WBAP/Dallas Morning Host Hal Jay Returns on April 3

RADIO ONLINE | Friday, March 31, 2023

Hal Jay

WBAP (Newstalk 820)/Dallas morning host Hal Jay is returning to DFW airwaves on Monday, April 3 -- almost two months after receiving a heart transplant. Jay had been absent from the WBAP Morning News after the holidays, and at 6:18am on January 16, he told his listeners why. After suffering two ventricular tachycardia events within a week of each other, doctors at Baylor Scott & White Hospital told Jay, "Your heart is done."

Jay was placed on the transplant list and told his expected wait would be 2-6 months for a new heart. Fortunately, it didn't take that long. On February 3, he received a call informing him a heart had become available and he would be going into surgery that night. His transplant surgery started at 1am on February 4, and by 5am, he was resting back in his hospital room. Nine days later, Jay climbed into the car with his wife Ann and was able to return home to Fort Worth.

Then, on March 29th, WBAP listeners heard from Hal Jay again, with promos steadily running in rotation - and this time, with the message they'd been waiting for. "I'm coming back!" his voice exclaimed as listeners were told of his April 3 return date.

A key member of the WBAP team since 1981, Jay is currently in his 42nd year with Newstalk 820 WBAP.