Ronald Edward Chapman. They were buying Ron Chapmanat something like a half million dollars a pound. Mess with Ron and I might become an ape in heat and jump all over you. On the mike, butter wouldnt melt in his mouth. 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. We just knew where the other one was headed. He directed his in more positive directions, into the station and into work.. Chapman moved to KVIL a decade later, after the station briefly flirted with Top 40 in an attempt to topple the mighty KLIF. Chapman had already carved out a legend as one-half of Charlie & Harrigan on KLIF. Weve become Kleenex. For nearly thirteen years, with a few scattered intermissions. She said, How do you expect me to do a good job after all Ive been through? I said, Thats it, weve been talking too long. By KLTV Digital Media Staff. "Well, they had to do something," the National Radio Hall of Famer said. So youre that egotistical S.O.B., They became fast, but platonic, friends. Ron Chapman: Final Morning on KLUV - Rainbow Connection Tribute (with PART OF AUDACY NEWS. The program, based on "American Bandstand . Tragedy Info - Ron Chapman Obituary - Death: Ron Chapman | Facebook First it was six to nine. DALLAS - Three-time Texas Radio Hall-of-Famer and Dallas radio legend Ron Chapman died on Monday. Ron Chapman's legendary $20 announcement from March, 1988. Why Ron Chapman Was An All-Time Great - Radio Ink 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. The radio industry took to social media to reflect on Chapman's life and career. 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. 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. And because he spanned KLIF and "Sump'n Else" to KVIL -- he WAS the history of Dallas radio . Ron Chapman Obituary - Death: Ron Chapman Obituary Kvil | Ron Chapman Cause Of Death Ron Chapman Obituary: In the loving memory of Ron Chapman, we are saddened to inform you that Ron Chapman, a. 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. 2023 Audacy, Inc. All rights reserved. But Ive wondered ever since., Herb Kelleher has known Chapman for years. But, of course, its demise was inevitable, yet another casualty of shifting tastes and platforms; it's sign-off came just two months after Clear Channel dulled The Edge by making it, too, a dull shade of Maroon 5. A ratings war is brewing between two oldies stations, and a controversial gadget might decide who wins. "And that means something," Mike Rhyner said Thursday morning. Before SumpN Else finished its run, Fairchild had already scored her first movie credit, appearing as Faye Dunaways double in the Oscar-winning film, Bonnie and Clyde. In the meantime, you play every night like it was opening night, kick ass, and prove me wrong. The center is the guy who is bending over with the football.. So when we cut away to commercial, we would turn off the lights so the studio would get cool. He remained at KVIL-FM for 32 years, serving as program director, music director, promotion director and morning personality. Dale Hansen broadcasted Cowboys games on KVIL. I can give you failure after failure of people whove come on the air in this market and tried to do that. 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. 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. Consultants studied and copied KVIL, launching dozens of lite-rock imitations across the country. If Chapman knows just what to say on the air, he also knows what not to blurt out: no jokes that have females as the butt. In 2000, Chapman moved to KLUV/Dallas, an "oldies" station where he stayed until announcing his retirement from radio in 2005. In those days KVIL was so big the Postal . Since Chapman is not only essential to ratings but is a key figure in all promotions, contests, personnel matters, etc., he is a general managers worst nightmare. The Morning Guys on Y-95. Ron Chapman Death - Obituary, - InsideEko.com News Media | Facebook We are very grateful for the care and compassion he. But for the first 20 minutes of the show, Id been loading this little guy up with Coca-Cola. Ron Chapman Death - Obituary, Funeral, Cause Of Death Just heard radio legend Ron Chapman has died. Chapman is an obsessive-compulsive perfectionist, Selden says. I once wrote Ron Chapman meant more to Dallas radio than electricity. Theyll still be telling that story when Chapmans grandkids have carpool duty. But Chapmans vaunted ego and his famed temper have only enhanced his hold on the Dallas radio market. And Ron says, When youre doing your broadcast, I want you to think that these people here are your audience. He was always very, very kind. Chapman says he and Nancy were in excellent health at that point but age was a factor for him wanting to retire. So he and a couple of radio buds ( Hugh Lampman and Jack Schell) got some backers and found a little building on Mockingbird across from the Dallas Country Club, where they launched a station called KVIL. Menu. It would be rude not to let Ron Chapman give it a proper send-off. Ron Chapman and Mitch Carr Photo credit Courtesy Mitch Carr. FACE FOR RADIO: Chapman hosted a popular TV show. To a person, everyone interviewed for this story believed that Chapman, if riled, could end his career. So we all lined up, and we said, Okay, hoooo! And we started to walk. He is best known as the morning drive anchor of radio station KVIL, on the 103.7 frequency. Dallas, Texas 75201. But