Legendary Dallas Broadcaster Ron Chapman Dead at 85

RADIO ONLINE | Tuesday, April 27, 2021 | 12:42pm CT

Ron Chapman (Credit: Texas Radio Hall of Fame)

Legendary Dallas broadcaster Ron Chapman, who spent 32 years at KVIL-FM and five years at KLUV-FM, died Monday of natural causes. He was 85. Chapman was inducted in the NAB Broadcasting Hall of Fame in 2010. He previously spent six years at KLIF/Dallas, co-hosting the highly successful "Charlie & Harrigan Show" as Irving Harrigan, before joining WFAA-TV/Dallas. In 1968, Chapman joined a team that purchased KVIL-FM, transforming the Adult Contemporary" format into a major success on the FM band. While at KVIL-FM, he served as Program Director, Music Director, Promotion Director and morning personality.

Chapman became widely known, according to his bio page on the Radio Hall of Fame website, "for his humor, outrageous stunts and giveaways." And for his astronomically high ratings. "In one infamous stunt," noted in 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. The money was donated to charity.

Jody Dean, who Chapman hired to work a late-night shift at KVIL in 1982, said, "People just trusted him. He knew you don't talk down to your audience, you speak up to them, and that's 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. The individuality, the uniqueness. Ron was one of those guys who made this a better place to live."

Chapman was inducted into the National Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2010 and into the Radio Hall of Fame in 2012. A year later, he suffered a stroke. At the time, Chapman said, "This is not the worst thing that has ever happened to me. It's a setback to my retirement -- whenever that was. But I didn't have to cancel very much."

In 2010, Chapman and consultant George Johns launched a talent consulting firm, later partnering with former KIIS-FM/Los Angeles GM Roy Laughlin, to offer consulting services for air talent.

On Monday, the Texas Radio Hall of Fame paid tribute to Chapman, writing on Facebook, "Three time radio Hall of Famer and Dallas radio icon Ron Chapman has passed. His family asks for time to process this loss, and thanks you for your kindness, understanding and prayers."