ron chapman obituary kvil ron chapman obituary kvil

Warm and fuzzy was the game plan from the very beginning. One infamous incident occurred during last years gala for the National Craniofacial Foundation. And then they put me on from midnight to six. Theres a Stevie Wonder song where right in the middle of the song he does this loud, high-pitched scream. We could go AOR. Even after he retired, he would call and ask for help, and I was always happy to do it. No spam, ever. Catch up on the day's news you need to know. RIP Ron Chapman. And yet, as he prepares to send his message radiating into those hundreds of thousands of receptive minds, he is more aware of them than perhaps anyone has ever been in the history of this city. His hard-scrabble experience inspired him to say, Ill show them. And his broadcasting career accomplished exactly that he showed them. In the meantime, you play every night like it was opening night, kick ass, and prove me wrong. But the thing about it is, ten minutes later, its like it never happened.. Back then, Chapman says, wed latch on to anything. Ron Chapman was born on January 25, 1936 in Newton, Massachusetts, USA. the magic morning man takes a deep breath, raises his index finger before his eyes, and does what Ron Chapman does best: KAY he breathes, low and confiding, in a voice that mirrors the softest, kindest, deepest, afterglow moments of romantic love. But hes been trying to play Creative Tension to the point that it became creative chaos. Chapman hired fellow broadcasting legend Jody Dean to work a late-night shift at KVIL in 1982. Like the time when, in charge of locking away the band instruments in a wire cage, Ralph kept the mouthpiece of the tuba in his pocket. Next to the picture, the new kid on the block had penned, Dont buy a house here. Hes the sports anchor on ABC Channel 8. Chapman knows that he is inextricably linked to KVIL. We had a contest to name the honey bear. . Says Littauer, Only Ron could spend two weeks on a ship, do nothing, and then get a commendation for it.. No spam, ever. A 1989 profile in D magazine described him as The Emperor in his tower, whose duality is a big part of Ron Chapmans magic. He is, the writer opined, an amalgamation of Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader.. Garrett remembers Chapmans blowing up at him for reading the same filler story at several news slots. Like a handful of other stations in town, at least until they all change formats again. 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.. The obituary was featured in Dallas Morning News on May 16, 2021. Suzie was initially an airborne reporter, but was later given her trademark "KVIL-o-Van" (bearing the vanity plate, "SOOZIE.") Her efforts were honored in 2004 as an inductee to the Texas Radio Hall of Fame. / CBS Texas. 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. 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. Yeah, he would. I was off the wall, and he loved it. So if anyone were to remember me. The maddest he ever got at me were those times that I delivered less than the best. Everywhere 1 go, the broadcasters are asking me how to do that. Turn! Cowboys owner Jerry Jones defers comment on revival of sexual harassment lawsuit, Q and A: How MLBs streaming, TV options will impact Rangers fans ability to watch team. Chapman realized that if he won Fort Worth, he could almost double the stations numbers. But certainly not unrealistic. A lot of people on this board are so young that they have never heard of Michael Selden. 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 Nobody. My wife made me admit it publicly: yeah. Ron Chapman Obituary Kvil Death | Obituary | Ron Chapman Dead | Died | Has Passed Away | Funeral Plans - We are immensely sad . Chapman joined KVIL in 1969 where he would remain a fixture for 32 years. It was the only way we could get a feel for the publics impressions on what we were doing. We dont do that here. Everyones going to do a 50-mile hike. The man had to be on the air at 5:30 in the morning. Jason Kidd hopes Mavs star stays patient in preseason play, Spring training cuts are incoming, but these Rangers prospects have impressed in camp. 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. When New York-based Infinity Broadcasting bought KVIL a couple of years ago, they paid more than $80 million, the highest amount ever paid for a stand-alone radio station in the U.S. In one infamous stunt, Chapman told his listeners to each send $20 to the station; within three days, the station had received $200,000 (the money was donated to charity). Between his junior and senior years, he interned at The Washington Post during "the Watergate summer" of 1973. About 20 years ago, Id barely started working at KVIL and was the overnight deejaythe lowest life form in radio, with an equivalent lifestyle. 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. We are very grateful for the care and compassion he. By Emily Jimenez, NewsRadio 1080 KRLD. At one point, Chapman broadcast live while skydiving from a plane. Ron Chapman's radio career began in 1953the day he graduated from high schoolwhen he became a disc jockey at station WHAV/Haverhill, MA. After 45 years in radio, Ron Chapman retired from his morning show on June 24, 2005. 