Hall of Famer's Dream Began in Oklahoma Garage
William H. “Bill” Payne will be inducted into the Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters (OAB) Hall of Fame on Friday, March 28th, at the Skirvin Hotel in Oklahoma City. Being inducted into the Hall of Fame is the highest honor bestowed by the OAB. This year’s Hall of Fame recipient began his radio station dream in the garage of his Oklahoma home.
On June 28, 1962, Twenty-two year old Bill Payne began broadcasting live from his own radio station KWHP-FM out of a one-car garage in Edmond, Oklahoma. The control room and office were in the garage, the 77-foot tower was in the backyard, and the transmitter was in a spare bedroom. Payne was one of the only three pioneer FM radio stations on the air in the state of Oklahoma at that time. Payne built the 410-watt radio station from the ground up using his expertise. Payne earned an Electrical Engineering degree at Oklahoma City University, passed an arduous exam to obtain his First Class radio license, and received on-air experience as a DJ for Oklahoma City AM radio stations KLPR and the legendary KOMA where his air-name was Jerry Payne on the Jerry Go Round Show from Midnight to six a.m. In addition to being the owner, manager, and engineer of his own KWHP-FM, Payne sold advertising and announced play-by-play sports for Central State basketball and football, Oklahoma City University basketball, Oklahoma City 89ers AAA baseball, Tulsa University basketball, many local sporting events, and the Edmond 4H and FAA livestock shows.
Payne persevered by broadcasting local news, weather, sports, and music. When a disaster would strike, Payne was there to report it and help out. Times were economically difficult, but Payne was determined and started the Oklahoma Academy of Broadcasting, where he gave DJs on-the-air training and experience. Many people have achieved national and local acclaim like Mike Elder, Kevin Metheny, Johnny Bond, Ken Fearnow, Tom Furlong, Jim Wood, John Hendrix, Mike Munday, Bill Lacy and public servants John Wetsel (Oklahoma County Sheriff) and Ray Vaughn, Jr. (County Commissioner).
Payne’s dream of radio ownership did not end in the garage of his Edmond home. In 1968 he increased the 410-watt station to 3000 watts and in 1969 he increased it to 6000 watts by moving the Edmond tower to Oklahoma City just north of Britton Road. More watts, taller towers, and wider coverage brought Payne more economic success; with Payne’s radio acumen, engineering finesse, and hard work, this became a trend. In 1977 he purchased 100,000-watt station 103.3 in Tulsa, which had a poor signal; Payne increased the tower from 150 feet to 1,170 feet making KTFX the strongest signal and country music phenomena in Tulsa. Payne’s love for country music kindled into a bonfire as he broadcasted his morning show live from Nashville’s Fan Fare and Country Radio Seminar featuring country singers.
Not only did Payne encourage Garth Brooks to continue his music career, he has interviewed thousands of country music artists and played their albums and interviews on the air allowing listeners to not only hear their music, but to see the artists as someone they would like to get to know. Payne’s listener appreciation live concerts featured country artists Reba McIntire, George Jones, Red Steagall, Shelly West, John Anderson, Mel McDaniel, Hank Thompson, and many more.
Payne currently owns and operates nine radio stations in Eastern Oklahoma: KTNT-FM 102.5 Eufaula, KITX-FM K95.5 Hugo, KTLQ-AM 1350 and KEOK-FM 102.1 Tahlequah, KTFX-FM 101.7 Warner/Muskogee, 105.9 KQIK-FM Haileyville, KSTQ-FM 93.5 Stuart, and KYOA-FM 93.5 Kiowa. This 9-station Payne Radio Group serves over 1.5 million listeners. Payne currently hosts a daily Farm and Inspirational Hour on Okie Country 101.7 Muskogee. Payne’s support comes from his family: Gail his wife of 53 years, daughters Anne McGarry, Kelly Payne, Haydon Ishmael, and son Will Payne who programs all the stations and manages K95.5.
Amassing radio stations has not been Payne’s sole dream in life. Payne has always believed in giving back to his community and showing people that he and his radio stations care. When training his DJs and sales people, he instructs them to be good communicators, to smile – even in the microphone, enunciate clearly and talk to people with genuine care. He modeled this character throughout his life as evident in his community involvement: 1968 Kiwanis Lt. Governor’s Award for Outstanding Service, 1969-70 Edmond Kiwanis Club President, 1972 Jaycees Distinguished Service Award for outstanding community service through loyal, faithful and unselfish efforts, 1979 Edmond Chamber of Commerce Medal of Merit, 1985-1997 Executive Director of the International Broadcasters Idea Bank (a group of broadcasters from the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand) 1987 Skiatook Pioneer Days Parade Marshall, 2001 Lifetime Achievement Award from International Broadcasters Idea Bank, 2004 Co-Humanitarian of the Year Award, 2005 Outstanding Lion of his district (over 100,000 hours of community service), 2005 Bare Bones International Independent Film Festival Trail Blazer Award, the Governor of Oklahoma Disability Employment Award of Excellence, the Governor of Oklahoma Award of Excellence to the KTFX Employees for volunteering, and his 2011 crowning achievement being inducted into the Country Music Radio Hall of Fame by the Country Radio Broadcasters, Inc.
