We edited it out. In 1959, a 23-year-old up-and-coming disc jockey from Haverhill, Mass., took on the role of morning co-host for a . For full obituary please visit. So one of our sponsors was Coca-Cola. On the mike, butter wouldnt melt in his mouth. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Hes the sports anchor on ABC Channel 8. And because he spanned KLIF and "Sump'n Else" to KVIL -- he WAS the history of Dallas radio . And so, Ive always wanted to be YA-HA! Give me a spotlight and let me go., On Monday, the Texas Radio Hall of Fame paid tribute to Chapman by noting on Facebook: Three time radio Hall of Famer and Dallas radio ICON Ron Chapman has passed. 1 forever. The individuality, the uniqueness. Warmth, a man who seems to genuinely feel that his biggest contribution to the world is sending his listeners off to work happy and chipper, so that each in her own little way can help make a kinder, gentler Dallas. After 45 years in radio, Ron Chapman retired from his morning show on June 24, 2005. Dallas, Texas 75201. A D Magazine feature on Chapman from December 1989, reproduced this week in honour of his life, stated that he had a wife called Nance (pronounced Nancy) Murray, for three years at that point. You had left "Sump'n Else" and you're still at WFAA directing the church remotes. Photos: Chapman Today: Dan Sellers; Chapman on TV: Courtesy of ABC Radio Networks. RIP to a #NTX legend," wrote Dallas County judge Clay Jenkins, in a tweet on April 26. But off-mike, in what employees call his little Come to Jesus talks, that mouth can get hot enough to melt pig iron. The store was open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. As writer Diane Reischel put it in The News story: The store was the childrens living room, the customers their audience., His sister, Florence Littauer, said her baby brother was so clever and funny that people would pay me for him to speak. As The News noted, The parents his mother was a violinist challenged the children to think creatively. 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 . Then the man loaned him enough money to buy a ticket. It was also an opportunity, and that night Rons car found itself parked outside every cool bar and nightclub on Greenville Avenue. Shes now a motivational speaker and lives in Fredericksburg, Texas.From the first moment we ever opened our mouths, we clicked. His talent rose above us all. Thirty-two of them at the same station. I can give you failure after failure of people whove come on the air in this market and tried to do that. She loved going to NorthPark to dance with other teenagers during the daily weekday broadcast of SumpN Else. And this was totally not intended. In honor of his life, we reproduce this 1989 profile of Chapman. "His family asks for time to . It was just ambition. Former Dallas Morning News columnist Robert Wilonsky contributed to this report. The call letters have been tossed in the dustbin; they no longer serve a purpose. We decided we would keep Fort Worth, and treat her like the lady that she is. Dallas Radio Icon Ron Chapman Dies at 85 | News Talk WBAP-AM Chapman was a giant in radio in Texas, and was inducted as a member of the Radio Hall of Fame in 2012. "But it's a different world in radio, isn't it?" Ron didnt say a word. Ron Chapman - My Little Story Michael Granberry, Arts Writer. (A whole lot better, wife Nance is quick to observe, than the other way around.) Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, a man-made creek meanders past a resistance pool and a hot tub on its way to the pump. Chapman had done the Charley and Harrigan show on KLIF during the Sixties (Chapman went by Irving Harrigan then) and had hosted Sumpn Else, a low-budget local version of American Bandstand on Channel 8. In 1959, as "Irving Harrigan" he joined the staff KLIF/Dallas, where he teamed up with Jack Woods (a.k.a. The Story of Ron Chapman, Sharon Carr Travel & the KVIL World Tour 2023 Audacy, Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. So Charlie and Harrigan came on and said, Were going to do our hike. 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. Following his tenure at KLIF, Chapman joined the staff of KVIL-FM, Dallas-Fort Worth, in 1969. About 20 years ago, Id barely started working at KVIL and was the overnight deejaythe lowest life form in radio, with an equivalent lifestyle. And the little guy loved Coca-Cola. If he thought you had an iota of talent, and you wound up on that station, then the expectations for you were enormous. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. So we all lined up, and we said, Okay, hoooo! And we started to walk. I once wrote Ron Chapman meant more to Dallas radio than electricity. Id never been in a Cadillac Seville. No spam, ever. Broadcast Hall of Famer Ron Chapman, Who Began at WHAV in 1953, Dies at 85 With that warning, we move through room after room of airy, fresh pastels, past furniture that looks as if it never gets touched, with the exception of Rons well-worn leather chair. It almost looked like a squirrel. Nance Chapman Wiki: Ron Chapman Wife, Age, Job - Stars Offline But for the first 20 minutes of the show, Id been loading this little guy up with Coca-Cola. The Morning Guys on Y-95. The Right Hand of God is Dallas. And one night in March 1981, KVIL radio legend Ron Chapman walked into Billy Bob's. "And I walked up to Chapman and I said, 'I'm going to come work for you,' " Dean said. And I do have a good memory. 