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. Ron.. He will later say that its almost like having an extra lobe in his brain. But would he be really pissed if we never played it at all?. FACE FOR RADIO: Chapman hosted a popular TV show. But she was the problem., Chapman, who says he agonizes over every firing and tries to help the departed financially, told Haley to find another gig by the end of the year, while challenging her to do better: I told her. Dale Hansen broadcasted Cowboys games on KVIL. We never worked in the studio together, for 20 years. Wednesday's announcement just made it official, finally. There will be NO service, but a public gathering of friends and colleagues is being planned.". His wife says the best way to get him frantic is to put him in a car without a phone. When we first went to KVIL to do the Cowboys games, Ron brings Brad Sham and me into his office and starts giving us this big speech on how we should broadcast a football game. By Casey Carr. DALLAS - Three-time Texas Radio Hall-of-Famer and Dallas radio legend Ron Chapman died on Monday. @RGreggHart : A giant of Dallas-Fort Worth radio, Ron Chapman, has died at 85. Wowwwwww, Chapman warmly asserts, and Okaaaaaaay and Alllllllright and Well suuure. We did that to our audience constantly. Ron Chapman received an obituary from the KVIL community. But telling Brad after 20-plus years how to broadcastDont be talking about blitzes and the nickel defense. And Chapman was being pretty emphatic about it. Chapman was on his way to becoming, twenty years later, a small industry unto himself. His family is asking for time right now to process the loss and thanks the community for . Nance prayed for her. One former employee, who asked not to be named, speaks for many when she says, Hes the most unfeeling, cold-hearted son of a bitch I ever met., And this woman counts herself among his admirers because of his genius at making KVIL a raging success. One time, I finally asked him, You seem to like my dancing, but why dont you ever ask me to be one of the dancers? And he said, Well, to be honest, youre too sexy for our show. ", At that age, Fairchild said with a laugh, I didnt really know what he was talking about.. We just knew where the other one was headed. *To hear some classic clips of Chapman from the old KLIF days, go to www.reelradio.com/se and www.historyofklif.com. The slightly bugged eyes turn flat, focused inward. We edited it out. From Haverhill, Mass (also Ed McMahon's first rad - 2 years ago. Brings new meaning to the phrase Sunday Funday. The station's studios are located along North Central Expressway in Uptown Dallas. Catch up on the day's news you need to know. Passing by the cage, he would surreptitiously slip the mouthpiece through the wire into the neck of the tuba and blow. Chapman joined the staff of KVIL-FM/Dallas-Fort Worth as morning . It was a 45-minute show. I know something the others havent figured out.. But his desire was for you to get the best out of yourself. It was a woman who had a pink sweater wrapped around her neck. He is single-minded, living and breathing and eating KVIL to the detriment of everything else in his life. Chapmans on-air name was Irving Harrigan. There was dead air for, like, 10 seconds. In 1969, Chapman joined the staff of KVIL-FM/Dallas-Fort Worth as morning disc jockey, music director, and program director, bringing the . "But a well-respected punchline," Rhyner said. In the late 1990's Chapman joined KLUV-FM, an Oldies format that saw high ratings upon his arrival. FOX 4. Legendary Dallas DJ Ron . 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. In honor of his life, we reproduce this 1989 profile of Chapman. No sexism, period. The Right Hand of God is Dallas. He had this real, real long tongue, and it could get into the bottle. So why should you go on the air and tell people who love living here that the town is a piece of crap? who served as KVILs newsman for a couple of years during the early Seventies, Chapman is obsessed with his work. April 26, 2021 / 11:54 AM Former Dallas Morning News columnist Robert Wilonsky contributed to this report. A year later, he suffered a stroke. We had to beg them to stop sending checks. He died Monday at age 85. Thats what we started doing. He is proceeded in death by his father, Fay Chapman. And Ron says, When youre doing your broadcast, I want you to think that these people here are your audience. In those days KVIL was so big the Postal . Then ten to midnight. And she looks so good by the time she gets to the office, she had to be up by 5:30. 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. Ron Chapman's legendary $20 announcement from March, 1988. But it was impossible to replicate a station that made a growing big city feel like a small town. And we stayed in touch over the years. 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. "KVIL was so big, so all-encompassing that you never thought it would go away.". Legendary radio host Ron Chapman has passed away. That was the power of Ron Chapman. Nance likens her life with Ron to living with P.T. 