On July 18, 1946 the FCC granted an application for a new 250 watt AM daytime station in Portland OR on 800kc. to John W. Davis. Calls KJXD stood for John Davis, future G.M. On December 18, 1946 KJXD was granted a modification of power level from 250 watts to 1KW. Also in late 1946 KJXD calls were changed to KPDQ. On July 8, 1947 it was announced that KPDQ's Chief Engineer would be Rodney F. Johnson & Don Dundell, Program Director.

On July 30, 1947 KPDQ began operation at 6PM. Studio & transmitter were located at Oaks Park. (no physical address to this day, between 320 & 330 foot of S.E. Spokane St., on S.E. Oaks Park Way, access road). Raytheon transmitter. Tower 260 feet. KPDQ call slogan: join the K-Pretty Darn Quick switch to KPDQ. KPDQ broadcast sunrise to sunset daily. Programs consisted of news & transcribed music.

In 1949 KPDQ moved studios to The Panama Building (534 S.W. 3rd Ave., room 210) & William E. Richardson became General Manager. On November 27, 1950 KPDQ began it's first weekday religious program. (title unknown, listed as religious). In 1951 John W. "Jack" Davis became General Manager once again as well as Owner. On November 7, 1951 Fred C. Haskins became Program Director, Announcer & Chief Engineer.

In 1952 KPDQ moved studios to The 6th St. Terminal Building (1008 S.W. 6th Ave., room 207). By December 1954 John W. Davis was Owner, President & General Manager, Willard Guthrie, Program Director & Robert Beattie, Chief Engineer. By October 1955 Mark Fidler was Program Director, News Director & Disc Jockey. KPDQ slogans: The music & news voice of Portland. 1,000 watts of grown-up listening. By December 1955 Don Wilkinson was Chief Engineer.

In 1956 KPDQ moved studios to a brick building in The Hollywood District. (4903 N.E. Sandy Blvd.). By December 1956 Dale Allison was Program Director & Keith Griggs, News Director. KPDQ slogan: The voice of Hollywood. By 1958 KPDQ's broadcast schedule mostly consisted of religious programs. By August 1958 Dan McDonald was Program Director & Dan McPeak, Chief Engineer.

On April 1, 1959 KPDQ became Portland's first full-time religious broadcaster since KFQN in 1924. KPDQ slogan: Portland's radio pulpit. By August 1959 Arlan Walker was Chief Engineer. On September 10, 1959 KPDQ began broadcasting from it's new transmitter site in Raleigh Hills OR. (7201 S.W. Vermont Court). Continential transmitter. Tower 260 feet. In early 1960 David M. Jack became Station Manager. (later KLIQ Owner). On August 18, 1960 licensee name changed to KPDQ, Inc.

On October 11, 1961 KPDQ added an FM simulcast sister. KPDQ-FM began operation on 93.7mc. By October 1962 Don Wilkinson was back as Chief Engineer. By October 1963 Robert W. Ball, Jr. was General Manager & Jerry W. Johnson, Program Director. By February 1969 KPDQ slogan: The sound of inspiration. By October 1969 David Winchester was Program Director.

On November 24, 1970 KPDQ was granted Pre-Sunrise Authority to operate 6AM to sunrise with 491 watts. In 1972 KPDQ had 13 full-time & part-time employees and was rated one of The Top 4 Religious Stations in the Nation, by the NRB. (National Religious Broadcasters). By December 1975 Joe Alcorn was Operations Manager & Gary Hurst, News Director. By 1976 KPDQ slogans: Inspirational Radio Northwest. Portland's sound of inspiration.

In 1977 KPDQ moved studios to 5110 S.E. Stark St. On August 19, 1977 licensee name changed to Inspirational Broadcasting Corp. By December 1979 Jack Davis II was President. By December 1981 Jim Heim was Chief Engineer. By 1982 KPDQ slogan: Pacific Northwest Christian Radio. In 1984 KPDQ joined the Mutual Broadcasting System. By December 1984 John Davis II was General Manager as well as President. Also Joe Alcorn became Program Director & Larry Wilson, Chief Engineer. By December 1985 Ken Broeffle was Chief Engineer.

On July 28, 1986 KPDQ was sold to Salem Media of Oregon, Inc. (group owner: Salem Communications Corp., Stuart W. Epperson, Chairmen & Edward G. Atsinger III, President & Chief Executive) for 6.5 Million (price included FM simulcast sister). Transfer took place 8-86. Jack P. Kandel, General Manager. KPDQ slogans: Sharing the good news throughout the day. Radio that makes a difference. In 1989 KPDQ began 24 hour operation, lowering power to 500 watts at night. In 1993 Darrell E. Kennedy became General Manager. Slogans: AM 800, your inspiration station. Thanks for choosing Portland's talk alternative. In 1994 KPDQ dropped the Mutual Network. In 1995 KPDQ installed a new Gates 1 transmitter.

On July 25, 1996 KPDQ took over the Contemporary Christian music format from it's former FM sister KDBX "Spirit 107.5" becoming "The new Spirit 800 AM". Some day parts continued simulcasting religious programs from KPDQ-FM. (Salem Media of Oregon, Inc. purchased KDBX in 1995 for over 1 Million, selling on 7-25-96 to American Radio Systems License Corp. for 14 Million). Scott Veigel & Scott Stevens Co-Music Directors. KPDQ slogans: Portland's new home for the best Christian music, the new Spirit 800 AM. Sharing the moments of your day. Portland's Spirit. By December 1996 Chuck Tyler was Operations Director, Lew Davies, News Director & Alan Garren, Chief Engineer. By June 1997 KPDQ slogans: Todays Christian radio. Spirit 800 AM. By December 1997 Dennis Hayes was General Manager & John White, Chief Engineer.

On August 24, 1998 KPDQ dropped it's Contemporary Christian music format for Talk Radio & affiliated with it's parent company's SRN Radio Network. KPDQ slogan: The new True Talk 800 AM. In October 1999 Don Perkin became Chief Engineer. On August 22, 2000 Joseph D. Davis became Senior Vice-President of Operations for Salem Communications. By December 2000 Andy West was Operations Director & Program Director. On October 30, 2001 Joseph D. Davis became Executive Vice-President-Radio Division. KPDQ slogan: True Talk 800 AM.

A Special Thanks to Don Perkins for his invaluable assistance in this radio history.