The radio station was originally built in 1951 by W. Decker Smith, MD, as an investment.

His son, James K. Smith, ran the station for many years as the general manager.

In 1989, the younger Smith, who had suffered a heart attack and was approaching retirement, sold the station to corporate interests along with its sister station, KOSY-FM (Y102), which was broadcasting a contemporary hit format at the time of sale.

The new owners changed the call signs to KKYR and implemented a country music format, which exists to this day.

The transmitter site of KOSY remains on the city's southern border off Line Ferry Road but KKYR began transmitting from a taller shared tower near Robinson Road in Texarkana shortly after the sale.