KLIF Dallas, Gordon McLendon: The Station That Revolutionized Modern Radio

KLIF Dallas: Breaking Hits, Breaking News, Breaking Barriers

Few radio stations have shaped the industry as profoundly as KLIF-AM in Dallas, Texas. From its humble origins in the 1940s to its Top 40 dominance in the 1950s and 1960s, KLIF became a broadcasting powerhouse, revolutionizing the way radio was experienced. At the heart of this transformation was the legendary Gordon McLendon, whose innovations changed radio forever.

The Origins of KLIF: A New Vision for Radio

Gordon McLendon, age 29 circa 1950.

KLIF’s beginnings trace back to its earliest predecessor, WFAA radio, which first signed on in 1922. By the late 1930s, WFAA was sharing a frequency with WBAP in Fort Worth, until acquiring KGKO 570 and relocating it to Arlington in 1938. But KLIF’s defining moment came in 1947, when Gordon McLendon, with financial backing from his father Barton Robert McLendon, launched the station in Oak Cliff, Dallas.

McLendon wasn’t just another radio owner—he was a visionary. He saw the potential for radio to be more than just music; it could be high-energy, fast-paced, and full of personality. One of his earliest collaborations was with Bill Meeks, a talented musician and entrepreneur. Meeks introduced station jingles, creating what would become the first-ever radio jingles—a branding strategy that would soon define modern radio broadcasting.

PAMS and the Birth of KLIF’s Jingles

In 1947, McLendon hired Bill Meeks and his band to perform live on KLIF. Meeks quickly realized the power of short, catchy jingles to reinforce the station’s identity. This sparked the creation of early radio jingles that made KLIF instantly recognizable.

By 1951, Meeks founded PAMS (Production, Advertising, Marketing, and Sales) Inc., officially turning his jingle expertise into a thriving business. PAMS became the industry leader in syndicated radio jingles, creating some of the most iconic sound packages for stations nationwide. KLIF was one of the first to benefit from Meeks’ pioneering jingle work, helping solidify its dominance in Top 40 radio.

KLIF in the 1950s: A Radio Powerhouse

The 1950s were KLIF’s golden era, as McLendon pioneered what was first called Formula Radio, later recognized as Top 40 radio. Inspired by Todd Storz’s experiments, McLendon refined the concept—tightening playlists to only the biggest hits, integrating fast-talking DJs, catchy jingles, and constant listener engagement.

KLIF became a powerhouse, commanding more than 50% of the market share at its peak. The station’s influence spread nationwide, with broadcasters emulating its format. McLendon’s innovations—including mobile news units, editorialized news, dramatic sound effects, and interactive contests—turned KLIF into an entertainment juggernaut.

Gordon McLendon: The Maverick of Radio

Born June 8, 1921, in Paris, Texas, Gordon Barton McLendon was destined to leave an indelible mark on broadcasting. Raised in Idabel, Oklahoma, he attended Kemper Military Academy before enrolling at Yale University, where he studied Far Eastern languages and worked for the campus radio station.

During World War II, McLendon served as a Japanese-language intelligence officer in the Office of Naval Intelligence, later transitioning to Armed Forces Radio, where he developed his signature dramatic broadcasting style. After the war, he briefly attended Harvard Law School before persuading his father, Barton Robert McLendon, to invest in a small radio station in Palestine, Texas.

McLendon’s career skyrocketed when he launched KLIF in Dallas in 1947, pioneering the Top 40 format that revolutionized radio in the 1950s and 1960s. His innovations included mobile news units, traffic reports, editorialized news, and dramatic sound effects, setting the stage for modern radio broadcasting.

Beyond radio, McLendon had intriguing ties to government intelligence. In the early 1950s, he provided business cover for CIA operations in Japan. By 1965, McLendon became a witting asset in CIA Project WUENTREE, an intelligence network linked to covert operations and influential figures like CIA’s David Atlee Phillips and Jack Ruby.

Recap: Gordon McLendon’s Intriguing Ties to U.S. Intelligence

Beyond his groundbreaking work in radio, Gordon McLendon had intriguing connections to U.S. intelligence operations, particularly with the CIA. His involvement spanned from providing business cover for covert activities in the early 1950s to becoming a witting asset in CIA Project WUENTREE by 1965.

In 1952, McLendon was involved in Project DKMIKADO, where he provided business cover for a CIA contact agent in Japan. However, CIA officials hesitated to use him further due to concerns about his past behavior, which included fraud, duplicity, evasion, and heavy drinking. While morality wasn’t necessarily the issue, the agency feared that his questionable loyalties and personal vulnerabilities could make him a liability—potentially exposing him to blackmail or manipulation by enemy intelligence groups.

By December 1965, McLendon had become a witting asset of CIA Project WUENTREE, meaning he was fully aware of his intelligence relationship with the agency. His connections extended to CIA officer David Atlee Phillips, a key figure in Latin American covert operations, and Jack Ruby, the nightclub owner who later shot Lee Harvey Oswald.

McLendon’s relationship with Ruby was particularly intriguing. Ruby reportedly told an FBI investigator that McLendon was “one of my closest friends”, though McLendon denied any deep personal connection to Ruby.

