KFH Celebrates 100 Years of Radio In Wichita KS

RADIO ONLINE | Monday, May 23, 2022 | 10:40am CT

KFH-AM

KFH-AM & FM/Wichita is celebrating 100 years as Kansas' oldest commercially licensed radio station. Beginning this week, KFH Radio will kick off its 100th anniversary by welcoming special guests as part of its on-air programming. Guests include Sedgwick County commissioner Pete Meitzner; Melodee Eby, late former Program Director Larry Stanley's daughter; mayor of Wichita Brandon Whipple and former station air personality Charles Frodsham, among others.

"As the oldest radio station in Kansas, KFH Radio is very much a key piece of a fabric of this region and the city of Wichita," said Audacy Wichita Senior VP and Market Manager Jackie Wise. "We're honored to have been able to carry that baton for 100 years now, serving our community in key moments throughout history. We're proud of the role we play in Wichita and look forward to celebrating our centennial anniversary alongside our loyal listeners."

The station will also begin airing short form audio clips that spotlight some of the most memorable moments in station and Wichita history, including coverage of World War II, Wichita State University athletics, national attention from the 1938 Orson Welles "War of the Worlds" that aired on the station and more. The station will also pay homage to the past through a historical content series on its Facebook page.

Additionally, the state of Kansas has declared May 26 as "KFH Day," which will recognize the station's place in Wichita history and the role it plays in the community. The city of Wichita and Sedgwick County will also both conduct a proclamation to recognize the station's 100-year anniversary. The Sedgwick County Historical Museum will feature an exhibit to highlight KFH Radio.

Also on May 26, KFH Radio will help induct the station's late former sports director Larry Stanley into the Wichita Sports Hall of Fame. The induction will be done on air during the station's morning show "Sports Daily" with Bruce Haertl and Jacob Albracht at 10am CT. Stanley was the station's first Sports Director from 1939 to 1949.

KFH Radio, first known as WEAH, was launched on May 26, 1922 for the purpose of broadcasting crop and market reports. It is the oldest commercially licensed radio station in Kansas, was the first station in Kansas to add FM to its broadcast service and the first radio station in Kansas to originate a network broadcast that was carried nationwide.