Clint Wager in KEOS studio at 13 North San Francisco Street Flagestaff. I need to clean up this site Lots of things in these pictures to talk about....Thanks to Clints Son Adam for sending them out way......

 

 Fresh KEOS information gleaned from a search. Trying to update the page. Anyone out there has pictures, newspaper articles, great stories send 'em to the site. 

    3 thoughts on “Top 10 Flashback: March 2, 1979 – KEOS Flagstaff, AZ”

1. Tom Iveson

   Former station owner, Jack Bird, won 690 KEOS in a poker game! The station struggled to turn a profit because instead of selling clients air-time, Jack would “trade” for services, like gas and food. Jack even used to visit the station to take the quarters out of the soda machine. Employee paychecks occasionally “bounced” for lack of funds.
   The main rival to 690 KEOS was 600 KCLS. Some deejays (circa 1980) of note were Doctor Dick Raymond (morning drive) Carey Edwards (“tradio” midday) Steve Sapp (afternoon drive), Tom Anthony, and Russ Knight. Other notable personalities included Al Sigala, Dave Allison, Bart Graves, and Barb Cortese. The station engineer was Jon Swett and the mgr was JIM Manley.
   KEOS was located on Huntington Drive in Flagstaff and changed its call letters (1981-82?) to KZKZ for a brief time.

   • July 10, 2016 at 1:34 am
   • Reply
2. MARK L TRUMAN

   I worked the station in 74-75, Russ Huntington was manager, jon was the engineer. I believe Eric Michael ? was program director. it was located on Huntinton drive in the middle of the field. AP was both the teletype and network feed. While there, jack was involved with some kind of altercation with law enforcement and shortly after we were told the station had been sold. two fellas showed up claiming to be the new owners and essentially gave us all our 90 day notice. Russ and others bailed pretty quickly, Russ going to Sedona I think. he bought a Mexican restaurant there. I moved to Ventura ca and worked radio there until I changed fields.

Former KEOS DJ Honored......

Pembroke Pines, FL (March 2024) – The Suncoast Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences is pleased to announce the 2024 Gold Circle honoree, Hank Tester. The Gold Circle recognizes individuals who have worked with distinction in the television industry within the Suncoast region of the State of Florida, the State of Louisiana, the Mobile, Alabama – Pensacola, Florida television market and/or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico for fifty years or more. This recognition will be given at the 2024 Suncoast Emmy® Awards on Saturday, December 7th at the Hyatt Regency Orlando.  

Press Release

Hank Tester
2024 Gold Circle Honoree

Hank Tester is a 60-year veteran broadcaster who arrived in South Florida in July of 1992, two months ahead of Hurricane Andrew. His reporting during that historic event contributed to Miami television station WTVJ’s staff being recognized with the DuPont-Columbia University Award and the George Foster Peabody Broadcasting Award.

In 1963 Hank began his broadcast news career behind the microphone at KEOS Radio in Flagstaff, Arizona, while attending Northern Arizona University.

After graduation, his television career took off in Las Vegas, Nevada after accepting a teaching position with the Clark County School District. He transitioned from the classroom to the School District’s PBS station where he developed the station’s newscast.

In 1971, Hank and other investors formed Las Vegas Valley Broadcasting Company and acquired the Las Vegas NBC affiliate. By the late 1980s the company operated TV and radio stations in several western states.

Hank’s broadcasting career has included working as news director, news anchor, reporter, political commentator, and assignment editor.   

A business buyout opportunity and a surprise job offer from WTJV brought Hank to South Florida. “Best move I have ever made,” he will tell you.

In 2015 Hank departed WTVJ and joined WFOR CBS News Miami where he continues his work as a special projects reporter. “I appreciate the CBS News Miami’s management over the years supporting the continuing career of an “old school” storyteller.” Hank Tester is an Emmy^® award winner and a member of the Suncoast Silver Circles.

Hank and his wife Lourdes (Luly) Tester live in Miami and share four daughters and five grandchildren.

"Alvie" passes on. Flagstaff kid who became a big time radio star.


