@theoldgreywolf once told me, "Chapman was the pioneer, the seer." "I was always on the quest of doing something new and dramatic and different and surprising," Ron said in 2010. . He was the Dean of Dallas/Fort Worth Radio spending 31 years hosting the morning show at KVIL, most of those in the number one position. The Texas Radio Hall of Fame says "his family asks for time to process this loss, and thanks you for your kindness, understanding and prayers. He spent more than three decades at KVIL, toiling as a morning deejay, music director and program director, transforming the adult contemporary format into a major success on the FM band. . Then by the following Tuesday, youre just gone. CBS News Texas: Free 24/7 News; . He had spent his last few years on 98.7 KLUV in Dallas/Forth Worth. The individuality, the uniqueness. Theyre over. RIP Ron pic.twitter.com . Chapman returned to the states in 1959, took a radio job in New Haven, Connecticut, and then, when a co-worker landed a job with KLIF in Dallas, Chapman went alongat $175 a week, more than double his Connecticut salary. Ive got a speech at the Board of Realtors this morning, and Im getting my hair done., And I said, Hes giving me a real nice blow job., Oh, Lord. And I think he said, This would be a good time to go to commercial.. Hes the sports anchor on ABC Channel 8. He doesnt want to look for cuff links., And as for keeping up with the competition, well, Chapman has a television parked in front of his toilet. A year later, he suffered a stroke. I can give you failure after failure of people whove come on the air in this market and tried to do that. In my mind, Chapman continues, I used to picture Mary Tyler Moore. Menu. The radio industry took to social media to reflect on Chapman's life and career. Bud Buschardt worked as the unit manager on Away We Go and Sumpn Else, two television shows that Chapman did for WFAA Channel 8 in the mid-60s. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones defers comment on revival of sexual harassment lawsuit, Q and A: How MLBs streaming, TV options will impact Rangers fans ability to watch team. A little egotistical, perhaps. In 1959, as "Irving Harrigan" he joined the staff KLIF/Dallas, where he teamed up with Jack Woods (a.k.a. His family asks for time to process this loss, and thanks you for your kindness, understanding and prayers., There will not be a service, but, the Hall of Fame noted, a public gathering of friends and colleagues is being planned.. Remembering Ron Chapman. The Morning Guys on Y-95. Even in a social setting, conversation revolves around radio and the show and the things that are, for other people, rather peripheral., Chapman says he has always had to be aggressive because back in the early days, the ratings were so low that they didnt even show up on Arbitron. He was so popular in Dallas in the 70s, 80s and 90s that his station, KVIL, sold for more than the Dallas Cowboys. I knew I was fired. I can walk faster than most people can run, Chapman once told The Dallas Morning News. So why should you go on the air and tell people who love living here that the town is a piece of crap? And he admits that, in part, it is the reason his first marriage ended after nineteen years. A lot of people on this board are so young that they have never heard of Michael Selden. He is single-minded, living and breathing and eating KVIL to the detriment of everything else in his life. Chapman's family says there will be no service, but a public gathering of friends and . But you could hear this blow-dryer. Here are a few other stories about Chapmans career, told by those who knew and worked with the legend. Jody Dean was Chapman's producer at KVIL from 1987 to 1994. . Warm and fuzzy was the game plan from the very beginning. Jan 3, 2017. Barack O-blame-a. Done in slick, black marble, it is an oversized rectangle, big enough for Ron to pace in. To pace in. But there is more to the message than merely commercialized feminism. He never said anything to me about it. A very happy one. But KVIL, four letters that decorated 100,000 Dallasites' car bumpers during one notable 1982 promotion,shouldn't be allowed to vanish without a proper eulogy. Dallas-Fort Worth radio legend Ron Chapman has died, officials with his former station KLUV-FM confirmed. Who is available? Dean later called it a dream come true. Its on the far back burner, but I think about it. "But it's a different world in radio, isn't it?" Chapman was inducted into the National Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2010 and into the Radio Hall of Fame in 2012. In 2007, he returned to broadcasting