McLendon’s Dual Role: Later Intelligence Ties

In 1978, McLendon and David Atlee Phillips, who led the Association of Former Intelligence Officers, approached CIA Director Stansfield Turner with a proposal for a weekly television series about CIA operations. The agency remained noncommittal but did not discourage the idea, reflecting the changing attitudes toward intelligence transparency at the time.

McLendon’s dual role as a radio mogul and intelligence asset adds another fascinating dimension to his legacy. His media influence, political connections, and intelligence ties positioned him at the crossroads of broadcasting, covert operations, and national security.

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Sources & Citations:

1. TPAAK Blog – Intelligence Media Matters
   • Discusses McLendon’s early CIA involvement, including Project DKMIKADO (1952) and his business cover for CIA operations in Japan.
   • Read more: TPAAK Blog – Intelligence Media Matters
2. WhoWhatWhy – The CIA, Mafia, Mexico & Oswald
   • Explores CIA covert operations, including Project WUENTREE, McLendon’s connections to David Atlee Phillips, and Jack Ruby’s intelligence ties.
   • Read more: WhoWhatWhy – The CIA, Mafia, Mexico & Oswald
3. Kennedys and King – Journalists and JFK
   • Examines McLendon’s CIA ties, including his application for CIA work, his role as a CIA asset, and his later intelligence proposals.
   • Read more: Kennedys and King – Journalists and JFK

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KLIF in the 1960s: The Weird Beard and Breaking News

As KLIF entered the 1960s, it remained a dominant force in Dallas radio, thanks to its high-energy DJs, hit-driven playlists, and groundbreaking news coverage. One of its most iconic personalities was Russ “The Weird Beard” Knight, who joined KLIF in the early 1960s. Knight, known for his booming voice and eccentric on-air persona, became a fan favorite, earning a reputation as the “savior of Dallas radio”.

Knight’s influence extended beyond KLIF—he later worked at KILT in Houston and other stations across the country. His contributions to radio earned him a spot in the Texas Radio Hall of Fame in 2003.

KLIF 1190 | PAMS Series #27 | 1963

Audio Digitally Remastered by USA Radio Museum

KLIF’s Historic Coverage of the JFK Assassination

KLIF cemented its place in history on November 22, 1963, when it became one of the first stations to break the news that President John F. Kennedy had been shot. At 12:40 PM, KLIF interrupted “I Have A Boyfriend” by The Chiffons to report that shots had been fired at the presidential motorcade.

Just four minutes later, at 12:44 PM, KLIF issued a second bulletin, reporting that there were injuries and that the wounded were being transported to Parkland Hospital. By 12:52 PM, the station confirmed that several shots had been fired from a 30-caliber rifle near Elm and Houston Streets, and that the suspect was possibly still inside the Texas School Book Depository.

The DJ on air was Rex Jones, and the newsman who broke in with the announcement was Joe Long. KLIF’s rapid reporting demonstrated the power of radio as an immediate news source, cementing its reputation as a fast-breaking news powerhouse.

KLIF 1190 | The Rex Jones Show | November 22, 1963

Audio Digitally Remastered by USA Radio Museum

KLIF in the Aftermath of the Assassination and Russ Knight’s Warren Commission Testimony

Russ Knight, KLIF, circa 1962.

In the wake of Kennedy’s assassination, KLIF continued its wall-to-wall coverage, becoming the go-to source for breaking developments, eyewitness accounts, and official statements. The station’s efforts to provide up-to-the-minute reporting reinforced its status as a news leader.

Meanwhile, Russ Knight left KLIF in June 1964, moving to Detroit’s WXYZ (ABC-owned). His tenure there lasted just four months before he returned to Texas to work at KICT (1964) and KILT (1965) in Houston.

In July 1964, while in Detroit, Knight was summoned to testify before the Warren Commission. Under his real name, Russell Lee Moore, Knight provided sworn testimony in Chicago regarding his post-assassination interactions with Jack Ruby. He recounted meeting Ruby at the Dallas Police Department, where Ruby appeared agitated and mentioned delivering sandwiches and soda for the KLIF radio staff. Knight’s testimony offered valuable insight into Ruby’s behavior in the hours following the assassination.

KLIF’s Transition & McLendon’s Final Years

KLIF remained dominant throughout the 1960s, but by 1972, it officially broke away from the Top 40 format. AM radio stations were losing ground to FM competitors, and KLIF struggled to maintain its influence.

McLendon had sold KLIF in 1971, marking the end of his direct involvement with the station. Despite KLIF’s decline, his influence continued through KNUS-FM, KILT, KTSA, and other stations.

Sadly, on September 14, 1986, Gordon McLendon passed away at the age of 65, leaving behind a radio empire that forever changed the industry.

