06/02/2026
OPEN FOR BUSINESS: 97.1 THE LAKE & WINDSOR'S OWN KENNY TREECE
Some people leave Windsor and make a name for themselves.
Others leave Windsor and become part of people's daily lives.
For more than 40 years, one familiar voice has been waking up listeners across west-central Missouri, sharing stories, making people laugh, keeping communities informed, and proving that local radio still matters.
That voice belongs to Windsor native Kenny Treece.
Before he became known throughout the region as "The Treecerman," Kenny was just another Windsor kid growing up downtown, fascinated by the businesses that lined Main Street.
While many of us remember the old five-and-dime stores, Kenny remembers being drawn to places like Western Auto, with rows and rows of interesting items and toys that seemed to stretch forever.
And he still remembers the kindness of Forrest and Mabel Buell.
Those early Windsor memories never left him.
But neither did his love for radio.
As a boy, Kenny would sit and listen, imagining radio announcers broadcasting from giant rooms filled with screens showing live performances from the artists whose music they played.
Then one day he finally saw a real radio station.
Instead of giant screens and concert performances, he found a tiny room, a control board, and a couple of turntables.
Yet somehow, that made radio even more magical.
The legendary voices of WDAF Country radio convinced him that radio wasn't just a job—it was fun.
The chemistry.
The conversations.
The friendships.
The feeling that listeners were spending time with people they knew.
That was the spark.
And once it was lit, it never went out.
Kenny's first time on the air?
"Frightening," he says.
"As in, WHEN I screw up, everyone's gonna know!" 😂
Like most successful careers, his wasn't a straight path.
At one point Kenny left radio and opened a comic book store in Clinton.
The business was growing, but he soon realized he missed broadcasting and the steady paycheck that came with it.
When an opening became available for a morning host at KDKD, he jumped at the chance.
The rest is history.
Over the years Kenny became known for his quick wit, memorable on-air antics, and his ability to connect with listeners.
One of his favorite memories involves longtime friend John Guccion.
The two were so close they were practically brothers.
Yet listeners would never have guessed it.
On the air they "argued," "called the law" on each other, staged office wrestling matches, and created some of the funniest moments listeners still remember today.
But beneath the humor has always been something more important.
Connection.
Kenny firmly believes radio was the original social media.
Long before Facebook, texts, and smartphones, local radio brought people together.
And even today, listeners still reach out daily through texts and messages.
In his eyes, local radio remains one of the most powerful ways to connect communities.
That connection became especially important during the COVID pandemic.
Several listeners told Kenny that each morning they tuned in to hear the latest information and updates.
During a frightening and uncertain time, they called him "the voice of calm."
That's something he'll never forget.
Today Kenny can be heard each morning on 97.1 The Lake, a station with nearly 50 years of serving Benton County and surrounding communities. The station features country music spanning seven decades, local news, weather, community information, Tradio, the popular Finally Friday Lake Party, and much more.
Thanks to streaming and the station's mobile app, listeners now tune in from all over the country, proving that small-town radio can have a very big reach.
When asked what keeps him passionate after all these years, Kenny's answer was simple:
"The honor of being in so many ears every morning. Knowing people care enough to give me their time."
That may be the perfect description of what local radio is all about.
Not just music.
Not just advertising.
People.
Community.
Relationships.
And being there when your neighbors need you most.
Today we are proud to recognize 97.1 The Lake as a Platinum Sponsor of the 1st Annual Louise Rhodes Memorial Poker Run.
Their support helps us continue our mission of preserving local history while raising funds to help local children and families who need a helping hand.
Kenny, thank you for representing Windsor so well.
We're proud to call you one of our own.
❤️🎙️❤️
Let's show Kenny and 97.1 The Lake some Windsor love!
Tell us in the comments:
Do you remember listening to Kenny on KDKD, The Lake, or another station through the years?
And if you have a favorite Kenny Treece story, we'd love to hear it!