part-time as a "permanent substitute" for legendary broadcaster Paul Harvey. Talk about a cush gig. "His family asks for time to . Rhyner, co-founder and sage of the sports-talking Ticket, spent the '70s and '80s just down the FM dial from KVIL at KZEW, where the jocks playedhard(ish) rock while Chapman and his band spun cotton candy. But Chapmans vaunted ego and his famed temper have only enhanced his hold on the Dallas radio market. By now, everyone knows the story about how, in 1988, Chapman asked his KVIL listeners to send in $20 each, without ever saying why, and took in $240,000. He is survived by his loving wife of 49 years, Deborah Chapman; mother Helen Chapman; twin sister Connie Smith; sons Eric . Trusted friend and colleague Jody Dean does not disagree, comparing Chapman to 1960s coaching legend Vince Lombardi, who led the Green Bay Packers to multiple championships as an unyielding taskmaster. Chapman began his career in Dallas radio in 1959 at KLIF as a member of the "Charlie and Harrigan" team. Chapman was 85 years old. He began by working as a disc jockey for WHAV in Haverhill. Nance prayed for her. And I was going to run faster, work harder, get street-smarter. In terms of logistics and creativity, hes a towering genius. About all they had were some call letters, and not very good ones at that. They filmed it. I told her so. Ron Chapman's legendary $20 announcement from March, 1988. At one point, Chapman broadcast live while skydiving from a plane. To a person, everyone interviewed for this story believed that Chapman, if riled, could end his career. Catch up on the day's news you need to know. I'm saddened to tell you that legendary Dallas DJ Ron Chapman has passed away at 85. Ron, how come my offer to buy KVIL never worked out? About 20 years ago, Id barely started working at KVIL and was the overnight deejaythe lowest life form in radio, with an equivalent lifestyle. We could go AOR. The station is branded as "Alt 103.7" and airs an alternative rock radio format. RIP Ron Chapman. They thought we were going 50 miles. But the thing about it is, ten minutes later, its like it never happened.. He was 85. As she perfected her skills, the dean of Dallas radio, Ron Chapman, hired her at KVIL-AM/FM as News Director alongside his other show members: Suzy Humphries, Len Mailoux, Andy McCollum, and Larry . . When Ron met Nance twenty years ago at a charity telethon, he was immediately struck by her good looks, he says, recalling that he trotted out a bunch of glib compliments before saying, By the way, Im Ron Chapman. Her reply: Oh. By Emily Jimenez, NewsRadio 1080 KRLD. It was also an opportunity, and that night Rons car found itself parked outside every cool bar and nightclub on Greenville Avenue. Selden was the Afternoon Drive DJ at 1190 KLIF at the time when 75% of the teenagers in Dallas were listening. Fort Worth was the butt of all the jokes by DJs sitting in Dallas talking about people over in Fort Worth. He claims more listeners than any DJ in Texas. And I want you to know that Leonard jerked the plug out from the wall. Jason Kidd hopes Mavs star stays patient in preseason play, Spring training cuts are incoming, but these Rangers prospects have impressed in camp. In honor of his life, we reproduce this 1989 profile of Chapman. Ron Chapman made money by Directors niche. Paul: Okay, so let's go back to Bud's career. I have the same type of personality, just not as much discipline. Youd be walking down the hall, and nothing would stop him from putting you down in a very loud voice in front of anybody. But the youngsters came to understand their poverty., I liked applause early on, said Chapman, who took on Ron as his radio first name in 1965. He was huge in Dallas for decades doing mornings at KVILclick link to learn more. 26, 2021 at 1:34 PM PDT. He spent 19 years at the Los Angeles Times before returning to Dallas. She loved going to NorthPark to dance with other teenagers during the daily weekday broadcast of SumpN Else. No dice. Hes now an announcer and does several shows for ABC radio. #1. We decided we would keep Fort Worth, and treat her like the lady that she is. Ive always tried to make my sportscast understandable to the non-sports fan. And thats the way Ron was. For all time, at the moment, 2023 year, Ron Chapman earned $73 Million. Ron Chapman was born on 25 January 1936 in Newton, Massachusetts, USA. Brings new meaning to the phrase Sunday Funday. Last year, that power was demonstrated when Chapman asked listeners to trust him and send in $20 each for no specified purpose. Hes now a program director for ABC Dallas radio and an adjunct professor