Sad to report Dennis Alvord of Jourdanton passed away Monday, August 15, 2016 at the age of 68.  He was born November 19, 1947 in Kalispell, Montana to Adelbert and Virginia (Pool) Alvord. Dennis got his start at KEOS 1290 Flagstaff and worked all over the US including San Antonio, Nashville, Miami and Los Angeles as a radio disc jockey known as “Joe Nasty” and worked for KTFM in the 80’s and 90’s.  He loved his two dogs, Teenie and Brownie.  His favorite saying was “I want to sing, I want to dance, I want to ha cha cha cha.”  Dennis became a friend to everyone he met and he will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.   Dennis is survived by his loving wife, Amy (Wilke) Alvord; daughter, Jennifer Alvord; brother, Charles Alvord and wife Robin; father-in-law, Lester Wilke; brother-in-law, Michael Wilke and wife Sandra and sister-in-law, Ericka Palmer and husband Jason.  He is also survived by his nieces and nephews, Christina Alvord-Logan, Danny Alvord, Kaitlyn Kaycee, Kyle Palmer and Zachary Wilke.  There are no services scheduled at this time. 

He was the bright eyed Flagstaff High School kid who practically beat down the door at the KEOS studios on North San Francisco street. He wanted to learn to be a D.J. He did just that and as Tony Armenta said recently, "I admired his dedication and goal to become a great D.J."
Great guy, "Joe Nasty" was anything but. He will always be Alvie to us.

"

 

 Hank Tester at the KEOS mike in September of 1963

The United Press Wire machine that was the KEOS link to the news out of Dallas

Fifty years later.........


KEOS Radio: The Day Kennedy Died and I grew up.....

I was in the college cafeteria having an early Friday lunch with some of my fraternity buddies. They all at once they looked over my shoulder. I turned to see what caught their eye. They were watching my girlfriend quickly making her way toward our table. Charlene Valentic was the step daughter of one of Arizona's most successful sheep ranchers.  Tall and attractive she had all the confidence in the world, yet at this moment I could tell something was very wrong. She was rattled. She grabbed my arm and blurted out, "the President has been shot and they need you at the radio station right now, lets go."

November 22nd, 1963 the day John F. Kennedy died and it was the day I grew up. 

I was 21 years old, a student at Northern Arizona University, had lettered  in Varsity Baseball, was a Rock 'n Roll DJ and Morning News man at KEOS Radio 1290 Flagstaff, managed and booked a local garage band, had a 1957 Volvo, and for a college guy a little money in my pocket. The University was located in Flagstaff one of Arizona's most beautiful historic towns, the Grand Canyon was just an hour away, Sedona 20 minutes Down Hiway 89-A.  Life was pretty good on that late November day.

The ride to the Radio Station was anything but good. We were two bewildered college kids for the first time ever dealing with evil in the world.

KEOS Radio was located down a dark hallway of the Nackard Building. 13 North San Francisco Street. Station Manager Russ Huntington was on the air reading the latest news out of Dallas. I was not clear on what had happened and the condition of the President.  Russ had dropped all the commercials and breaking in whenever new information crossed the United Press International wire machine. He saw me barge through the door. He stood up and said, "take over, I have to get some classical music."  

KEOS was a Top Forty Radio Station. We had plenty of The Beach Boys, Litle Stevie Wonder, Skeeter Davis singing "End of the World." There nothing proper for a respectful  broadcast in this dark time. Sugar Shack by Jimmy Gilmer and the Fireballs did not work. We needed appropriate music to fill the time between bulletins.  KEOS was an independent radio station. There was no network to go to. It was just us and a United Press International wire machine.

I slid behind the mike and looked down at the wire copy. There it was. The words jumped off the yellow wire copy paper:

(DALLAS)--PRESIDENT KENNEDY IS DEAD.

HE WAS SHOT TO DEATH BY AN ASSASSIN IN THE STREETS OF DALLAS.HE WAS 45.

Russ had delivered the news, the President was dead. Now it was up to me to carry the rest of the broadcast day. It would be a day  full of doubt, fear, and for the first time ever a true burden of responsibility to others fell square on my young shoulders. 

It was on thing to be a "Rock Jock" and another to be the guy that was delivering unthinkable news to an audience, many without TV sets, others in their cars, folks at work that might have had a radio. I wondered what travelers were thinking as they drove towards California across Northern Arizona on U.S. 66. 