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. Copyright 2023, D Magazine Partners, Inc. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. He always has some grand scheme bubbling up to the surface, she says, and hes always looking for some way to convince the rest of us that its a good idea. Within three days listeners had sent in more that $240,000. He was one of the greatest radio people to ever sit behind the mic. what happened to archie in monarch of the glen; funeral poem our father kept a garden. [2] But there is more to the message than merely commercialized feminism. Garrett remembers eavesdropping with Chapman on conversations at the local coffee shop or the grocery store, trying to get a feel for what people were talking about. One of his greatest talents is picking people, knowing where they fit, where they go.They gave me a little yellow van, and I drove it myself. The next step from there would have been the street. But I got my bucketful of him a long time ago. "And that means something," Mike Rhyner said Thursday morning. The Zoo crew used to regard KVIL's mushy adult-contemporary playlist as a punchline. I dodged flying reels of tape more than once., Later, Dean said, Im sure Ron regretted a great deal of it. Nevertheless, she also has to be in between her late '70s and early '80s. "Dallas radio legend Ron Chapman dies at 85. KVIL tried to take on powerhouse KLIF-AM in the late 1960s; on 4/17/1967, they changed to a Top 40, "solid rock sound" format (formerly a talk/music format,) and renamed all of their jocks "Dave" to emphasize their 'David . Then by the following Tuesday, youre just gone. Chapman rounded out the 1960s by joining the staff of KVIL-FM in 1969, when AM radio was yielding the spotlight to the purer sound of FM stations. In my mind, Chapman continues, I used to picture Mary Tyler Moore. Turn! Who is available? It is owned by Audacy, Inc. and it serves the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex in North Texas. He likes certain things in certain places. Selden, now an aide at a substance abuse clinic in Tyler, believes that Chapman has accomplished what it took him much longer to do: harness a runaway ego and put it to good use. Read our daily updates at 12:30, 2:30 and 4:30 p.m., and our complete obituaries in The Herald-Dispatch on Wednesday and He was always very warm and sweet with me and very welcoming, as he was to all the kids. We dont do that here. Its a small industry. Tuesday afternoon obituary update | Recent News | herald-dispatch.com The program, based on . He was 85. Maybe for forty-eight hours, max. I would carpool my son to school, pick up kids. Legendary radio host Ron Chapman has passed away. We said, Okay, thats it! Chapman died Monday at the age of 85, the Texas Radio Hall of Fame announced on its Facebook page. Born plain old Ralph Chapman in Haverhill, Massachusetts, Ron began performing at the ripe age of three. Info. Next to it is a portable telephone, complementing cellular phones in his and Nances cars. anyway? And Ron said, Why, I am in charge of the talent show, of which there wasnt one at the time. Chapman liked to say he was a poor kid who grew up behind a grocery store, which his father owned in his native Haverhill, Mass. Chapman remembers all the other long-gone-and-forgotten ones who came gunning for him: the Mobys in the Morning, the Stevenses and Pruetts. Its a tribute to Chapman that the call letters of what is, after all, just a radio station, have entered the argot of the trade. Chapmans on-air name was Irving Harrigan. blackpool north pier fishing permit; bradley cooper parents; best prepaid debit card to avoid garnishment He spent 19 years at the Los Angeles Times before returning to Dallas. Jan 3, 2017. RON CHAPMAN ANDERSON - Ronald Ray Chapman, 67, of Anderson, died Wednesday, October 28, 2009 at Rainey Hospice House. In fact, the jingle was the fastest 45 in the West. It was based on Rons experience with Top 40 radio. Dallas Radio Icon Ron Chapman Dies at 85 | KLIF-AM And it suddenly became a craze. For all time, at the moment, 2023 year, Ron Chapman earned $73 Million. But its going to be hard to groom someone to replace him when he hogs the limelight and wants all the glory for himself.. Who could follow Ron Chapman? Enjoy unlimited access to all of our incredible journalism, in print and digital. "Well, they had to do something," the National Radio Hall of Famer said. In 1969, Chapman joined the staff of KVIL-FM/Dallas-Fort Worth as morning disc jockey, music director, and program director, bringing the "adult contemporary" format to FM radio. Dean later called it a dream come true. The station's studios are located along North Central Expressway in Uptown Dallas. / CBS Texas. According to industry analysts, fellow media, and KVIL employees, former and current, Chapman is a man of planned spontaneity, of freeze-dried warmth. And