Friday was a big one in the history of sports radio, particularly in the Dallas-Ft. Worth Metroplex. Norm Hitzges said goodbye to 96.7 & 1310 The Ticket.
“It’s wild seeing this is the last day. I can’t wrap my head around it,” partner Donovan Lewis said.
Hitzges was joined by a number of friends and colleagues I’m studio. He shared stories of some of his favorite moments and colleagues shared their favorite stories about him.
Lewis read a letter sent by President George W. Bush, who thanked Hitzges for his help in preparing Bush for media scrutiny when he took over as owner of the Texas Rangers. That reminded Norm Hitzges of a moment he shared with the 43rd President of the United States at a turkey bowling event.
“The future President Bush comes on. And I said, ‘Would you like the Turkey Bowl?’ And he said, sure. And he flings a frozen turkey across the stage at the Pepsi bottles. I have no idea how he did. But I said to him, ‘You know, someday the Democrats are going to use this against you.’”
Champagne was opened as the entire Ticket air staff joined Hitzges for his final two segments. He was presented with an award to honor the nearly $9 million he has raised for the Austin Street Center with his annual Norm-athon.
“I could never believe that the move here would be the best thing that ever happened to me as a professional. I just couldn’t believe that, but now that’s the truth,” he said. “Coming here to The Ticket is the best thing that ever happened to me in my work life.”
The final segment of the show was reserved for Lewis and Hitzges to say goodbye to each other. Both acknowledged their unlikely friendship and how strong their bond has grown.
“Dude, you are the epitome of what this business is,” Lewis told his partner of the last eight years. “And everybody here and everybody doing all these things for you and everybody giving you congratulations should let you know what you mean to this business, to this city, to this station, to everyone. But you mean something special to me, man.”
Norm Hitzges told Donovan Lewis that he loved him dearly. Then, he addressed the audience.
“I don’t know what I’m going to do without you on Monday because you’ve been there for 48 years. It’s been a rich 48 years. There will be many years ahead to enjoy other things, to take on the next chapter, but this chapter has been wonderful. It has been something I could not have dreamed of to start this. Bless you, Donovan. I love you, man. I love you all out there, and somewhere down this road, I’ll bet almost all of our paths will cross again and that’ll be wonderful for me.”
