Biography
Born in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1890, Eugene “Gene” O’Fallon moved with his family to Denver in 1901, where he would go on to shape the state’s broadcast landscape. In 1923, he co-founded KFEL, Denver’s second radio station, and soon became its principal owner. Broadcasting from the Albany Hotel, KFEL offered local news, music, and national programming as part of the Mutual system, eventually settling at AM 950. O’Fallon’s leadership extended well beyond his own station having served on the National Association of Broadcasters’ board and being instrumental in establishing Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI), helping to define broadcast standards and industry practices nationwide.
In 1952, O’Fallon advanced Colorado broadcasting into a new era by launching KFEL-TV, the state’s first television station and the first in Denver. Granted the construction permit for Channel 2 on July 11, 1952, he and his team brought the station to air within just seven days, carrying programs from DuMont and other networks. He also established a television training school to prepare local engineers, directors, and camera operators for this emerging medium. Though he sold his broadcast interests in the mid-1950s, O’Fallon’s influence endured. KFEL-TV evolved into KWGN-TV, and KFEL-AM became today’s KKSE. Gene O’Fallon passed away in 1963, leaving a legacy recognized by the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences with a posthumous Emmy Award in 1992 for his lifetime contribution to Colorado broadcasting.
