In 1903, at a time when talking face-to-face was the predominant form of communication, McLoud’s first telephone was installed. Although there was skepticism in the beginning, the advantages of the telephone soon won out. By 1916, McLoud Telephone Company had acquired exchanges in McLoud and Newalla, and the Dale exchange was purchased seven years later.

Along with McLoud’s rapid growth came advances in technology. In 1928, McLoud Telephone Company changed to the metallic wiring system, and in 1946 a conversion was made to the common battery system.  At this time, a “central office” was still necessary to connect phone calls and it wasn’t until 1950 that the first dial system was installed.  

In 1956, an exchange with a separate prefix was established for Newalla and it was eventually tied into Oklahoma City , eliminating all related long distance billing charges.   

On October 17, 1984 , Russell L. Dobson, owner of Dobson Telephone Company, acquired McLoud Telephone Company.  The combination of the two companies resulted in a total of 8,256 access lines. 

In 1988, the Newalla and Stella exchanges became fully digital, allowing for future industry development.  Shortly thereafter, in March 1989, the company implemented 911 service in Oklahoma and Cleveland counties and in 1995 Pottawatomie implemented the same service.  

In 1991 McLoud exchange was brought into the Oklahoma City Wide Area Calling Plan.  

In January 1997, Dobson Telephone and McLoud Telephone restructured management, allowing the company to consolidate functions and to enhance its ability to strategically plan facility and network changes.  The current strategy, as it relates to the consolidation of resources, will allow it to integrate its networks with Dobson Communication’s wireline business units.   

Dobson and McLoud currently employ approximately 60 employees.  The two local exchange companies have been the root system through which dynamic growth has occurred within the Dobson Communications family. Currently, the company’s switching equipment hosts off the DMS 100 Intelleq Communications switch in Oklahoma City .  This architecture allows the company to provide the same level of telecommunications service offerings that are available in the tier one markets throughout the United States.

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