Talk Programming Pioneer Tom Bigby Dead at 77

RADIO ONLINE | Wednesday, January 6, 2021 | 7:47am CT

Tom Bigby

Legendary talk programmer Tom Bigby has passed away in Fort Worth, Texas at the age of 77. Bigby was a visionary pioneer in both NewsTalk and Sports Talk radio having spearheaded programming at KRLD/Dallas, WPHT and most notably WIP in Philadelphia. He was also a driving force at The Ticket sports radio in Dallas. Jay Clark announced Bigby's passing on Facebook Tuesday evening. Bigby died Monday (Jan. 4) of apparent heart complications after falling ill Sunday.

Current WIP programmer Spike Eskin said on the station website: "When I took over programming duties for WIP several years ago, I knew there would be many large shadows I'd be operating within, and few were the same size as Bigby's. I heard from Tom only once. I got a Facebook message a couple of years ago telling me how great WIP sounded and that I was doing a good job. Of all of the affirmations of what we do here at WIP that we've received, getting one from Bigby is something that I'll always remember.

"Our industry has lost a larger-than-life, gregarious leader who taught many of us how to push the envelope and create great radio," said Tom Tradup, VP/News & Talk Programming for Dallas-based Salem Radio Network. "Tom was a good friend with an infectious laugh, and he was living his dream operating an Irish pub/sports bar called Dublin Square at the time of his death. He will be greatly missed by our entire industry."