KWGS 89.5 FM is owned and operated by The University of Tulsa and is the primary National Public Radio station in Tulsa. Founded in 1947, KWGS reflects the vision of TU President Emeritus Ben Graf Henneke and the generosity of oilman William Grove Skelly. Today, the university and the radio station continue to enhance the city’s intellectual and artistic life.

The brainchild of then-speech professor Dr. Henneke, KWGS grew from Henneke’s early career in broadcasting and his knowledge of radio announcing and speech. KWGS first began broadcasting news, information, and limited classical music in October of 1947, with the call letters chosen from the initials of donor William G. Skelly’s name. At that time, KWGS was one of the first educational radio stations in the country, and it was the first FM radio station in Oklahoma.

An expert in the field of broadcasting, Dr. Henneke worked actively with the station from its launch in 1947 until his eventual retirement from TU, serving in several roles at KWGS and delivering popular radio commentaries.  As a professor, he authored scholarly papers and other works on broadcasting. As the president of TU from 1958 to 1967, Dr. Henneke continued to support the station and to promote it to the community. After retiring from his job as President, Dr. Henneke returned to the classroom at TU, serving as the Trustee Professor of Humanities until 1979. He was named President Emeritus in 1982.  He passed away in 2009.

William Grove Skelly, another instrumental figure in the launch and continued growth of KWGS, was one of TU’s early benefactors. While most widely known for his exceptional success in the oil business, Mr. Skelly was an entrepreneur involved in many businesses.

Skelly was born in Erie, Pennsylvania, in 1878. He studied at two business schools of that era in what would be considered his high school years and served in the Spanish-American War in Puerto Rico in 1898 with the Sixteenth Pennsylvania Volunteers. After the war, he worked in several capacities in the fledgling oil business in Texas and Oklahoma. He made his fortune early in his life with a wise investment in an oil lease. In 1919, he founded the Skelly Oil Company in Tulsa. By 1923, his company was one of the strongest independent producers of oil and gasoline in the United States.

He was a leader in the trade associations affiliated with the industry, serving as the president of the International Petroleum Exposition from its inception until his passing. He successfully launched the Spartan Aircraft Company in 1926, and in 1928, he led the fundraising efforts to build Tulsa’s first airport.

In the midst of his many achievements, Skelly forged an early bond with TU, building the school’s first football stadium in 1930 and providing the funding to bring KWGS to campus in 1947. Skelly Field in H. A. Chapman Stadium still bears his name.

According to a biography written about Mr. Skelly, when he passed away in 1957, he was considered one of the 20 most influential people in advancing Tulsa’s economic, educational, cultural, and business growth.

Any discussion of KWGS radio must also include the popular and accomplished Edward Dumit (BA ’51, MS ’57), a TU communications professor and longtime broadcaster on KWGS.  Dumit served as the music director in the early days of the station. After graduating from TU, Dumit began teaching at his alma mater, presenting classes in radio, television, speech, and music history.

Edward contributed much to the success of KWGS, serving at different times in his career as the manager, the program director, and the arts producer. After his retirement from TU in 1993, Dumit continued to serve as a producer at KWGS for eight additional years. He passed away in 2014.

Thanks to the vision and efforts of these three men, along with many others over the years, KWGS has established itself as a vibrant cultural institution in Tulsa. The KWGS Public Radio Endowment was established by TU alumni, students, and appreciative listeners in 1990, and since that time, it has been helping to position the station to fulfill its original purpose as envisioned by Dr. Henneke and Mr. Skelly.