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 1969, he teamed up with local radio men Hugh Lampman and Jack Shell at the newly born KVIL. And this is, like, in the 80s. Ron was a longtime morning host at our sister station KVIL 103.7, where he worked with KRLD's Mitch Carr. He also hosted a televised series from Northpark Center in the 1960's for a three-year stint. And guess what? 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. Many of us grew up listening to him on #KVIL. He was so popular in Dallas in the 70s, 80s and 90s that his station, KVIL, sold for more than the Dallas Cowboys. And we are going to walk all the way from the Sheraton Hotel to the so-and-so life building. They were on the same block, but nobody caught it. Chapman targeted that audience for several reasons, and he lists them the way he says almost everything, with unflappable confidence: a) they are the purse strings; b) there are a lot of them; c) they tend to be very faithful and build an allegiance; and d) they were underserved in this market, and nobody was paying them any respect. 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. Bring walking sticks. Youd be walking down the hall, and nothing would stop him from putting you down in a very loud voice in front of anybody. Thats just the wrapper. KVIL-FM, born in Highland Park on August 25, 1961,died, officially, on Jan. 18, 2017. So when we cut away to commercial, we would turn off the lights so the studio would get cool. Chapman began his career in Dallas radio in 1959 at KLIF as a member of the "Charlie and Harrigan" team. 750 North St.Paul St. It was Chapman who convinced owners to ditch their paltry AM signal and go with its powerful 100,000-watt signal. 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. Jun 03, 2004 07:18pm. I once wrote Ron Chapman meant more to Dallas radio than electricity. He is the chairman of Southwest Airlines. No dice. Do you understand this? 12:02 PM on Apr 26, 2021 CDT Updated at 4:57 PM on Apr 26, 2021 CDT. 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. 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. And no decision is really final until Chapman signs off on it. (Her cohort, Ron Chapman, who clocked more than 45 successful years on local radio and television [including WFAA-TV,] died in 2021.) CBS Radio's local market manager Brian Purdy, in announcing the format change, made just a brief nod to the station's past by insisting 103.7 is "not your mother's radio station any more," which hit a little close to home. Within three days listeners had sent in more that $240,000. Anyway, I was holding this animal on my shoulder, on my freshly cleaned jacket, and it got a little excited. Our thoughts and hearts are with his frien - 2 years ago. He seems completely oblivious to his subjects, the teeming thousands of Little People trapped and fuming in the traffic below. Chapman knows his audience, and he knows what they buycomfort. Now, its someone I found out of Kim Dawson headshots. Paul: Okay, so let's go back to Bud's career. He claims more listeners than any DJ in Texas. Dean later called it a dream come true. 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. The Texas Radio Hall of Fame says "his family asks for time to process this loss, and thanks you for your kindness, understanding and prayers. Ron Chapman Death - Obituary, Funeral, Cause Of Death Just heard radio legend Ron Chapman has died. I wouldnt even park near one. You know, because Id just paid to have the jacket cleaned. You realize we dont play the same things for a thirty-five-year-old female that youd play on the Zoo. The guiding light in my life, my operational phrase, was: Ill show em. It wasnt angry. 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. It was just ambition. And I think he said, This would be a good time to go to commercial.. There will be no service, however a "public gathering for friends and colleagues" is being planned at this time. But it doesnt mean that I wont stick my heel in your throat. Because shes gonna move up. Some 12,000 did, and KVIL donated $240,000 to charity. For a while, Chapmans career in Dallas was on the stairsteps to oblivion, he recalls. He knows what people want to hear. Ralph Chapman passed away on May 4, 2021 in Dallas, Texas. And its also a public service if you use it right.. Thats reflective of some pretty strong public service. Chapman says. But, quite frankly, we werent real excited about learning it at the time.. RIP Ron pic.twitter.com . Not only is he 110 percent fireproof and the goose that laid the golden egg, but he is shadow management, and he must be catered to and appeased. Id never been in a Cadillac Seville. Chapman was involved at the time with a woman in New York, an aspiring actress. The Zoo crew used to regard KVIL's mushy adult-contemporary playlist as a punchline. 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. People just trusted him, Dean said Monday. Put on your walking shoes. This month, after 45 years on the Dallas airwaves, Ron Chapman signs off. Suzie Humphreys was Chapmans on-air sidekick on KVIL from 1975 to 1995. This is a secret, but we take a lot of the staff to the big derrick at Six Flags and put them on top. Ive had two scoops of everything, Chapman likes to say. I can walk faster than most people can run, Chapman once told The Dallas Morning News. Ron Chapman passed away earlier this week at the age of 85. A computerized Young Chang Grand Piano is playing Gershwin via floppy disk over near the bar. 