I ripped the latest wire of the UPI Wire machine which was spewing out words on an endless roll of yellow paper. Went back in the Studio and went on the air with the latest bulletin.  Those bulletins just kept coming. 10 rings of the wire machine bell meant a "Flash " was coming off the wire. There were plenty of those "Flashes" November 22nd, 1963. As soon as I would back to the mike and read the latest dispatch I would hear the constant ringing of the wire machines alarm bell.  

I told Northern Arzona listerners that Lyndon Johnson was sworn in as President,  that Kennedy's body departed Dallas on Air Force One, a Dallas Police Officer was shot and killed, and there was an arrest of some one named Lee Oswald.

The station phone rang non stop.  "Is it true, tell me it is not true," a tearful voice blurted out. Call after call piled in as I kept playing Rock  n' Rolll and reading bulletins that were spewing out of the wire machine.  

Russ finally hustled back into the station with an arm full of 33 1/3 RPM classical albums. I grabbed an album, put it  on the turntable and then mumbled something to the effect of "we will continue in a classical music format in respect for President Kennedy." Looking at the albums it was pretty clear they had come from someone's private collection.  They were a life saver.

Russ  puffed on one more cigarette then left, the station was deserted. There I was, all alone for the rest of the day with classical music I knew nothing about, a microphone, and a wire machine that kept ringing, spewing out details of the  Dallas tragedy.

When there was news to report I would pot down the classical music and read the wire copy,  pot it back up and took phone calls.  

Even in Northern Arizona which in a less than a year would send  Senator Barry Goldwater forward to challenge Lyndon Johnson for the Presidency there was a stunned reaction.  On the phone with one of my college buddies the report was "the campus was like a funeral home." 

During a lull in the wire machine news I walked out of the Nackard building to check out San Francisco Street. The was a small group standing outside McGaughs News Stand.  Few folks heading down the street told me they were heading to the bar at The Monte Vista Hotel. "Hear they have a TV set up so we can watch, " said a guy that ran a small variety store across the alley from the station.

The phone was non stop. People were reaching out. It was a great lesson for someone who would spend much of the next 50 years in broadcast news. People depended on us to provided vital information. In this case 

the news was stunning and bewildering. 

Border crossings with Mexico were closed, SAC bombers were in the air, all branches of the services were on alert. Telephone exchanges in Washington and Boston went down. There were quotes about a possible coup or overthrow of the government. It was an overwhelming amount of information that was coming out of the UPI machine.So much so that I could not get it all on the air. I had to edit, determine what was the most important news for my listeners. It was another responsibility learned that day. I was the gatekeeper for a good portion of the Northern Arizona listening audience and to me, alone in the studio reading bulletin after bulletin , it seemed to me like the world was coming apart.

KEOS was a daytime AM radio station. The station signed on at sunrise, went off the air at sunset. November 22nd, 1963 sign off was at 5:15PM.  I produced a lengthy 5:00 PM newscast, read it, looked up at the control room clock. The hands on the clock pointed to 5:10PM. I had had enough. I signed the station off the air five minutes early.

I checked in at the Monte Vista. Not everyone tossing down drinks were unhappy that Jack Kennedy was dead. I was not ready to hear that so I called my girlfriend and she picked me up and we headed to dinner at the NAU Student Union Cafeteria.  The  dining hall scene was hushed. There was no beer fueled Friday  frivolity.  Fellow students wanted to know what I knew. I repeated what I had said on the air but the bottom line was none of us could comprehend what had gone on in Dalllas. Innocence  seemed shattered. A much bigger word of reality had invaded out campus life. 

But there was a thread of understanding on the horizon.  We had seen some mimeographed notices pinned on campus bulletin boards. They said something to the effect that Dr. Ed Walker would answer questions and reflect on the death of the President  in his classroom. I really did not know him that well but I thought it would be good to hear what he had to say.  I remember walking through the crisp, cool Flagstaff night not sure about what I was going to hear. Even then,  just hours after the death of the President mystery was creeping into the story.

The crowd was huge spilling out in to the hallway of the Education Center.