of TV production at the University of North Texas.We did Sumpn Else at NorthPark. Then ten to midnight. The piece coincided with Chapman's 20th anniversary at KVIL, where, The News noted, "His hyper, happy-talk 'Ron Chapman and the Morning Group' has been the almost-constant No. I just never mellowed out. Chapman admits. But Ive wondered ever since., Herb Kelleher has known Chapman for years. In 1959, a 23-year-old up-and-coming disc jockey from Haverhill, Mass., took on the role of morning co-host for a . Ron Chapman joined KVIL-FM/Dallas-Fort Worth in 1969 as morning disc jockey, music director, and program director, and stayed there for 31 years. Chapman targeted that audience for several reasons, and he lists them the way he says almost everything, with unflappable confidence: a) they are the purse strings; b) there are a lot of them; c) they tend to be very faithful and build an allegiance; and d) they were underserved in this market, and nobody was paying them any respect. . Im absolutely realistic in believing that nobody remembers you, Chapman says. What followed was story after story about Chapman, who started as a DJ in 1953, and his more infamous bits. Whatever it took.. And we ran an electric cord out to the van, and while Im on the air with Ron, Im having my hair done. We tell them, Heres the concept. Enjoy unlimited access to all of our incredible journalism, in print and digital. HE IS AN EAST TEXAN: Judge Ron Chapman is a native Texan, an experienced public servant and a dedicated member of his community. . If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. There will be no service, however a "public gathering for friends and colleagues" is being planned at this time. Within three days listeners had sent in more that $240,000. Turn! On it was a headshot of some fierce new arrival on the Dallas radio scene, the latest young gun bent on a showdown with Chapman at the WBOK Corral. Chapman joined the staff of KVIL-FM/Dallas-Fort Worth as morning . blackpool north pier fishing permit; bradley cooper parents; best prepaid debit card to avoid garnishment In honor of his life, we reproduce this 1989 profile of Chapman. A secretary, yeah, sure, absolutely, but she wont be for long. Anyway, I was holding this animal on my shoulder, on my freshly cleaned jacket, and it got a little excited. In fact, the jingle was the fastest 45 in the West. It was based on Rons experience with Top 40 radio. Chapman is an obsessive-compulsive perfectionist, Selden says. The Amp is now playing a handful of pop-radio hits, by the likes of Bruno Mars and Taylor Swift and DJ Snake, over and over and over, ad infinitum. Not only is he 110 percent fireproof and the goose that laid the golden egg, but he is shadow management, and he must be catered to and appeased. Often, he would ask me to help out with his charities. 750 North St.Paul St. There will be NO service, but a public gathering of friends and colleagues is being planned.". Its what youd get if God had money, Nance says. This system is awful. Ive done this in many ways in my sportscast. The kids had to wear coats and ties on the show. Most of the radio folk we talked to have a love-hate relationship with the man. DALLAS Updated at 9:41 p.m. with more quotes from colleagues. Charlie Brown), playing records and providing character voices as stars of the popular Charlie and Harrigan Show. According to the Texas Radio Hall of Fame, no public service is happening, but there will be a public gathering of friends and colleagues which is being planned at this time. But KVIL saw a huge, underserved demographic: women listeners between the ages of twenty-five and forty-four account for some 22 percent of the Dallas/Fort Worth radio market. (The money was later distributed to local charities.) I was driving an older beat-up Nissan, and my alternator went out one night while on the way to work. Of course, back in those days, I was also given to partaking in the pleasures of cannabis and had a couple of joints with me for the ride. Among the passengers on a March 4 flight out of Hanoi 45 years ago Sunday at the end of the Vietnam War were three Air Force officers who would eventually settle in Northwest Florida. Dallas most important news stories of the week, delivered to your inbox each Sunday. Ronald Chapman July 23, 2021 Ronald Monroe Chapman, 77, of Jordan, died peacefully in his sleep at 2:32 am on July 23, 2021 while at home surrounded by his loving family. The piece coincided with Chapmans 20th anniversary at KVIL, where, The News noted, His hyper, happy-talk Ron Chapman and the Morning Group has been the almost-constant No.