KGHF is one of Pueblo radio’s foundational call signs. The 1350 AM facility began using KGHF in 1928 and kept the calls until 1964. The station was associated with major network programming and local news, sales, engineering and farm staffs documented in mid-century Broadcasting Yearbooks.
The call sign returned to 1350 in 1989 and remained until 2008. During the 1990s KGHF carried oldies programming; a 1997 Radio Business Report market directory listed Greg Hargrove as program director.
Paired / sister stations: KGHF was sold in 1999 along with KYZX and KCSJ to Bahakel’s Colorado Springs Radio Broadcasters, owner of KILO. That transaction briefly linked the historic Pueblo AM directly with KILO and the future KRXP operation.
Sources: Colorado State Library, Year Book of the State of Colorado (1931) — contemporary listing of KGHF in Pueblo, its ownership, frequency and power; Broadcasting Yearbook archive at World Radio History; Radio Business Report Source Guide; Broadcasting & Cable transaction coverage; FCC records.
FROM THE TIMELINE
Moments in KGHF-AM History
KGHF authorized in Pueblo
KGHF was authorized to Philip C. Lasky and J. H. Albert, establishing a station lineage that would remain on Pueblo radio under numerous later call signs.
KGHF begins broadcasting
KGHF began broadcasting in Pueblo.
Federal reallocation reshapes Southern Colorado dial
The nationwide Federal Radio Commission reallocation substantially reshaped the dial. Contemporary listings place KFUM on 1390 kHz; Pueblo's KGDP moved from 1340 to 1210, KGHA from 1430 to 1200, and KGHF from 1430 to 1320.
KGHF operates on 1320 kHz
KGHF continued on 1320 kHz at 250 watts. Contemporary directories identify Curtis P. Ritchie and Joe E. Finch with the station.
KGHF and KGIW remain on the 1930 dial
Federal-era station listings continued to show Pueblo's KGHF on 1320 kHz under Curtis P. Ritchie and Joe E. Finch. KGIW remained listed on 1420 kHz in Trinidad; period tuning guides still identified it with Trinidad rather than Alamosa.
KGHF remains at 1320 kHz
KGHF remained at 1320 kHz with 250 watts; Colorado state records identify Curtis P. Ritchie and associates as the licensee.
KGHF silent for much of 1932
KGHF remained silent for much of the year. A September 1932 DX publication quoted a response from the station manager stating that KGHF had been off the air since November 1931 and hoped to resume broadcasting late in 1932 or early 1933.
KGHF returns to active listings
KGHF was again listed as active on 1320 kHz at 250 watts by April, documenting its return following the extended 1931–32 silence.
Southern Colorado stations remain active in federal lists
Federal station lists continued to show KVOR in Colorado Springs, KGHF in Pueblo, KGIW in Alamosa, KIUP in Durango, KOKO in La Junta and KIDW in Lamar. The surviving lists are important evidence that several small-market facilities remained active even when later retrospective histories are incomplete.
KGHF increases to 500 watts
KGHF continued on 1320 kHz at 500 watts, reflecting a power increase from its earlier 250-watt operation.
NARBA moving day reshapes Southern Colorado radio
The North American Regional Broadcasting Agreement triggered a continent-wide “moving day” for AM radio. Frequencies from 1200 through 1450 kHz generally shifted upward 30 kHz. In Southern Colorado this moved KVOR from 1270 to 1300, KGHF from 1320 to 1350, KOKO and KIUP from 1370 to 1400, and KGIW/KIDW from 1420 to 1450. The new assignments became the basis for several familiar long-term frequencies.
KGHF proposed $300,000 sale
Curtis P. Ritchie sought FCC consent to assign KGHF to Colorado Broadcasting Co. Under an October 8, 1945 agreement, Gifford Phillips, the company's controlling stockholder, placed $20,000 in escrow for an option running through April 1, 1946 to purchase the Pueblo station for $300,000. The transaction illustrates the substantial value already attached to Pueblo radio properties immediately after World War II.
