Assassination of John F. Kennedy: WKIC & WSGS coverage from Hazard, KY

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"We Interrupt Programming to bring you this bulletin"

On November 22, 1963, regular programming on WKIC and WSGS was interrupted at 1:45 PM (Eastern time). Ernest Sparkman broke in with these words: "Here is a bulletin from the Associated Press...President Kennedy has been shot in Dallas, Texas. He was shot as his motorcade left downtown Dallas. Mrs. Kennedy jumped up and grabbed the President. An Associated Press Photographer, James Altgens, reports he saw blood on the President's head. The A-P man said he heard two shots but thought someone was shooting fireworks until he saw the blood on the President."

2nd Bulletin: "Here is a bulletin from the Associated Press: "President Kennedy has been shot in Dallas Texas. A reporter asked Presidential Assistant Kenneth O'Connell if President Kennedy was dead. O'Connell gave no answer. President Kennedy has been reported taken to Parkland Hospital in Dallas. That's near the Dallas Trade Mart where he was scheduled to make a speech."

3rd Bulletin: "Here is a bulletin from the Associated Press. Associated Press reporter Jack Bell reports three shots were fired as the Presidential motorcade entered a triple underpass in Dallas that leads to the Stemmons Freeway. After the President was shot, the Secret Service waved the motorcade on at top speed to the nearby Parkland Hospital."

What East Kentucky Listeners Heard: Upon the official announcement that President Kennedy had died, WKIC and WSGS went off the air for two minutes to observe a silent prayer. The music format was completely changed for the remainder of the afternoon of November 22nd 1963. The stations reported the events of the assassination until midnight, interrupted only by patriotic music and hymns. WKIC and WSGS also altered it's music format the following day on Saturday carrying NBC's coverage of the Assassination. All regular commercials were canceled as continuous coverage of the events were heard night and day through the funeral on Monday afternoon. WCTT in Corbin picked up WKIC and WSGS's coverage of the events.