she never did., Coast to coast, when a radio stationbegins considering a format change, radio insiders say, the list of options goes like this: We could go country. Early on. The winning name was Chief Rain in the Pants.. To this day I still get the shakes whenever I hear Chicago's "If You Leave Me Now," Gerry Rafferty's "Right Down the Line"and anything by Anne Murray or Barry Manilow. Because shes gonna move up. Many years later, both of their first marriages ended (Chapman divorced in 1982) and Ron and Nance began seeing each other, but again, just as friends. He was an actor, known for Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders (1979). Thirty-two of them at the same station. He killed the competition. And the guy was the typical model. So I had just had my jacket cleaned. This duality is a big part of Ron Chapmans magic. About 20 years ago, Id barely started working at KVIL and was the overnight deejaythe lowest life form in radio, with an equivalent lifestyle. My wife made me admit it publicly: yeah. Often, he would ask me to help out with his charities. "Three time radio Hall of Famer and Dallas radio ICON Ron Chapman has passed," the organization said. However, Mylife.com suggested that Nance Chapman was born on 25 February 1941 which made her 80 years old as of . And it was Chapman who ran every single nutty promo in the station's stories history, among them a scavenger hunt that involved hidden tape recorders, secret messages and, eventually, a Braniff International Airways ticket to Hawaii. He also hosted a televised series from Northpark Center in the 1960's for a three-year stint. And she looks so good by the time she gets to the office, she had to be up by 5:30. [2] For a while, Chapmans career in Dallas was on the stairsteps to oblivion, he recalls. And I did everything. "In so many ways around here, Chapman was the pioneer, the seer," Rhyner said. Garrett remembers Chapmans blowing up at him for reading the same filler story at several news slots. RIP Ron pic.twitter.com . I swear to you. Yeah, he would. Thousands showed up. DALLAS (CBSDFW) - The Texas Radio Hall of Fame shared the news of the passing of Dallas radio icon Ron Chapman. 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. (To Everything There Is a Season) by the Byrds. Dallas, Texas 75201. Part of Audacy. A unique soul with a great personality has an amazing sense of humour, diligent and caring. It would dance on kids shoulders. That's a very sad commentary on the times. 1 forever. 'And with honor I return' - The Northwest Florida Daily News KVIL TIDBITS: Ron Chapman's radio show was simulcast live with video on KXAS-TV as a 30-minute daily program (mid-1970s.). Everywhere 1 go, the broadcasters are asking me how to do that. During his 31 years at KVIL, Chapman became famous for his upbeat humor and his participation in outrageous stunts and giveaways. Okay, so were in a commercial break. After working for two years with the Voice of the United Nations Command in Korea , Chapman moved to Connecticut and station WHNC/New Haven. 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. The maddest he ever got at me were those times that I delivered less than the best. And it suddenly became a craze. "It's a shame it's gone, but KVIL had a great history," he said. Jody Dean was Chapmans producer at KVIL from 1987 to 1994. When he started hosting SumpN Else, I was a kid, and we loved to dance, and I would go over there to dance. 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.. We never worked in the studio together, for 20 years. Says Littauer, Only Ron could spend two weeks on a ship, do nothing, and then get a commendation for it.. Right away, you know two things about her: she has no time to waste, and you dont mess with her. Ron Chapman's radio career began in 1953the day he graduated from high schoolwhen he became a disc jockey at station WHAV/Haverhill, MA. The man had to be on the air at 5:30 in the morning. Chapman was inducted into the National Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2010 and into the Radio Hall of Fame in 2012. Hes now an announcer and does several shows for ABC radio. Be sure to wear a hat. People just trusted him, Dean said Monday. In my mind, Chapman continues, I used to picture Mary Tyler Moore. Im sitting there, and Im cracking up. He is the chairman of Southwest Airlines. I can make her feel good about the day, or I can make her feel crappy about the day, and of course, the choice is to make her feel good. Paul: Okay, so let's go back to Bud's career. So settle down with one of these throws. And some who have shown too much personality, critics charge, get the ax. His career launched in 1953, the day after he graduated from high school. CBS Radio has rebranded 103.7 on Your FM Dial as the Amp, a moniker also bestowed upon energy drinksand vitamins that promise "alean, ripped physique." The Emperor is in his tower . He loved kids and teenagers and music and all that was happening in the 60s, which was a lot. You understand that? Boom! The longtime host of KVIL died in April 2021 at the age of 85. April 26, 2021. So Chapman is now going to teach Brad and me how we should broadcast a football game to appeal to his target audience women. By Emily Jimenez, NewsRadio 1080 KRLD. Who is available? Late Radio Legend Ron Chapman Changed The Way Dallas Sounded When the drawer becomes filled with bills and change, he bundles it up and sends it to the man. His rages and abuse must be swallowed whole. I prayed for her to have a lot of success, and I prayed that she get a wonderful starring part-and stay in New York forever.. 