brother, let me tell you something: It was a different age., In 1989, The Dallas Morning News devoted a High Profile cover story to Chapman, noting that peers described him variously as a genius, tyrant and hero. Ron Chapman Obituary: In the loving memory of Ron Chapman, we are saddened to inform you that Ron Chapman, a beloved and loyal friend, has passed away. Anyway, I was holding this animal on my shoulder, on my freshly cleaned jacket, and it got a little excited. Ron was one of those guys who made this a better place to live.. ', Chapman isnt surprised to hear that many former associates want deep cover before discussing his character and work style. . After 45 years in radio, Ron Chapman retired from his morning show on June 24, 2005. Net Worth Inspector Menu. Everybody bring your water. 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It was the only way we could get a feel for the publics impressions on what we were doing. CBS News Texas: Free 24/7 News; . Other than that, Im real comfortable.. The Radio Hall of Famer died at the age of 85 by leading an exemplary life being the pioneer of radio hosting in the country. DALLAS Updated at 9:41 p.m. with more quotes from colleagues. I wouldnt even park near one. Ron Chapman passed away earlier this week at the age of 85. Chapman had already carved out a legend as one-half of Charlie & Harrigan on KLIF. A man in the hotel found his passport and rushed it to the airport. The man who sat at the top of the hill, a legend in broadcasting. And the guy was the typical model. Hes now an announcer and does several shows for ABC radio. Tragedy Info - Ron Chapman Obituary - Death: Ron Chapman | Facebook Blonde, voluptuous, impeccably well-mannered, and gracious, she smiles through a mouthful of sharp teeth. Chapman had served as emcee for a couple of years in a row and had complained both times about the sound system. A Passing: Ron Chapman - My Sweet Charity (To Everything There Is a Season) by the Byrds. Everyones going to do a 50-mile hike. He is best known as the morning drive anchor of radio station KVIL, on the 103.7 frequency. And we stayed in touch over the years. Im sitting there, and Im cracking up. Ron Chapman - Press Club of Dallas It was Chapman who gave KVIL its sound in 1969: music foryoung adults who'd grown up listening to him on KLIF. DALLAS (CBSDFW) - The Texas Radio Hall of Fame shared the news of the passing of Dallas radio icon Ron Chapman. "And when he left, that was it.". The Emperor is in his tower, conjuring, working on the exact wording and inflection of the incantation that will once again secure his seemingly unending supremacy. Chapman retired from KVIL in 2000 and moved to KLUV, where he worked until 2005 before retiring again. Jody Dean was Chapmans producer at KVIL from 1987 to 1994. Incidentally, the quarterback is the guy behind the center. @garycogill : RT @HawkeyeOnAir: I'm saddened to tell you that legendary Dallas DJ Ron Chapman has passed away at 85. But when the chairwoman greeted Chapman in the ballroom, she says, he lit into her. He always brought light to every room entered. Put on your walking shoes. Broadcasting great Ron Chapman, who introduced himself to Dallas radio in 1959 under the pseudonym of Irving Harrigan on AM pioneer KLIF, and who elevated his legend after more than 30 years at KVIL-FM and another five at KLUV-FM, died Monday of natural causes. Ron Chapman Death - Obituary, - InsideEko.com News Media | Facebook The late Ron Chapman, who died April 26, 2021 at the age of 85, as seen in 2014. According tohia bio posted at the Radio HOF website, Ron Chapman's radio career began in 1953the day he graduated from high schoolwhen he became a disc jockey at station WHAV/Haverhill, MA. In 2007, he returned to broadcasting part-time as a "permanent substitute" for legendary broadcaster Paul Harvey. And, you know, Im an easy-going guy. Weve become Kleenex. RONALD E. CHAPMAN Ron passed away on Saturday, May 23, 2020, at the Scarborough Extendicare long-term care home, from pneumonia at the age of 90. Anybody can read, goddammit! He was huge in Dallas for decades doing mornings at KVILclick link to learn more. Chapman and his morning cohortsSuzy Humphries, Jody Dean, Michael Rey, et al.are saying, in effect. But it was impossible to replicate a station that made a growing big city feel like a small town. He is proceeded in death by his father, Fay Chapman. In honor of his life, we reproduce this 1989 profile of Chapman. I now think about retiring. Into the breach jumped Ron, who offered to loan me his brand-new Cadillac Seville. Ronald Edward Chapman. The radio industry took to social media to reflect on Chapman's life and career. Theyll still be talking about that twenty years from now. But if anyone were to remember me, I would hope it would be as someone who took radio disc jockeying and maybe gave it a little respect. He was born in Pittsburg, in East Texas and was raised in East Dallas -- in the area that is now District 5 -- where he graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School. "It was what it was when it was. We could go AOR. And some who have shown too much personality, critics charge, get the ax.