Engineering veteran David Briggs died of liver and bone cancer June 26 at his home in Wichita Falls, Texas, at the age of 50.
Briggs began his broadcasting career in the early 1970s as a part-time announcer at KRST(FM), Albuquerque, N.M. He helped build KKIM(AM), Albuquerque’s first Christian radio station in 1972. In the mid-1970s, Briggs co-founded the Christian Broadcasting Academy Inc., which was granted an FM noncom CP in 1976. Briggs served as manager and chief engineer of KLYT(FM) during the first several years of operation.
Briggs served briefly as CE at an AM/FM combo in Roswell, N.M., then directed engineering efforts at Susquehanna’s KLIF(AM) and KPLX(FM) in Dallas. In 1981, Briggs became CE for the Christian inspirational station KCBI(FM) in Dallas and also began a broadcast outreach via shortwave. During this time, Briggs created the Criswell Radio Network, where he served for 7 years as chief meteorologist.
In 1996, Briggs turned his attention to KTEO(FM) in Wichita Falls, Texas, which he owned and operated, soon changing the format to carry Christian children’s programming.
Briggs is survived by his wife, Janet.
Sharon Rae Pettigrew