The history of Maritime Coastal Radio Station KPH is also the history of the development of radio communications.
KPH started as station “PH” at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco in 1905 and as radio communications technology developed the station followed that advancing technology until technology itself put KPH out of business.
This history presentation will be provided by Bill Ruck. Bill is a member of the Maritime Radio Historical Society and is active in keeping this station on the air.
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Bill Ruck Biography
Bill Ruck is a Third-Generation Native San Franciscan and has always been interested in radio, starting in grade school with the proverbial crystal set. He graduated to his father’s Hallicrafters SX-42 and quickly became a SWL staying up all night. He served in the U.S. Navy as an AT2. While still on active duty at NAS Alameda he started hanging out at radio stations including KJAZ.
After his active duty, Bill attended the adult Radio-TV Class at John A. O’Connell Vocational School in San Francisco. He became the Assistant Instructor until Proposition 13 eliminated adult programs. He began working at KFOG as Engineering Manager in 1978. KFOG later added KNBR; and later more stations. He also helped put KUSF on the air including assembling a composite 3 kW FM transmitter from parts. Bill has always been interested in the history of radio. When recruited to join the KPH Project there was little arm-twisting involved because one of Bill’s high school friends worked there in the 70’s and they would hang out at the KPH receive site in Point Reyes.
He has been a member of the Maritime Radio Historical Society for almost 20 years which operates, maintains, and interprets historic Maritime Coastal Station KPH. Today Bill still is active in broadcast radio, radio communications, and radio history.
Bill is a Fellow of the California Historical Radio Society in Preservation and inducted into the Bay Area Radio Hall of Fame. He is a member of CHRS, IEEE, SBE, AES, and AWA. He is the Chair of the Northern California Frequency Coordinating Committee.
Bill in front of the PW-15 Transmitter
