KRLC building destroyed by fire department; unrelated 1979 Sam Lawson aircheck

   November 21, 2025
Photo credit: Big Country News Connection, Darlene Lambert

The building that served as home to 1350 KRLC, Lewiston, Idaho for nearly 80 years has been purposely burned down as part of a fire training exercise.  The property, on the corner of Thain Road and Stewart Avenue in Lewiston was no longer in use, but most recently had been the site of McVey Entertainment’s KMOK-FM, KVTY-FM, and KRLC-AM.  In 2023, the FM stations relocated, and KRLC permanently went dark.

The Lewiston Fire Department had been using the building for training, and asked if they could eventually burn it down, given its condition.  Current property owner Steve Carlton gave firefighters the go-ahead.

Hopefully, the 1979 KRLC Sam Lawson aircheck posted below did not influence the decision to torch the place.

Runtime: 8:29

Click here for a previous KRLC tape

Sam Lawson

Student engineer at pioneer Nathan Hale radio station KNH 1210 in 1970 (prior to KNHC). Also attended North Seattle Community College and L.H. Bates in Tacoma (KTOY-FM). Sam’s career began as a KJR request line operator in 1970, with his first on-air job at KRKO in 1972. In 1976 he segued to overnights at KTAC as Cory Landon, then weekends at KING. In 1978 he moved to Lewiston, Idaho for afternoons on KOZE and KRLC. Throughout the ‘80s he was an announcer and/or engineer at "the best mix and biggest variety" of Spokane radio stations; including 97KREM, KZUN, KGA, KKER (The Sam & Pam Show), KZZU, PD of KJRB, 98 KISS-FM, and the voice of KAYU-TV. In 1989 he moved to Los Angeles as Assistant Chief Engineer and weekends at KZLA/KLAC. Also engineered for KBIG, KFI, Premiere Radio Networks, CBS Radio, and others. "After avoiding any actual work for nearly 45 years, now happily retired and very appreciatively back in the great Pacific Northwest!" ---Click here for other Sam Lawson articles ---and here for Sam Lawson airchecks

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