DALLAS (WBAP/KLIF News) — Today is the 95th anniversary of WBAP’s first broadcast.
WBAP is one of the oldest radio stations in Texas, dating back to May 2, 1922, when stations in Texas were still given call signs beginning with a “W” instead of a “K.”
It later became the norm that stations east of the Mississippi River were given a “W,” and stations to the west were given the “K.”
The station was named by President Herbert Hoover, who was Secretary of Commerce at the time and ex-officio head of what would become the Federal Communications Commission.
According to Hoover, the call letters WBAP stood for “We Bring A Program.”
The station has been the radio home to a plethora of iconic radio voices — many of whom have spoke with us about what WBAP meant to them.
Current morning host Hal Jay, the station’s longest mainstay at 36 years and counting, sat down with news director Freda Ross to discuss why he and many others have worked for the station so long, what WBAP has meant to him and his family, as well as why the station has been able to succeed for nearly a century.
Bud Kennedy of the Fort Worth Star Telegram joined the WBAP Morning News to talk about the station from a historical perspective, including how much money was invested in the station at the very beginning.
DFW sports legend Randy Galloway also joined the Morning News to talk about his time with the station and share some stories maybe he wishes current sports anchor Steve Lamb wouldn’t have shared.
Thank you — the listener and follower — for sticking with WBAP over the years. We’re not going away anytime soon, and we promise to continue bringing you the news and programming you’ve become accustomed to receiving for 95 years (and counting)!