Tom and Monica Norris, owners of 101.5 KIKS and 1370 / 99.3 KIOL Radio for the past 16 years, announced Friday they have sold Iola Radio to Ad Astra Per Aspera Broadcasting.
The changeover took place Saturday.
Ad Astra owns nine other radio stations in Kansas.
Ad Astra Radio began in 1986 with one station and is now in its second generation as a family-owned business. With the addition of the KIKS and KIOL, Ad Astra Radio will become the largest family-owned radio station company based in Kansas with stations in Hutchinson, Larned, Lyons and McPherson areas.
“They’re really big on doing local news, sports and community service,” Tom Norris said in a news release.
As an aside, Tom and Monica met while working at Ad Astra Radio in 1990.
“I’VE HAD the pleasure of knowing Tom and Monica for over 30 years,” Ad Astra president Chris Shank said. “In fact, when I first started DJ-ing at Ad Astra Radio back in high school, Tom was my boss.
“I learned lessons from him that I still use today,” Shank continued. “They are great, professional broadcasters who are passionate about local radio. We’re honored for the opportunity to add Iola Radio to the Ad Astra Radio Family and we’re thrilled Tom and Monica are going to continue being involved with the stations. Their knowledge and expertise are invaluable.”
Iola radio broadcasting dates back to July 25, 1961, when 1370 KALN (KIOL’s former call letters) was a daytime-only operation, the company’s website noted. The station was started by LLoyd C. McKenney of Carthage, Mo., who also owned stations in Monett, Mo., and Fort Scott.
Mike and Lovetta Russell acquired the station in 1973, and in 1976, he changed the station’s call letters to KIKS (as in Iola, KS). An FM station was added a year after that.
On the night of the 2000 presidential election, Tom Norris joined the Iola Radio team, where he took over the morning DJ slot. Monica, who also had radio experience, joined the stations a short while later.
The Norrises took over on May 1, 2007.
