KLM Telephone Company
Encyclopedia
K.L.M. Telephone Company is a rural telecommunications provider based in Rich Hill, Missouri
. Consisting mainly of small, rural, family-run telephone companies it absorbed, it provides local telephone service to 1400 southwest Missouri
telephone customers. It is owned by American Broadband.
. He purchased the Rich Hill Telephone Company, which had been owned by the Shopper family of Rich Hill since 1941.
The name "KLM" came into being when Kern asked a college student, Raleigh Masur, if he would like to join in on running the venture; James Lamble later joined. Rich Hill Telephone Company was then renamed KLM Telephone Company, representing Kern-Lamble-Mauser. The partners formed a holding company for the telephone company, called KLM Corporation.
James Lamble resigned from the company in 1957. Mr. Kern continued to teach until 1962, when he moved to Rich Hill, MO and assumed the day to day management of the company. Raleigh Mauser sold his shares in the corporation and partnership to Kern in January 1965.
Deerfield, MO, near Richards, MO, was still a mutual exchange in 1971 with magneto service. Some customers within the area petitioned the Missouri Public Service Commission for Bell
telephone service because they wanted dial telephone service. Mr. Kern made arrangements to rent some Stromberg-Carlsen equipment and plowed cable through the winter of 1972. The Deerfield area was converted to dial within six months. Missouri Union Telephone Company, Deerfield's service provider, was merged into the KLM Telephone Company in 1973.
By 1975, KLM Telephone Company consisted of the merged operations of the following acquired telephone companies/family run operations:
On December 21, 1987, all KLM exchanges were converted to digital. Call waiting and touch tone dial finally became available to KLM customers.
Ken Kern died on February 10, 1990. His widow Cathy continued to operate KLM Corporation until she sold it to the RBJ Corporation on December 23, 1992.
In 1999, KLM customers were finally able to choose their long distance providers.
and Vernon County, Missouri. Wireless services are offered by Alltel
for KLM. Alltel Publishing, Inc. publishes telephone directories for KLM.
KLM Telephone Company headquarters are still located in Rich Hill, MO.
Rich Hill, Missouri
Rich Hill is a city in Bates County, Missouri, United States. The population was 1,461 at the 2000 census.The current mayor of Rich Hill as of April 2011 is Jim Kithcart.-Geography:Rich Hill is located at ....
. Consisting mainly of small, rural, family-run telephone companies it absorbed, it provides local telephone service to 1400 southwest Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
telephone customers. It is owned by American Broadband.
Formation & Expansion
KLM Telephone Company began in 1955 as a business investment by Ken KernKen Kern
Ken Kern was a builder and author who devoted himself to aiding owner-builders, and believed strongly in living on the land. He lived outside of north fork, CA...
. He purchased the Rich Hill Telephone Company, which had been owned by the Shopper family of Rich Hill since 1941.
The name "KLM" came into being when Kern asked a college student, Raleigh Masur, if he would like to join in on running the venture; James Lamble later joined. Rich Hill Telephone Company was then renamed KLM Telephone Company, representing Kern-Lamble-Mauser. The partners formed a holding company for the telephone company, called KLM Corporation.
James Lamble resigned from the company in 1957. Mr. Kern continued to teach until 1962, when he moved to Rich Hill, MO and assumed the day to day management of the company. Raleigh Mauser sold his shares in the corporation and partnership to Kern in January 1965.
Deerfield, MO, near Richards, MO, was still a mutual exchange in 1971 with magneto service. Some customers within the area petitioned the Missouri Public Service Commission for Bell
Bell System
The Bell System was the American Bell Telephone Company and then, subsequently, AT&T led system which provided telephone services to much of the United States and Canada from 1877 to 1984, at various times as a monopoly. In 1984, the company was broken up into separate companies, by a U.S...
telephone service because they wanted dial telephone service. Mr. Kern made arrangements to rent some Stromberg-Carlsen equipment and plowed cable through the winter of 1972. The Deerfield area was converted to dial within six months. Missouri Union Telephone Company, Deerfield's service provider, was merged into the KLM Telephone Company in 1973.
By 1975, KLM Telephone Company consisted of the merged operations of the following acquired telephone companies/family run operations:
- Rich Hill Telephone Company - 1955
- Papinville, MO telephone operations - 1956
- Metz, MO and Richards, MO telephone exchanges - 1959 - managed as a separate partnership, Missouri Union Telephone Company
- Missouri Union Telephone Company, fully absorbed in 1973
On December 21, 1987, all KLM exchanges were converted to digital. Call waiting and touch tone dial finally became available to KLM customers.
Ken Kern died on February 10, 1990. His widow Cathy continued to operate KLM Corporation until she sold it to the RBJ Corporation on December 23, 1992.
RBJ Corporation
The Copsey family of Rich Hill run the RBJ Corporation. (RBJ stands for Reese, Bruce and Jennifer.) Evan Copsey runs the corporation.In 1999, KLM customers were finally able to choose their long distance providers.
Today
KLM Telephone Company operates in Bates County, MissouriBates County, Missouri
Bates County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. As of 2000, the population is 16,653. Its county seat is Butler. The county was organized in 1833 and named after Frederick Bates, the second governor of Missouri....
and Vernon County, Missouri. Wireless services are offered by Alltel
Alltel
Alltel Corporation is a wireless service provider, primarily based in the United States. Before an acquisition by Verizon Wireless, it served 34 states. After the merger, Alltel continues to serve six states, mostly in rural areas...
for KLM. Alltel Publishing, Inc. publishes telephone directories for KLM.
KLM Telephone Company headquarters are still located in Rich Hill, MO.