TX Radio: KCLE-AM Goes Silent

Sports KCLE 1460 AM in Burleson, TX (suburban Fort Worth), which served for years as the area’s sports voice, went dark on July 1, according to its Facebook page. It officially shuttered its doors the following day, Ward Whites, the station’s former general manager and operator, told the Cleburne Times Review.

“I hate it,” he said. “It breaks my heart.”

KCLE also aired on translators K226BM 93.1 FM Cleburne, TX  (100 watts), K239CC 95.7 FM Burleson, TX (250 watts).

As hard of a decision as it was to close the station, it was just a matter of business, he said. He turned the keys over to Tron Do Media, a San Diego, California-based group that owns the building.

He said he was unable to negotiate a long-term lease agreement with the media group, and felt it would be unfair to station advertisers and listeners to continue broadcasting for a few months, uncertain of continuing, especially with high school football season approaching.

Additionally, Whites said he wasn’t sure what the company planned to do with the station.

He took over the station about a year ago, but worked there for 15 years.

KCLE 1460 AM (11 Kw-D, 700 watts-N) Red=Local Coverage Area

KCLE was founded by George Marti when he returned from serving with the Marine Corps in the Pacific during World War II.

Marti, who died last year at age 95, gained radio broadcast fame, revolutionizing the industry with the invention of the Marti Remote Pickup Unit, the first device of its kind to allow for remote broadcasting without telephone lines.  It’s still used at stations nationwide and is built in Cleburne at Marti Electronics.