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. He was just a wonderful, wonderful guy., And yet, on a professional level, Chapmans reputation carried with it a darker side. Woods was Charlie Brown. In honor of his life, we reproduce this 1989 profile of Chapman. In order for us to match the standard, the three of us guys on the floor crew went out and bought blazers. Ron Chapman Death - Obituary, - InsideEko.com News Media | For two weeks, while everyone else painted and scraped, he sat in a deck chair and interviewed people to see what their talent was., After Chapman had been in Korea for about a month, he got a parchment scroll commending him for lifting the morale of the troops. I'm saddened to tell you that legendary Dallas DJ Ron Chapman has passed away at 85. Death: Ron Chapman Obituary Kvil - Tradegy Info His older sister, Florence Littauer, now a motivational speaker, used her seniority to motivate Ralph, teaching him tongue twisters and then persuading him to repeat them for amazed visitors at the store-for a small fee. Chapmans cohorts speak of having to walk a very fine line; remaining clever and at least half-witty without ever being more clever than Ron. Suite 2100 April 26, 2021 - TOP INFO GUIDE And this is, like, in the 80s. Ive done this in many ways in my sportscast. He had spent his last few years on 98.7 KLUV in Dallas/Forth Worth. Ron Chapman Radio Hall Of Fame We had this little kinkajou honey bear. what happened to archie in monarch of the glen; funeral poem our father kept a garden. We said, Okay, thats it! Chapman was 85 years old. 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 . Im absolutely realistic in believing that nobody remembers you, Chapman says. A computerized Young Chang Grand Piano is playing Gershwin via floppy disk over near the bar. I now think about retiring. Its a small industry. Within three days listeners had sent in more that $240,000. The Left Hand of God is Fort Worth. I can tell you that little secret and know the competition will pick up on it, and theyll work on it. 1 radio show . But, quite frankly, we werent real excited about learning it at the time.. More than one KVILite also remarked that they wouldnt have had jobs at all if Chapman hadnt heard that they were down on their luck and called to offer them gigs. About all they had were some call letters, and not very good ones at that. But its going to be hard to groom someone to replace him when he hogs the limelight and wants all the glory for himself.. Like a handful of other stations in town, at least until they all change formats again. Ron Chapman - Press Club of Dallas Chapman had served as emcee for a couple of years in a row and had complained both times about the sound system. . 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. The money was donated to charity. Ron Chapman Obituary KVIL - - InsideEko.com News Media | Facebook If someone leaves KVIL and wants, a year later, to work for Y-95, and theyve just been in the Dallas Observer calling me a, uh, you -fill- in-the-blanks, well, they know better than to call me for references.. We did that to our audience constantly. Chapman knows his audience, and he knows what they buycomfort. She loved going to NorthPark to dance with other teenagers during the daily weekday broadcast of SumpN Else. (Her cohort, Ron Chapman, who clocked more than 45 successful years on local radio and television [including WFAA-TV,] died in 2021.) He is survived by his loving wife of 49 years, Deborah Chapman; mother Helen Chapman; twin sister Connie Smith; sons Eric . Ron was a legend already in the 60s in Dallas, Fairchild said Monday from her home in Los Angeles. I told her so. He works on his show twelve, fourteen, sixteen hours a day. Everybody bring your water. Imagine working in a situation for five or six years where your first question every day had to be, What kind of moods he in today?, Tony Garrett got a dose of it too, though he took it philosophically. At the end of this, the sergeant looked at Ron and said, What is your job. The next step from there would have been the street. Turn! In 1989, KVIL reigned supreme for three consecutive quarters, reaching 10.5 ratings points in the July Arbitrons, 3.1 points ahead of runner-up KSCS. Especially this woman right here., And Brad says, Well, how about if we start the play and say, The quarterback comes up to the line of scrimmage. There was dead air for, like, 10 seconds. Incidentally, the quarterback is the guy behind the center. WATCH: Steve Eberhart reminisces about late radio legend Ron Chapman - KLTV Jan 3, 2017. It almost looked like a squirrel. The Zoo crew used to regard KVIL's mushy adult-contemporary playlist as a punchline. Ron Chapman - My Little Story Catch up on the day's news you need to know. Thats what we started doing. The hand goes higher above his head: VEE higher now, almost pleading as it keens with the anticipation of all the wonderful, warm, cuddly, sensual things to come. How would he like to be remembered? The Texas Radio Hall of Fame shared the news of the passing of Dallas radio icon Ron Chapman. Legendary Dallas DJ Ron Chapman dies at 85 - Fort Worth Star-Telegram But Im serious when I tell you that I learned a great deal from it. In the service, Chapman was the Fifties equivalent of Robin Williams, doing a sort of Good Morning, Korea. On the troop ship the first night out, his sister recalls, it came time for the sergeant to hand out assignments. List Of Coronavirus Testing Sites In Texas, Legendary radio host Ron Chapman has passed away, Featured Image Photo Credit: Courtesy Mitch Carr, Bankman-Fried might use flip phone under stricter bail plan, Woman accused of killing ill husband released from jail, Alaska's arduous Iditarod kicks off with ceremonial start, Snow blankets Northeast as cleanup begins from deadly storm, Civilians flee embattled town as Ukrainian pullout looms. 