Norm Hitzges is ready to say goodbye to sports talk radio in Dallas. On Thursday morning, he announced that Friday, June 23 will be his last day on air at 96.7/1310 The Ticket.
For residents of the Dallas Metroplex, Norm’s is a voice synonymous with sports talk. His career started nearly 50 years ago. He dedicated his career to the medium over 30 years ago with his first full-time show at KLIF. He joined The Ticket in 2000. For the last eight years, he has been partnered with Donovan Lewis on the station’s midday show.
“I’m so proud to be a part of what The Ticket has built—a ratings dominator in a fantastic sports city,” Hitzges said in a press release. “I shall so miss the daily ‘rush’ of being on the air. But after 48 consecutive years on the air in Dallas doing sports talk, it’s time to move on to the next phase of my life, whatever that may be.”
It isn’t just fans that hold him in high regard. Norm Hitzges has been honored by the Texas Radio Broadcasters Hall of Fame, the Dallas All of Sports Association and the Texas Baseball Hall of Fame in his career.
Hitzges is not leaving The Ticket entirely. He will continue to be part of special event broadcasts. He will also continue to support the unhoused population of North Texas with his annual Norm-a-Thon, which has raised nearly $9 million for Austin Street Center over the last 22 years.
“From the minute Norm hit the airwaves 36 years ago on KLIF and then the Ticket you could tell he was a special communicator,” Dan Bennett, Regional Vice President for Cumulus Media in both Dallas and Houston added. “He truly Is one of Dallas Radio’s great storytellers and he kept it going with Susquehanna and then Cumulus all these years. Not many have that kind of staying power. We wish him every happiness in his well-deserved retirement.”
