ST. GEORGE — Broadcast pioneer L. John Miner, who owned and operated St. George radio station KDXU-AM from 1968 to 1986, died Sunday at age 97.
Before moving to St. George, Miner was instrumental in putting stations on the air in Santa Cruz, Salinas, Monterey, and Carmel, California, selling KMBY in Monterey in 1949 to Bing Crosby.
He went on to build stations in Pocatello and Blackfoot, Idaho, along with stations in Grants Pass and Medford, Oregon. He then turned his attention to Utah, building the radio station in Delta.
Miner moved his family to St. George in 1967 and bought KDXU from the Winklemann family, taking ownership on October 1, 1968, according to son Brent Miner. At the time, the station was located above Pickett Lumber on St. George Boulevard, later moving to a building behind Dick’s Cafe between 100 East and 200 East.
“His goal was to bring the news of the world to Utah’s Dixie,” Brent Miner said. “That was the reason for adding the Intermountain Radio Network and the ABC network. That was a monumental breakthrough to be connected with the outside world.”
At the time, the station was broadcasting on 1450 kHz with 1000 watts. An FM station, KZEZ and a TV station, KDL channel 55 followed. It was always Miner’s dream to build a more substantial station and put St. George on the map, radio-wise.
In 1985 three new radio towers went up in the Washington Fields, and in September KDXU switched over to their current frequency of 890 kHz with 10,000 watts of power. Miner’s dream had been realized.
The new station could be heard over a wide swath of North America. Calls were received at the station from places as diverse as Seattle, Washington, San Diego, California, and a caller one night in his boat off of Catalina Island, California.
In 1986 Miner sold his stations to Simmons Broadcasting. KDXU today is owned by Cherry Creek Radio.
“He was very fortunate that everyone he worked with he felt were friends and family,” Brent Miner said. “Everyone who worked there was a very close-knit group.”
Miner, a World War II Army veteran, was preceded in death by his wife Julie and son John. He is survived by his son Brent, 7 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.
Services will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, May 21, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 5th Ward chapel located at 85 S. 400 E., St. George, Utah, followed by burial at the St. George City Cemetery.
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Well written piece loaded with some great history of the area. Thanks Ric for the well researched bit of history.