KBOL became one of Boulder’s foundational commercial radio stations. Boulder Radio KBOL, Inc. was incorporated in 1948 with Herb Hollister as president and Russell Shaffer as vice president and general manager. Shaffer later acquired majority interest in the station.
KBOL developed a strong local-service identity with Boulder news, personalities and community programming. Its staff became an important training ground and crossover point for broadcasters who later worked throughout the Denver market.
The station eventually evolved through later call letters and formats as Boulder radio became increasingly integrated into the larger Denver-Boulder market.
Where it is today: KBOL’s old 1490 AM signal in Boulder is KCFC, carrying CPR News.
Sources: Broadcast Pioneers of Colorado — Denver Radio chronology; Broadcast Pioneers of Colorado — Radio History.
FROM THE TIMELINE
Moments in KBOL-AM History
1947: Bob Butz joins KBOL in Boulder
1947 — Bob Butz, who got his start at KCRT in Trinidad, joined KBOL in Boulder, staying into the early 1950s apart from two years in the Army.
1951: Fred Hobbs joins KBOL in Boulder
1951 — Fred Hobbs went on the air at KBOL in Boulder, staying until 1954. He returned in 1957 as afternoon host, promotion manager and program director.
1960: Fred Hobbs becomes KDEN news director
1960 — Fred Hobbs moved from Boulder to Denver’s KDEN as an on-air personality and news director. In 1966 he joined KLZ as its state government reporter.
Boulder’s old KBOL 1490 becomes CPR’s KCFC
2001 — The Boulder frequency that was KBOL from 1947 to 1994, and progressive-talk KWAB “Radio for Change” from 1999, became KCFC, carrying Colorado Public Radio news.
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