Glen Cecil Barnett

GLEN BARNETT
Founder of KWXY Radio Station

Glen Barnett, 90, passed away peacefully on December 24, 2014. He developed a self interest in electricity and radios at a young age by reading old Popular Science magazines. He enjoyed constructing small radios from parts taken from old radios donated by friends. Discovering Amateur radio, he began building transmitters and sophisticated receivers.
At 14, he obtained his first Amateur license, by 16 he qualified for all of the commercial operator licenses issued by the FCC. Before graduating from Hayes High School in 1942, he worked at KVGB, in Great Bend, Kan. as broadcast engineer. Advancing, he moved to KBIX, in Muskogee, Okla., KXRO, in Aberdeen, Wash., and then built KTMC, in McAlester, Okla. in 1946. In 1947, he married Opal. A year later, he built Hays Radio Station, where he worked for ten years as chief engineer, announcer, and newscaster. In 1957, Glen and Opal purchased KJFJ in Webster City, Iowa. In 1959, he came to Palm Springs, Calif. as a consultant to build new studios for KCMJ. The Barnetts decided to sell the Iowa station and move to Palm Springs. All through Glen's broadcast career, he was an outside consultant to many other radio stations and designed and built several stations in Oklahoma, Kansas, and California over the years. In 1962, he developed and built the first wireless paging service for the Coachella Valley for Chalfont Communications. In 1962, the Barnetts filed an application for a 250 watt radio station, KWXY, to be licensed in Cathedral City, Calif. The KWXY-AM Radio Station went on the air October 4, 1964. Two power increases followed for KWXY. KWXY-FM debuted in 1969 with 3,000 watts of power, and in 1976 moved to 98.5 on the FM dial with 50,000 watt power. The station maintained the same Beautiful Music format for 46 years. It presented many unique services and enjoyed high ratings according to Arbitron. In 2010, Glen sold KWXY. Glen Barnett was in the Broadcasting industry for 68 years. He was a member of Pacific Pioneer Broadcaster, National Association of Broadcasters, California Broadcasters Association, and Southern California Broadcasters Association. Glen is preceded in death by his wife Opal Barnett who passed away in 1998. He is survived by his wife Irma, her children, many loved friends, and loyal listeners of KWXY Radio Station. Services will be held January 5, 2015 at 9:00 am in the Ramon Chapel at Forest Lawn Cathedral City, 69855 E. Ramon Road, Cathedral City, CA 92234. Interment will follow at Welwood Murray Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, you may make a donation to one of the many charities the Glen & Opal Barnett Foundation contributes to: Angel View Crippled Children, Boys & Girls Club, The Community Center At Tierra Del Sol, Coachella Valley Rescue Mission, Find Food Bank Inc., Galilee Center, Guide Dogs of the Desert, Cove Community Senior Association, Martha's Village & Kitchen, Mizell Senior Center, The Salvation Army, Shelter From The Storm, Stroke Recovery Center, Variety Children's Charities of the Desert, and Well In The Desert.