Alan White of KACH hangs up his mic

A file photo of Val Cook, left, and Alan White, right, do a live broadcast at the Franklin County Fair on Friday, Aug 17, 2022.

The longtime voice of Franklin County is retiring. Alan White finished his career in broadcasting on Friday, Aug. 17th at the Franklin County Fair. He brought a cake and gave pieces to whoever came by and introduced people to Val Cook, the new owner of KACH radio. White said he was excited to retire. The first thing he is going to do is go on a trip to Payette, Idaho to visit his son Gavin. He did say he planned to continue to live in Preston and didn’t really talk about what was in his future.

White sold the station to Cook Brothers Broadcasting, who have been negotiating to buy the small radio station since May.

The White family moved to Preston two decades ago and bought a home and a radio station. His distinct voice filled the homes in the county’s only radio station for 20 years. He dedicated his efforts to broadcasting local high school sports and hometown news for the county. White was also involved in the Chamber of Commerce, before it closed, and was a dedicated member of the KIWANIS International service club.

Preston mayor, Mark Beckstead, said he hopes whoever takes the station over will be as civic minded as White was. He added that when they were a new administration their goal was to improve their public image and White was instrumental in their plan.

He was very good to work with us,” he said. “He put together a monthly radio program that accomplished what we’re trying to do.”

Preston resident, Doug Webb, said White had a very distinctive voice; he spoke plainly, clearly, and distinctly.

“He was at everything important in the community,” he said. “When we had an activity like the Festival of Lights or the rodeo, he was there.”

Webb said White gave a lot of good support and was responsive to what was going on in the community.

He was an important part of the community, and he will be missed,” he said.

As a locally-owned and operated business, KACH was dedicated to serving the needs of the listeners and community. His door was always open and he was available to hear resident’s concerns.

White’s radio career began when he worked at KVEL radio in Vernal, Utah while he was in high school and developed a love for the business.

In September of 1948, KPST 1340 AM went on the air. The call letters were later changed to KACH. It is the only radio station physically located in Preston, Idaho, the Franklin County seat and home of That Famous Preston Night Rodeo and Preston Idaho Festival of Lights.

KACH Radio 1340 AM can be heard throughout Cache Valley. However, their primary focus has been on Franklin County.

The Preston radio station is Cook Brothers fifth station, with operations in Soda Springs, Evanston, Wyoming and Newcastle, Wyoming, as well as Mylocalradio.com, a network of terrestrial AM / FM and streaming internet radio stations.

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1 Comment

  • Kerry Jones Bringhurst August 23, 2018 at 7:58 am Reply

    Alan hired me for my first radio job when I was as student at Uintah High School. He mentored me as a local reporter and trusted me with a tape recorder, microphone and type writer. That was during a time when national stories were wired through a teletype machine and reel-to-reel tape was spliced by using a razor blade and grease pencil. Alan was the voice of Vernal’s KVEL “The Hot One” and the community would listen to his booming voice through our radios as he called games and covered high school sports. He was magic.

    We often tease one another, saying we have the face for radio. Alan helped to build my confidence and led my career as a broadcast journalist. My love for radio as a format for sharing information, story telling, and entertainment began with him. This love for radio has blessed my life beyond measure. Thanks Alan, for the giving of your time, skills, and passion. Best of luck as you move from microphone to mission.

    Kerry Jones Bringhurst

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