Walker was well respected on campus. He smoked a pipe, had white hair, was probably in his mid sixties, reguarded in conservative Northern Arizona as being "a little liberal,"  but he was perfect for the role he was about to play.  He spoke and took questions. He had no insights on the motivation for the shooting. But he was sure we would quickly know since there was a suspect in custody.  That ofcourse, as soothing as it sounded that night,  was not to be.

It has been so many years I can't recall much  else of what Dr.said except he repeated several times that though a tragedy the death of one man, even if it was our President, would do nothing to alter the American System. That the Constitution, and the defined Legislative, Executive, and Judicial branches of government were bigger than John F. Kennedy. "You have every right to grieve, but in your grief you should feel secure." --Those words I do remember and have stayed with me always.

The next day Saturday the 23rd has somehow escaped my memory. Sunday I was back to the radio station to sign on the early religious programming that paid a hefty portion of our weekly revenue.  That done  I grabbed some breakfast  at the El  Charro Cafe on South San Francisco Street. I jumped in my trusty Volvo and headed for campus, walked into the Fraternity Dorm where I found a bunch of my Sigma Nu Fraternity  brothers glued to the TV set. "Somebody shot Oswald," one of the guys said to me. I turned around and headed back to the station.  "When is this going to end," I kept saying to myself as I parked  on North San Francisco Street and headed down the hallway to the studio and cued up some more classical music, ripped the wire machine, settled in behind the mike and said,  "From United Press International, here is the latest from Dallas.......

Suprise E-mail

"Uncle Russ" was a our leader and guided our careers. This from his daughter and what a nice surprise! Hope she kind find that picture.

Hank,

I don't know if you remember me. I am Russ Huntington's daughter Denise.

I have a friend from Phoenix who happened to be in Flagstaff today and came upon (by accident) E. Huntington Dr.. I received an email from him asking if that road was named after my family. I told him that, yes, the original road was named after my father who was general manager of the top-40 radio station KEOS back in the 60's & early 70's.

Anyway, that led me to googling KEOS to see what happened to it (I moved to California in 1973 and I think dad moved to Cottonwood in 1975.) My search brought up your KEOS blog. I don't see anything new on the blog since around the time of Clint's death. But I enjoyed seeing the pics of you and Bob Polk and Clint and Alvie and Tony. I worked at KEOS 690 (the new one) doing part-time traffic/billing from 1969-1971, while I went to NAU, but I have fond memories of all of you (and Margaret Reinke & others who passed through).

Somewhere I have a picture of Dad kneeling in front of the racks of 45's at the old station downtown. It's a black & white photo of him bending down holding a record. I suspect it is from the early 60's. If you are still maintaining your blog (or plan to) and would like a copy of that picture, I'll email you a copy (provided I can find it in my boxes of stuff).

Anyway, seeing your blog was a blast from the past. I hope you can continue updating it.

Denise Huntington

"New KEOS"

This is the KEOS facility after the move from downtown Flagstaff. The station switched frequencies from 129okc to 690kc. 690kc was occupied by KVNA which had gone dark in the mid 1960's. Several of the KEOS announcers had worked at KVNA including Margaret Reinke who hosted a morning show and was part of the KEOS sales team. Ralph Gould provided this picture and several more that we will post.

KEOS DJ Hank Tester Produces record

Probably winter of 1966. KEOS DJHank Tester produces record with Gene Fisher and the Mystics. The record was sold in several Flagstaff stores and was used on KEOS as promotion for the band. Gene Fisher's cover of the Buddy Holly hit "Listen to Me," was a Northern Arizona favorite. Several members of the Mystics moved on to become the principals in with Ajax and the White Tornados. Lead singer for the Tornados was KEOS DJ Tony Armenta, KEOS chief engineer Jon Svett served as the bands technical director.

Clint Wager with Bob Polk KEOS Jocks

KEOS DJ Clint Wager with KEOS DJ Bob Polk at the Northern Arizona University Gym in the late 1960's. KEOS was at the top of popularity in Northern Arizona during this time. Within a few years the frequency of moved from 1290kc to 690kc. Clint's passing reminds us of those magic times when AM Top Forty ruled the airwaves. See Clint's obit below.