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. Ron Chapman's radio career began in 1953the day he graduated from high schoolwhen he became a disc jockey at station WHAV/Haverhill, MA. A very happy one. Blonde, voluptuous, impeccably well-mannered, and gracious, she smiles through a mouthful of sharp teeth. And he admits that, in part, it is the reason his first marriage ended after nineteen years. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. In one infamous stunt, notes his Hall of Fame bio, Chapman told his listeners to each send $20 to the station; within three days, the station had received $200,000. Some estimates put the final amount even higher. He knew you dont talk down to your audience, you speak up to them, and thats when Ron enjoyed his greatest success., Dean added that Chapman helped transform radio in the city into a shining example of what the media can do and should be. 26, 2021 at 1:34 PM PDT. Suzie Humphreys was Chapmans on-air sidekick on KVIL from 1975 to 1995. Id just started with Chapman, and I did that two or three times before he slammed down the headphones and blew up. Ron Chapman Was a Warm and Fuzzy Tyrant. Ron actually holds up a picture that hed cut out of a JCPenney catalog. The guy would give you the shirt off his back. Info. He ended up following Chapman at KLUV in 2005. KVIL wasso named for its original HQ in the Highland Park Village, after Charles Meeks acquired a broadcast license from the feds to open up shop in 1958. Ive always tried to make my sportscast understandable to the non-sports fan. "But it's a different world in radio, isn't it?" of course. 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. KVIL (103.7 FM, Alt 103.7) is a commercial radio station dual-licensed to Highland Park and Dallas, Texas.It is owned by Audacy, Inc. and it serves the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex in North Texas.The station's studios are located along North Central Expressway in Uptown Dallas. Anyway, I was holding this animal on my shoulder, on my freshly cleaned jacket, and it got a little excited. From Haverhill, Mass (also Ed McMahon's first rad - 2 years ago. Nance likens her life with Ron to living with P.T. "In my own little world, the end of KVIL was something unthinkable," he said. 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. In 1959, as "Irving Harrigan" he joined the staff KLIF/Dallas, where he teamed up with Jack Woods (a.k.a. And we ran an electric cord out to the van, and while Im on the air with Ron, Im having my hair done. 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. That was his job to make that station great. Ron Chapman announced his retirement on 98.7 KLUV at age 69 saying he was retiring from the morning program and going on vacation with his wife Nancy. Ron Chapman passed away earlier this week at the age of 85. 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. Each year, I am more and more aware of the power we have in that room, Chapman confides. In 2007, he returned to broadcasting part-time as a "permanent substitute" for legendary broadcaster Paul Harvey. He was huge in Dallas for decades doing mornings at KVILclick link to learn more. He knew exactly what he was going to do and started work reprogramming KVIL in their big studio. Hes now a news anchor for CBS Channel 11 and will replace Chapman on KLUVs morning show. - Click to. They had no bathtub, no phone, no family car. Both of which I left, unconsumed, somewhere in Rons car. The country was going to get in shape. Chapman's booming voice is now a shadow of its former self, the result of a stroke suffered just before Christmas in 2012. And yet, he would never ask me to be one of the [featured] dancers. This time, the gala planners were prepared; the system had been checked and rechecked by technicians. Yes, my dear, the world is still a warm and safe and funny place to be, and you are on top of it with us, you know everything we do, which is a lot, and life keeps getting better. He is a walking contradiction, a Type A masquerading as a Type B. #1. So we hit the air, and Ron got it. Dean later called it a dream come true. We tell them, Heres the concept. Ralph Chapman Obituary - Death Notice and Service Information And the 01 Man on KVIL is still saying, aint this great? He served with the Army in South Korea from 1957 to 1959, producing a radio show for Voice of the United Nations Command. So, Chapman can afford to surprise his wife with a 4.9-carat diamond, keep houses in town and country, and fly to Madrid on a whim., Born in January 1936, Ralph Frederick Chapman was the youngest of three children raised in the back rooms of his dads store during the Depression. We edited it out. He never said anything to me about it.