KECO began broadcasting on July 20, 1982; it was a country music station owned by Ronca Broadcasting,[5] a company controlled by Elk City farmer Ron Sewell. Ronca sold KECO to John B. Walton in 1984; Walton had previously been the licensee of KIKX in Tucson, Arizona, which had lost its FCC license and left the air in 1982 after a kidnapping hoax.[6] Walton sold a stake in the station to Dean Peninger, the general manager of Elk City station KADS, then sold it back to Sewell for assumption of debts in 1986.[7]
Paragon Broadcasting, a company of Mary Ann and Cletis Killiam, acquired KECO from Ronca Broadcasting in 1992.[8] Paragon owned the station for two years, selling to Brooks Brewer in 1994; Brewer owned the construction permit for KZRU (later on air as KXOO) as well as KOKL in Okmulgee.[9]