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. Yet beneath that amiable exterior lurk hints of a tyrannical ego, of a man well accustomed to his own success story. Im absolutely realistic in believing that nobody remembers you, Chapman says. Ron Chapman Obituary KVIL - Death : DFW Radio Legend Died: Funeral - KVIL and DFW Radio legend, Ron Chapman died aged 85, on April, 26th, 2021, with loved ones left in total devastation. 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. Chapman was 85 years old. The magic is about to happen, the same magic thats been running nonstop for twenty years. Robert Wilonsky, former city columnist for The Dallas Morning News, is communications director for Heritage Auctions and a frequent contributor to these pages. Michael Granberry was born and grew up in Dallas. He also had a stint on television with the local ABC affiliate, WFAA-TV, where he was featured in the mid-60s on the "Sump'N Else" show. Robert Wilonsky, Special Contributor. He spent 19 years at the Los Angeles Times before returning to Dallas. By now, everyone knows the story about how, in 1988, Chapman asked his KVIL listeners to send in $20 each, without ever saying why, and took in $240,000. He had spent his last few years on 98.7 KLUV in Dallas/Forth Worth. Anybody can read, goddammit! I cannot say I will miss KVIL, mostly because I haven't listened to it in years -- couldn't tell you its format since, oh, 1985? Ron was a longtime morning host at our sister station KVIL 103.7, where he worked with KRLD's Mitch Carr. of course. Thousands showed up. An announcement in this newspaper heralded his arrival, along with the promise that KVIL would play music that was "always in good taste, but contemporary in all ways" -- a rather unwieldy slogan. But for the first 20 minutes of the show, Id been loading this little guy up with Coca-Cola. Dallas, Texas 75201. And it suddenly became a craze. Even in a social setting, conversation revolves around radio and the show and the things that are, for other people, rather peripheral., Chapman says he has always had to be aggressive because back in the early days, the ratings were so low that they didnt even show up on Arbitron. He 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. I dont believe that any one person can be in that much control and yet allow for the station to be the living, breathing organization it has to be in order to survive. He remained at KVIL-FM for 32 years, serving as program director, music director, promotion director and morning personality. But its going to be hard to groom someone to replace him when he hogs the limelight and wants all the glory for himself.. Ron was a legend already in the 60s in Dallas, Fairchild said Monday from her home in Los Angeles. In 1959, as "Irving Harrigan" he joined the staff KLIF/Dallas, where he teamed up with Jack Woods (a.k.a. So we all lined up, and we said, Okay, hoooo! And we started to walk. There was some serious speculation for a while in Haverhill about the Ghost Tuba Player. Industry critics say that while Chapman is full-tilt today, he is not really doing much to prepare his station for Life After Ron. Chapman invited him to come watch the show at some point. I used to do the 11 to 2 a.m. shift, during college. By signing up you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, Stand with us in our mission to discover and uncover the story of North Texas, We can't say goodbye to KVIL until its legendary voice Ron Chapman gives it a proper sign-off, CBS Radio has rebranded 103.7 on Your FM Dial as the Amp, Charles Meeks acquired a broadcast license from the feds to open up shop in 1958, Woman arrested in killing of 3 children at Italy, Texas, home in Ellis County, Frisco Liberty battles back vs. Lubbock Cooper to claim UIL Class 5A state championship, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones defers comment on revival of sexual harassment lawsuit, What we know after 3 children killed, 2 wounded at Ellis County home, The Cowboys are closer than you think to a total makeover at running back, American Airlines, flight attendants file for mediation during contract negotiations, New Uptown office tower lands second major lease, Years after North Texas bid for Amazons second headquarters, retail giant halts plan, Mesquite to become the site of new 2,500-home community, North Texas builders see influx of activity in new year, but challenges persist, Mark Wahlberg pours tequila for fans at Dallas restaurant during thunderstorm, Dude Perfects trick-shot town could find a home in North Texas, or somewhere else, Slow start for Luka Doncic? While many have attempted to imitate his formula, nobodyat least locallyis likely to remotely approach his mastery of it. His rages and abuse must be swallowed whole. A very happy one. That was the power of Ron Chapman. The longtime host of KVIL died in April 2021 at the age of 85. He was huge in Dallas for decades doing mornings at KVILclick link to learn more. They were buying Ron Chapmanat something like