the cane, is John Boyer. John was indirectly an innovator of KBOX through his brother-in-law Harold Bowen. Harold is on the ground, next to the jeep. The other man holding the map is Ralph Brown. Brown was a lawyer, and State Assemblyman at that time and an original owner of KBOX.
November 1, 1951
KBOX original 1 KW Collins transmitter in the 50's.
(Courtesy of Bob Pinheiro)
Call Sign History
KESP 03/09/2000
KANM 04/17/1998
KBUL 09/20/1996
KOOK 08/29/1988
KHYV 02/17/1983
KBEE-AM 08/1956
KBOX 11/01/1951