1948: KGHF operates from 304 N. Main Street
1948 — KGHF 1350 was operating from 304 N. Main Street in Pueblo under Colorado Broadcasting Co.
Buddy Johnson works across Pueblo radio
Local entertainer Buddy Johnson was working in Pueblo radio during the late 1940s, with surviving family history identifying work at KGHF, KDZA and ultimately KCSJ.
Buddy Johnson photographed with Hank Williams and Ernest Tubb in Pueblo
A surviving 1949 photograph documents Buddy Johnson with country stars Hank Williams and Ernest Tubb during a Pueblo visit. Buddy Johnson’s family archive says the photograph was taken at either KGHF or KDZA, most likely KGHF. The image is strong evidence of the close connection between Pueblo radio and the city’s postwar live-country-music scene.
KGHF operates under Garvey Communications Systems
KGHF 1350 was operating at 5,000 watts daytime/1,000 watts nighttime under Garvey Communications Systems from Highway 50 West.
FCC approves $2.575 million sale of KKTV
The FCC approved the $2.575 million sale of KKTV to Capital of Colorado Corp. Contemporary ownership records note that Willard Garvey had acquired KKTV in 1963 as part of an $885,000 package that also included Colorado Springs FM station KFMH and Pueblo's KGHF. The transactions help explain Garvey Communications' presence in the 1960s Southern Colorado broadcast and CATV disputes.
KRYT 107.9 signs on in Pueblo
The successful Pueblo 107.9 facility began broadcasting as KRYT with 100 kW and studios at 4211 N. Elizabeth. It was paired with KGHF 1350 and used the nickname “K-Right,” referring to 107.9's position at the upper end of the FM dial. This was a different facility and ownership path from Sunbrook's abandoned Southern Colorado Broadcasting application.
McCoy Pueblo cluster dominates 1993 ratings snapshot
By Spring 1993, McCoy Broadcasting owned country KCCY, oldies KDZA-FM 107.9 and MOR KGHF 1350. KCCY posted a 23.2 12+ share, up from 18.8 in Spring 1992, and ranked first in the source's 18–34, 25–54, 35–64 and AM-drive breakouts. KDZA-FM and KCSJ each posted 5.5; KGHF and KRMX 4.4; newly returned KKPC 1.7.
1996 Southern Colorado station personnel snapshot
Contemporary industry listings document Bob Gourley, Bob Freeman, Charlie Cassidy and Mel Rauh at KIKX; Oleene Greenwood, Gary Dall, Dave Moore and Dan Thomas at KCCY; Nick Donovan at KDZA-FM; Dick Bruso, Larry Myers and Art Pemberton at KGFT; Lee Douglas and Norm Smith at KKPC; Iva Rafferty and Mike Lee at KKNK; Jerry De La Cruz and Diane Young at KRMX; Julio Gutierrez, Hilda Perez and Norm Smith at KRRU; Steve Downes, Lorri Froehlich, Jay Diamond Salas and Norm Smith at KYZX; Dave Harrell at KCSJ; and Greg Hargrove at KGHF.
Bahakel buys KYZX, KGHF and KCSJ for $4.5 million
Pueblo Broadcasters sold KYZX, KGHF and KCSJ to Cy Bahakel's Colorado Springs Radio Broadcasters, owner of KILO, for $4.5 million. The deal created a direct ownership bridge between major Pueblo heritage stations and KILO's Colorado Springs operation.
Bahakel agrees to sell KCSJ and KGHF back to McCoy
Only months after Bahakel acquired KCSJ, KGHF and KYZX for $4.5 million, Bahakel agreed to sell KCSJ 590 and KGHF 1350 to Craig W. McCoy's McCoy Broadcasting for $912,000 cash. McCoy already owned KCCY and KDZA-FM in Pueblo, reassembling a four-station Pueblo group while Bahakel retained KILO and KYZX.
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