KLIF’s Legendary Voices

KLIF’s Top 40 era was defined by legendary voices such as:

• Jimmy Rabbitt, Paxton Mills, Ralph Baker Jr., Charlie Van Dyke, Michael O’Shea, Dick Heatherton, Chuck Murphy, Dave Ambrose, Jim Tabor, Mike Selden, Ron Chapman, Johnny Dark, Hal Martin, Ken Dowe, Rod Roddy, Cuzzin Lennie, Wes Wise, Bob McCord, Brant Miller, John London, Randy Robbins, Russ Knight, Jim O’Brian, Chuck Dunaway, Ken Knox, Dick Kemp, Dick McCurdy, Jack Woods, Don Keys, Barry Kaye, Bill Stewart, Buddy McGregor, George Michael, Deano Day, Gary Mack, Don Berns, Ken Reed, Stan Richards, Larry Wilson, Rex Miller, Mike Scott, Don McGregor, Lee Douglas, Jay Lawrence, Bill Ennis, Don Robertson, Bill Robbins, Gary Hamilton, Van Winkle, Coyote, Tony Booth, Gary Owens, Rex Jones, Brice Armstrong, Jack Murray, Nick Alexander, Randy Robbins, Jim Davis, Paxton Mills, Cat Simon, Truckin’ Tom Kent.

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A USARM Footnote:

KLIF continues to broadcast in Dallas under its historic call sign on 570 AM. Now operating as a news/talk station owned by Cumulus Media, it serves the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex with syndicated programs from Fox News Radio, Compass Media Networks, Premiere Networks, Radio America, and Westwood One. KLIF’s studios are located in Victory Park, Dallas, with its transmitter site in Irving, Texas. While its format has evolved, the station still carries the legacy of its legendary years as a Top 40 powerhouse.

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KLIF & Gordon McLendon’s Awards and Recognitions

KLIF wasn’t just a radio station—it was a broadcasting powerhouse that set industry standards. While KLIF may not have received formal industry awards, its impact on radio history was undeniable. At its peak, KLIF commanded over 50% of the Dallas radio audience, a feat rarely achieved in broadcasting.

Meanwhile, Gordon McLendon was widely recognized for his pioneering contributions to radio, earning several prestigious honors:

• Inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame – Honored for his groundbreaking work in Top 40 radio, news formatting, and station branding.
• Recognized by the Texas Radio Hall of Fame – His influence on Texas broadcasting was profound, shaping radio across the state.
• March of Dimes Texas Chairman & Veterans of Foreign Wars Honorary Chairman – McLendon was involved in charitable and civic efforts, earning recognition for his contributions.
• Communications Adviser to the U.S. Peace Corps (1964-65) – His expertise in media and broadcasting was acknowledged at a national level.

KLIF’s Lasting Influence

• Pioneered the Top 40 format, influencing radio stations nationwide.
• Set the standard for radio jingles through its partnership with PAMS of Dallas.
• Revolutionized news coverage, including its historic breaking news report of JFK’s assassination.
• Created a fast-paced, personality-driven radio style that shaped modern broadcasting.

Even though KLIF transitioned away from Top 40 in 1972, its legacy remains intact, and McLendon’s vision continues to influence radio today.

KLIF’s Legacy on the Broadcasting Industry

KLIF wasn’t just another radio station—it was a game-changer. The innovations pioneered by Gordon McLendon transformed not only music radio but also news broadcasting, station branding, and audience engagement. The Top 40 format that KLIF perfected became the gold standard, influencing countless stations across the country.

McLendon’s fast-paced, high-energy approach reshaped how audiences consumed radio, and his station’s dramatic newscasts and creative promotions set industry benchmarks still followed today. KLIF revolutionized the use of jingles—thanks to PAMS of Dallas, listeners could instantly recognize station branding, a practice that remains essential in modern radio marketing.

KLIF also proved that radio could be an immediate, powerful force in breaking news. Its coverage of the JFK assassination on November 22, 1963 reinforced the idea that radio was not just an entertainment medium—it was a vital news source, capable of delivering critical information faster than any other platform.

Even after KLIF transitioned away from Top 40 in 1972, its legacy remained intact. The personalities who graced KLIF’s airwaves—Russ Knight, Ron Chapman, Charlie Van Dyke, Rod Roddy, Johnny Dark, Ken Dowe, Gary Owens, and countless others—defined what it meant to be a radio star, laying the foundation for modern radio DJs, talk hosts, and on-air personalities.

KLIF 1190 | PAMS Series #42 [Clyde] | 1973

Audio Digitally Remastered by USA Radio Museum

KLIF’s influence reaches far beyond Dallas—it helped shape the future of music radio, talk formats, news coverage, and broadcasting strategy. Even today, stations across the country still echo elements of KLIF’s innovations, whether through tight playlists, engaging hosts, branded jingles, or interactive listener engagement.

McLendon himself may have departed the station in 1971, but his vision lives on in the broadcasting industry. His pioneering techniques, experimental formats, and larger-than-life style are woven into the very fabric of radio as we know it.

KLIF’s legacy still echoes through the airwaves, carried forward by the voices, visionaries, and innovators who shaped its formative years and cemented its glorious reign on the Dallas dial. For generations past and those yet to come, KLIF stands as a testament to the artistry and power of radio—an enduring force that will forever define its golden legacy in the industry of broadcasting.

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