Left: Chris Boswell (middle), vice president for UW governmental and community affairs, served as WPR production director from 1976–80. Right: Alan Bowker, KUWR’s first announcer in 1966.t
All across Wyoming—in cars, houses and offices—people are listening to Wyoming Public Radio (WPR). Launched 50 years ago, the station now offers more coverage and greater variety of programming than ever before.
Part of the UW Outreach School and housed at the University of Wyoming, Wyoming Public Media includes WPR, Classical Wyoming, Jazz Wyoming and wyomingpublicmedia.org. This year, WPR celebrates a big anniversary—its 50th. Licensed as KUWR in 1966, the station became known as WPR in 1993. Since 1979, WPR has brought Wyoming listeners National Public Radio’s Morning Edition. Weekly shows tailored to Wyoming include Ranch Breakfast and Open Spaces.
WPR continues to grow and expand to better serve listeners throughout the state. Here, UWyo Magazine brings you some fascinating facts and stats about the state’s official public radio station. To learn more and to join in the anniversary celebration, visit wyomingpublicmedia.org.
WPR relies on trucks, a snow vehicle, ski lifts, skis, snowshoes and even horses to access its high mountain sites.
WPR traces its roots to an Episcopal cathedral. KFBU went on air with storm warnings for railroaders in 1922 from St. Matthew’s Episcopal Cathedral.
WPR has had only four general managers in 50 years. Three of them were Indiana University graduates.
Pat Gabriel, WPR’s afternoon host and programmer, also announces UW sports, including basketball, wrestling and soccer.
The WPR computer servers sending signals across the state are housed in what used to be the UW band room, still with tiers and all.
The WPR newsroom resides in what was once the UW music room, which has staffs on the blackboards to this day.
Famous national guests interviewed on WPR over the years include politicians George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, Dick Cheney, Al Gore, Ralph Nader, Bob Dole and George McGovern; basketball hall of famers Bill Walton, Michael Jordan, Jerry Sloan and Karl Malone; musicians Ted Nugent, Yo-Yo Ma, Peter Yarrow and Max Weinberg; broadcasters Sam Donaldson, Harry Caray, Curt Gowdy and Mike Golic; cartoonist Stan Lee; scientist E.O. Wilson; activists Russell Means and Abbie Hoffman; authors Noam Chomsky, John Feinstein, Jane Goodall, James Michener and David McCullough; Morris Dees of the Southern Poverty Law Center; Anita Hill of Clarence Thomas fame; Johnnie Cochran, attorney of Michael Jackson and O.J. Simpson; “grizzly man” Timothy Treadwell; and Black Panther Bobby Seale.
