It’s not easy being first when you arrive at the party late

Over time, a story grew up within KOLO (KZTV’s present call letters) that it was the state’s first television station. The claim was added at some point to the Donrey employee handbook, probably after station owner Don Reynolds’ death, since he obviously would have known it was inaccurate. KLAS in Las Vegas went on the air July 22, 1953.

On Sept. 20, 2003, a meeting of Reno’s Good Old Days Club observed the 50th anniversary of television in Reno, and some of the speakers mentioned that KZTV/KOLO was the state’s second television station. But club officials say the contingent from KOLO arrived late at the meeting and never heard this, and that night’s Channel 8 newscast referred to the station as "the first television station in Nevada." The same phrase was used in proclamations honoring the station’s birthday issued by Reno and Sparks mayors, declaring Sept. 29 as "KOLO-TV News Channel 8 Day." Sparks Mayor Tony Armstrong said the information in his proclamation was provided by the station itself.