Wyoming Public Radio started as UW campus radio. Run by students and its 10 watts on 91.5 could be heard only in Laramie.  Here is an account provided by Bob Rule-

"The first student manager (actually, the first manager, period) of KUWR was Dave Minshall. Dave Minshall later went on to be a newsman at KGWN Television in Denver, and I just did a Google on him, and it looks like he must have gotten fired because of his age or something, sued, and won. Seems he is now some kinda consultant.

I may not have this in the right order, but prior to Alan Bowker becoming manager, I think it went something like this:

Dave Minshall

Hugh Edwards

Ken Dickensheets

Alan Bowker

"I'll never forget the day KUWR signed on [September 5,] 1966. "Bif" (as we called Alan Bowker... his ham call was WA7FIB and FIB spelled backwards is BIF) and radio broadcasting geek Jan Marshall sat down next to me 'n' Chris Humphreys to eat dinner in the Crane-Hill Cafeteria (Washakie Center was not built yet), and me 'n' Chris about split a gut laughing at how ol' Bif basically lowered his lower lip under his plate, held it up, and spun his fork in circles to shovel the food in as quickly as possible... while Jan Marshall bounced up and down in his chair saying "Oooo, ooooo, oooo, we are about to sign KUWR on for the first time!". Bif finished his chow, he and Jan Marshall literally ran to the radio station, and they signed it on. I listened to the sign on in the dorm (McIntyre Hall)... I did not follow suit to race up there in person for the big moment... but I was there from time to time prior to sign on and after they signed on. I actually announced a classical music show for a season.

John McMullen was UW professor of broadcasting and a guiding force in the early years. A future Wyoming broadcasting legend, Bob Rule was also there for the sign-on.

Professional staff was added and in 1978 the power of KUWR was increased to 50 KW effective and antenna located on leased tower at Pilot Knob.  The channel was changed to 91.9 for minimum interference. From here the signal also covered Cheyenne. The power increase and mountain top antenna location allowed for expansion by translators. The first of these was K204AD in Casper, a project sponsored by Casper College. It was made with equipment hand crafted by Steve Broomell, chief engineer at KTWO who also provided the tower on Casper Mountain called the "Magic Tree". This was 1980 or about the time Tom Wilhelm began what would become the famous "Ranch Breakfast Show". 1981 saw coverage in Aspen Colorado via translator until 1988, when it became community station KAJX.

In 1985 translator K206AJ went in at Rawlins and this signal was sent by UHF relay to K205BI Jeffrey City. The next year the chain expanded to K215AY in Riverton which relayed from Jeffrey City. 1992 saw the first full service station to be added to the WPR constellation, KUWJ Jackson which got its signal relayed by microwave from Riverton courtesy of KCWC PBS TV.  Microwave feed also went to K208AC in Lander and another over-air translator was started, K210AF in Torrington, but it was such low power it did not get out much beyond the campus of Eastern Wyoming College, a situation that was changed in 2005 with conversion to higher power transmitter and tower mounted antenna.

The third full service station, KUWZ, was put in at Rock Springs in 1994, and translator K217BP for Dubois on Windy Ridge a relay point for the Jackson microwave. The next year saw KUWR increase to its current 100 KW effective power and move to new UW owned tower site on Pilot Knob. K228AB in Evanston relay KUWZ from Rock Springs started in 1996. 

The big event of 1996 was the initiation of satellite uplink from Laramie.  Not only did this replace microwave for Jackson and Rock Springs but over the next couple of years this allowed an aggressive expansion project for new stations. 1998 saw KUWA Afton, KSUW Sheridan, KUWN Newcastle, and KUWG Gillette. 1999 saw KDUW Douglas, and K220GP Lander translator which shifted channel with KWRR starting operation on 89.5 and the addition of satellite dish. 2000 saw KBUW Buffalo, KUWP Cody/Powell, KUWC Casper, KUWX Pinedale, KUWD Sundance, and K217ED Driggs [Idaho]. And last to be built in 2001 was KUWT Thermopolis. 

More would have been built except full service station applications for the NCE band were frozen by the FCC nationwide. However modifications were made at K206AJ to increase coverage to Saratoga, and a new translator in the commercial band, K227BB [relaying KUWT] was put in Worland in 2005. A significant power increase for KUWT to improve service at Riverton in 2006. Two new stations. KUWY and KUWL, are slated for additional programs in Laramie this year, and HD2 radio will deliver more programs in Laramie, Casper and Jackson.


On August 4, 2007, WPR hosted an Old Timers Day. People from WPRs past dropped by the station, some were here for the sign-on in 1966 and the power increase in 1978. This select group looks at a collection of pictures from times past.

In attendence was Dr John W. Ravage, retired from UW communication department, original sponsor of KUWR. He has just completed a book "Slick and the Duchess" about Teapot Dome. Available at Amazon for $22.95.