The OAB Hall of Fame Award is the highest honor bestowed upon an individual by the Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters. Recipients of the OAB Hall of Fame Award are individuals who have attained a position of national prominence in the industry or its allied fields, have been major contributors to the growth and welfare of radio and television in Oklahoma or nationally, and have been exemplary stewards of broadcasting.
On June 28, 1962, Twenty-two year old Bill Payne began broadcasting live from his own radio station KWHP-FM out of a one-car garage in Edmond, Oklahoma. The control room and office were in the garage, the 77-foot tower was in the backyard, and the transmitter was in a spare bedroom. Payne was one of the only three pioneer FM radio stations on the air in the state of Oklahoma at that time. Payne built the 410-watt radio station from the ground up using his expertise. Payne earned an Electrical Engineering degree at Oklahoma City University, passed an arduous exam to obtain his First Class radio license, and received on-air experience as a DJ for Oklahoma City AM radio stations KLPR and the legendary KOMA where his air-name was Jerry Payne on the Jerry Go Round Show from Midnight to six a.m. In addition to being the owner, manager, and engineer of his own KWHP-FM, Payne sold advertising and announced play-by-play sports for Central State basketball and football, Oklahoma City University basketball, Oklahoma City 89ers AAA baseball, Tulsa University basketball, many local sporting events, and the Edmond 4H and FAA livestock shows.
Payne persevered by broadcasting local news, weather, sports, and music. When a disaster would strike, Payne was there to report it and help out. Times were economically difficult, but Payne was determined and started the Oklahoma Academy of Broadcasting, where he gave DJs on-the-air training and experience. Many people have achieved national and local acclaim like Mike Elder, Kevin Metheny, Johnny Bond, Ken Fearnow, Tom Furlong, Jim Wood, John Hendrix, Mike Munday, Bill Lacy and public servants John Wetsel (Oklahoma County Sheriff) and Ray Vaughn, Jr. (County Commissioner).
Payne’s dream of radio ownership did not end in the garage of his Edmond home. In 1968 he increased the 410-watt station to 3000 watts and in 1969 he increased it to 6000 watts by moving the Edmond tower to Oklahoma City just north of Britton Road. More watts, taller towers, and wider coverage brought Payne more economic success; with Payne’s radio acumen, engineering finesse, and hard work, this became a trend. In 1977 he purchased 100,000-watt station 103.3 in Tulsa, which had a poor signal; Payne increased the tower from 150 feet to 1,170 feet making KTFX the strongest signal and country music phenomena in Tulsa. Payne’s love for country music kindled into a bonfire as he broadcasted his morning show live from Nashville’s Fan Fare and Country Radio Seminar featuring country singers.
Not only did Payne encourage Garth Brooks to continue his music career, he has interviewed thousands of country music artists and played their albums and interviews on the air allowing listeners to not only hear their music, but to see the artists as someone they would like to get to know. Payne’s listener appreciation live concerts featured country artists Reba McIntire, George Jones, Red Steagall, Shelly West, John Anderson, Mel McDaniel, Hank Thompson, and many more.
Payne currently owns and operates nine radio stations in Eastern Oklahoma: KTNT-FM 102.5 Eufaula, KITX-FM K95.5 Hugo, KTLQ-AM 1350 and KEOK-FM 102.1 Tahlequah, KTFX-FM 101.7 Warner/Muskogee, 105.9 KQIK-FM Haileyville, KSTQ-FM 93.5 Stuart, and KYOA-FM 93.5 Kiowa. This 9-station Payne Radio Group serves over 1.5 million listeners. Payne currently hosts a daily Farm and Inspirational Hour on Okie Country 101.7 Muskogee. Payne’s support comes from his family: Gail his wife of 53 years, daughters Anne McGarry, Kelly Payne, Haydon Ishmael, and son Will Payne who programs all the stations and manages K95.5.
Amassing radio stations has not been Payne’s sole dream in life. Payne has always believed in giving back to his community and showing people that he and his radio stations care. When training his DJs and sales people, he instructs them to be good communicators, to smile – even in the microphone, enunciate clearly and talk to people with genuine care. He modeled this character throughout his life as evident in his community involvement: 1968 Kiwanis Lt. Governor’s Award for Outstanding Service, 1969-70 Edmond Kiwanis Club President, 1972 Jaycees Distinguished Service Award for outstanding community service through loyal, faithful and unselfish efforts, 1979 Edmond Chamber of Commerce Medal of Merit, 1985-1997 Executive Director of the International Broadcasters Idea Bank (a group of broadcasters from the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand) 1987 Skiatook Pioneer Days Parade Marshall, 2001 Lifetime Achievement Award from International Broadcasters Idea Bank, 2004 Co-Humanitarian of the Year Award, 2005 Outstanding Lion of his district (over 100,000 hours of community service), 2005 Bare Bones International Independent Film Festival Trail Blazer Award, the Governor of Oklahoma Disability Employment Award of Excellence, the Governor of Oklahoma Award of Excellence to the KTFX Employees for volunteering, and his 2011 crowning achievement being inducted into the Country Music Radio Hall of Fame by the Country Radio Broadcasters, Inc.
The OAB Hall of Fame Award is the highest honor bestowed upon an individual by the Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters. Recipients of the OAB Hall of Fame Award are individuals who have attained a position of national prominence in the industry or its allied fields, have been major contributors to the growth and welfare of radio and television in Oklahoma or nationally, and have been exemplary stewards of broadcasting.