Clint Wager: KEOS Legend

Clinton E. Wager Jr.
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Wager, Clinton E. Jr.71, of Cottonwood, AZ passed away on December 2, 2009. He was an energetic man who had a passion for life, which never left him despite his two year battle with cancer. Clint was a third generation Arizonian who was born in Prescott and grew up in Jerome until the copper mines closed in 1952. His family then moved to Tolleson where he attended high school. Upon graduating from Tolleson High he moved to Flagstaff to attend Arizona State College (now NAU). While in college, Clint obtained a part-time job for KVNA radio station as a radio announcer. After college he stayed in radio as a rock-and-roll DJ and station manager for KEOS. During this time he also did sports announcing for the local high school. After 15 years in radio, Clint went to work for Warner Communications, in Flagstaff. During these years, Clint was very active in community affairs - serving as president elect of the Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce; President of Flagstaff Kiwanis Club and he also served as the President of the Arizona Cable T.V. Association. During his years in cable television Clint managed systems in Arizona, Oregon and California. Clint moved to Cottonwood, AZ in 1987 and became a self-employed businessman - opening several paint stores and a fly fishing business which allowed him to indulge a 50 year passion for fly fishing. Clint was a strong man who loved to laugh. He was passionate about his beliefs and added a vibrant spark to any gathering. Clint is survived by his wife of 32 years, Christine and his four children from a previous marriage: April Newton, Amber (Randy) Meredith, Adam (Michelle) Wager and Andrea (Bill) Shiflett and his 11 wonderful grandchildren. He is also survived by his mother, Evelyn, and his brothers, Max Wager and Denny Wager and his sister, Janie Kilby and their families. He was preceded in death by his father, Clinton E. Wager, Sr. Services are private. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to Reel Recovery, a national non-profit organization that conducts free fly fishing retreats for men recovering from cancer.

A Sad Day. Clint Wager

I just wanted all of you to know that Clint passed away today. He died at home under hospice care and was comfortable and at peace. I know he valued you all so much and all of your renewed interest in getting the information on the radio gave him lots of pleasure in wonderful old memories. Thank you for your friendship to him.


Christine

KEOS Old Guard Checking in..........

A quick post: We have located Jon Swett, Ralph Gould, heard more from Clint Wager, Dennis Alvord, Tony Armenta, and Jerry D. Spears. We have noted some really great stories, many not known before.... Hopefully we can get them to you as we gather more material. "And the Hits Just Keep on Happening on the Mightly 1290!"

KEOS DJs Hank Tester and Jerry D. Spears

Hank Tester and Jerry D. Spears at the weekly record hop at Axer's Alley located below the ASC/NAU Dean of Men's office. Admission was 50 cents person. Hot chicks were free. During the sixties KEOS DJs made hundred of appearances at Northern Arizona dances, sock hops, and Rock 'n Roll shows.

Site Under Construction!

We are looking for Jon Swett, Bob Polk, Dave Will and Jack Graves to mention just a few....

Petula Clark with KEOS Jocks!

Plenty of hot acts came through Flagstaff in the 1960's and KEOS personalities were always part of the show. Here Tony Armenta and Dennis Alvord get the latest scoop from Petula Clark.

Dennis Alvord aka "Joe Nasty"

"Alvie" grew up in the radio station. Radio was/is his life. From KEOS he went on to a major career which included stops in Phoenix, L.A., Miami, and he's still at it in Texas.

KEOS DJs Clint Wager and Bob Polk

Two of the best known KEOS Disc Jockeys in the 1960's. Wager was the first ever KEOS announcer on the air as the station was conducting engineering tests. Clint Wager on the left, Bob Polk in his familiar sweater on the right.

The Beat Goes On! Tony Armenta on Air KEOS 1290

We are looking for pictures of Clint Wager, Dennis Alvord, Russ Huntington, Bob Polk, Tom Byrd, Jay Harlan, Jerry D. Spears, Jon Svett, Margaret Reinke, Lonnie Holley......

KEOS DJ Tony Armenta on the air!

Under Construction

This site is under construction! We hope to bring you the sights and we hope sounds of KEOS Radio Flagstaff during the time the Northern Arizona Rocker was daytime and on 1290kc.