a half million dollars a pound. Weve become Kleenex. Hes now retired and owns a winery called Orangewoods near San Diego.In, Im going to say 62 or 63, Jack Kennedy, I think, did a 50-mile hike. But her memories of her tenure at the station are not pleasant. Hes now a news anchor for CBS Channel 11 and will replace Chapman on KLUVs morning show. Brings new meaning to the phrase Sunday Funday. Legendary radio host Ron Chapman has passed away. Didnt think about it until after I handed the keys back to him. He directed his in more positive directions, into the station and into work.. Ron was one of those guys who made this a better place to live.. Ive always tried to make my sportscast understandable to the non-sports fan. Ron Chapman Death - Obituary, Funeral, Cause Of Death Just heard radio legend Ron Chapman has died. Chapman moved to KVIL a decade later, after the station briefly flirted with Top 40 in an attempt to topple the mighty KLIF. They thought we were going 50 miles. I hand it to Ron, and the little guy hops on Rons shoulder, and when the lights come up, you know, animals react. He must know where everything is at all times. And Id walk a mile for an impression., Part of the magic of KVIL is that it is positive and upbeat, even when its poking fun at the news, the politicians, or the Cowboys. In 2000, Chapman moved to KLUV/Dallas, an "oldies" station where he stayed until announcing his retirement from radio in 2005. "This has something to do with age. Though Chapman is generally regarded, on the civic circuit, as something of a First Citizen, he has not been above exporting that inflammatory temper outside the station walls. And thats a problem KVIL itself will have to face one of these days. In order for us to match the standard, the three of us guys on the floor crew went out and bought blazers. Talk about a cush gig. I havent done it all alone, but in this company, Ive been the thread that has taken the spirit of it through twenty years, and I think Ive done it rather well. Photos: Chapman Today: Dan Sellers; Chapman on TV: Courtesy of ABC Radio Networks. We had this little kinkajou honey bear. So Charlie and Harrigan came on and said, Were going to do our hike. He was 85. Weve become Coke. Incidentally, the quarterback is the guy behind the center. Following his tenure at KLIF, Chapman joined the staff of KVIL-FM, Dallas-Fort Worth, in 1969. Theyre over. KVIL was always my mom's station, hogging up most of the pre-sets in the '76 Cordoba and later the '79 LeBaron station wagon; it was either Ron Chapman or a Helen Reddy 8-track. I noticed that they would feature me dancing a lot on the show. 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. Copyright 2023, D Magazine Partners, Inc. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Turn! Ron Chapman, a Dallas - Fort Worth radio legend, has died at the age of 85, according to CBS 11 KTVT in DFW. Ron would fairly often show up while I was on the air to go in a studio and record a promo that might run overnight, only to plug something that was going to be on his show. Chapman was known for doing the unexpected, once airing his show from a haunted house and another time while skydiving. I'm saddened to tell you that legendary Dallas DJ Ron Chapman has passed away at 85. DALLAS (CBSDFW) - The Texas Radio Hall of Fame shared the news of the passing of Dallas radio icon Ron Chapman. 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. The country was going to get in shape. . And he admits that, in part, it is the reason his first marriage ended after nineteen years. 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. According to Tony Garrett. Chapman is a perfectionist in every way, Nance says. Hes right. Gratefully I accepted, and drove off in his North Dallas wheels while they towed my Fort Worth bomb away. The other bold stroke by the founders of KVIL was its attitude toward Dallass sister city, Fort Worth. That was his job to make that station great. PART OF AUDACY NEWS. 2023 Audacy, Inc. All rights reserved. It was, after all, the city's top radio station for years, throughout the 1970s and '80s and even into the '90s, when it was finally capsized by country radio. Selden went full circle in his personal life too, abusing drugs and alcohol until he wound up doing some time in what he calls the Home for the Occasionally Coherent, the state hospital at Rusk. Ron didnt say a word. 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. Even Ron Chapman was not at all shocked to hear of its demise when I called him Wednesday afternoon to tell him his beloved KVIL was now, um, the Amp. Who could follow Ron Chapman? "It's a shame it's gone, but KVIL had a great history," he said. anyway? And Ron said, Why, I am in charge of the talent show, of which there wasnt one at the time. He said, Well, its something. The program, based on . But back then, you prayed for Vince Lombardi. Fort Worth was the butt of all the jokes by DJs sitting in Dallas talking about people over in Fort Worth. "But it's a different world in radio, isn't it?" Chapman and his morning cohortsSuzy Humphries, Jody Dean, Michael Rey, et al.are saying, in effect. Nevertheless, she also has to be in between her late '70s and early '80s.