KHIL

KHIL
Frequency1250 kHz
BrandingClassic Country
Programming
FormatClassic country
Ownership
Owner
  • John Oberreuter and Mark Lucke
  • (Willcox Radio, LLC)
History
Former call signs
KWCX (1961–1963)
Call sign meaning
Hills surrounding Willcox, Arizona
Technical information
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID72656
ClassD
Power5,000 watts (day)
196 watts (night)
Transmitter coordinates
32°16′00″N 109°49′58″W / 32.26667°N 109.83278°W / 32.26667; -109.83278
Translator(s)98.1 K251CG (Wilcox)
Links
Public license information
Websitewww.willcoxradio.com

KHIL (1250 AM, "Classic Country") is a radio station licensed to serve Willcox, Arizona, United States. The station is owned by John Oberreuter and Mark Lucke, through licensee Willcox Radio, LLC. It airs a classic country music format using a transmitter with an output of 5,000 watts (day), and 196 watts (night). The station's programming is also simulcast on repeater station K251CG (98.1 FM) in Willcox.

The station was founded in 1958 by Rex Allen. It was assigned its KHIL call letters by the Federal Communications Commission.

In 2007, KHIL applied to relocate to Kearny, Arizona, with a change in frequency to 1260 kHz and a power upgrade 10,000 watts. This application was dismissed by the FCC on April 21, 2008, and KHIL remains in Willcox with a daytime power of 5,000 watts. At that time, Lucke had become the only paid employee (down from a staff of 10 in 2003).

KHIL was featured in a December 2018 in a documentary published by The Atlantic, Lonesome Willcox. A June 2019 report in The Guardian portrayed the station as being at the risk of closure, with Lucke keeping operations up without pay.

Lucke is no longer involved with the station.