The 1970's

The seventies was a decade of dynamic growth and change for Arizona and KOY. In response to the growing Valley traffic congestion the station put newsmen Bob Scott and Frank Asbury in the air in 1970 with “KOY in the Sky” Traffic Watch reports.

The following year, the KOY Weather Station was begun by Arizona’s first staff meteorologist, Williard Greone. By 1971, the “middle of the road” music station switched to independent status with its ABC Information Network liaison ending that year. The seventies also brought a new generation of personalities to KOY.

Morning Man Bill Heywood was named Billboard Magazine’s Grand International Personality of the Year. He won the award again in 1976. In 1977 KOY Program Director Nat Stevens was named Billboard’s Middle-of-the-Road Program Director of the Year. During these years KOY names like H.G. Listiak, Ed Phillips,Denis Martyn, Dan Armstrong, Alan Chilcoat, Joe Adams, Ted Brown, and Mike Farrell became household words. News Director Paul McGonigle won more news awards for KOY in the seventies than all other Phoenix radio stations combined.

KOY purchased the corner lot at Central and Roosevelt and transformed it into a mini-park to enhance the Phoenix Central Corridor. The KOY Building was remodeled and transformed into a structure of contemporary Southwestern architecture.

Effective in July 1978, KOY became the property of Harte-Hanks Communications Inc. The Southern Broadcasting Company was purchased from the Johnson family for $3.3 million . John G. Johnson was named chairman of the new licensee while Gary D. Edens became Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Harte-Hanks Phoenix stations. The late seventies brought talk shows to KOY at night with Michael Dixon and John Moynihan. The station Arizona grew up with was changing to keep up with the times throughout its years.