Official Texas Historical Marker to honor Parkers


Mona and Dr. Ben Parker

Mona and Dr. Ben Parker

The Atascosa County Historical Commission and the Longhorn Museum Society cordially invite everyone to attend the dedication of an Official Texas Historical Marker to honor Dr. Ben and Mona Parker and KBOP.

The unveiling will take place Saturday, June 30 at 10 a.m. at the Longhorn Museum. Refreshments will be served inside the museum following the ceremony, compliments of the Longhorn Museum Society.

Ben and Mona Parker, each veteran broadcasters, established Atascosa Broadcasting Company which went on the air in 1951 using the call letters KBOP.

The station appealed to the mostly rural listening audience with a wide variety of programming, including news and religious formats, rock and roll, country and Spanish music. The transmitter and tower was built by Mona Parker, who, in 1937 passed the exam to become the first women in the United States to earn a first class engineering license.

By the 1960’s KBOP, with 1,000 watts, advertised that they served 21 counties. Several announcers, musicians and songwriters were mentored by Ben Parker, including Willie Nelson and Johnny Bush. Henry Gutierrez was the first Spanish speaking announcer.

Ben Parker had a love of the area’s “cowboy” legacy, opening a museum across the street from the radio station in Pleasanton in 1976. Willie Nelson helped support the non-profit by performing a benefit concert. The Longhorn Museum expanded to its present location in 1983. Please join us in honoring this legacy and learn more of the fascinating story.

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