A monument honoring the KCBQ AM 1170 studio and transmitter facility in Santee was dedicated at the location where it once stood, 9416 Mission Gorge Road in Santee. The ceremony took place on Saturday, August 28 at 1170 AM (12:10pm), 2010. Sunday marks the first anniversary of the dedication of the only monument to a radio station and personalities.
The monument features photos of the KCBQ building which housed studios, offices and transmitters, and the station’s six 200 foot transmitting towers which broadcast what was for many years San Diego’s only 50,000 watt AM signal.
The monument commemorates the period between 1958 and 1978 when the station featured a “top forty” music format. It was often the most listened to station in San Diego and had a national reputation for its programming excellence.
The monument features names of over one hundred of the talented dj’s and newscasters who were heard on the station during this period.
Many former KCBQ air personalities, as well as behind the scenes staff attended. Also Santee mayor Randy Voepel and President of Bartell hotels, Richard Bartell, the son of broadcaster Lee Bartell who built the original KCBQ facility in East County San Diego.
The monument was unveiled by Mayor Voepel and legendary longtime KCBQ overnight DJ Jack Vincent who was with the station when the facility was constructed in 1958.
The monument is supported by private contributors, designed by Seamen-Poe Monument Company, and installed by Charco Construction Company.
