DFW radio legend Ron Chapman suffered a stroke on Dec. 23, The Dallas Morning News reports.
Chapman is in good spirits, judging from his chat with the News' tireless Robert Wilonsky. " “This is not the worst thing that has ever happened to me," Chapman told Wilonsky. "It’s a setback to my retirement — whenever that was. But I didn’t have to cancel very much." Chapman is expected to remain in the hospital for two more weeks, and rehab will continue for several months, Chapman says in the post.
“My left hand is probably not as effective as my right hand,” he told Wilonsky, “which will stall my burgeoning juggling career.”
Chapman is not currently taking visitors.
Chapman came to DFW in 1959, and was best-known for his gigs at KLIF/1190 AM and KVIL/103.7 FM -- where he spent more than 30 years -- and KLUV/98.7 FM, from which he "retired" in 2005. In 2008, he was involved in launching the short-lived "Platinum 96.7" oldies station. Current DFW radio personalities as diverse as KLUV's Jody Dean, KEGL/97.1 FM's Russ Martin and syndicated, locally based Kidd Kraddick have cited Chapman as an influence.
He was inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame in 2012.
