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Ben Laurie

A

allenfree

Guest
Just heard that long time traffic reporter Ben Laurie past away. Ben was a legendary news man and traffic report and a mentor to many on this board. Would like to know the details if anyone has them. RIP, Ben. Clear skys ahead...
 
Well, there's an issue here...no one seems to know if Ben had any survivors. If you happen to know, please PM me on the board or email [email protected] and I'll pass it along. This is just too sad. He'll be dearly missed.
 
I do know that Ben had been attached to an oxygen tank (mobile) for the last several months, but saw him last Sunday when he did his shift for traffic on WBAP. We spoke about old radio people in the market, and even though I was quite YOUNGER than Ben, he liked the fact that I recalled some great people that worked in Dallas/Ft. Worth market and knew them enough that he and I could talk about them.

His stories about the times he worked with Ron Chapman and the KVIL crew of the 70's and 80's were always a learning experience, and the walking history on the Day Kennedy was killed was priceless.

He will be missed, and it will not be the same without him... The Traffic is clear for ya Ben!

Just a thought

Dave Michaels
NTSN & Davradio Productions
 
So TERRIBLY sorry to hear this. Ben was one of the BEST!!!
 
Rest in Peace Ben Laurie, a good man & a DFW broadcasting legend. You will be missed by many.
 
Oh - this is not good! My goodness, the last time I saw Ben and spoke with him at one of Mike Shannon's D/FW Lunch Bunch get togethers - I guess a year ago - I asked Ben how he was doing and he told me "Good!" And I questioned him because he didn't seem to be himself. He Said, "Yes, I'm good!"

As a school kid in Fort Worth, I listended to Ben way-way back in the late 50's at KXOL and have loved him ever since. At one of the first Lunch-Bunch get-togethers at the Ball Park in Arlington, I introduced myself to Ben and told him of these old days when I listened to him. He looked at me and asked me how old I was. I told him and he said, "Well, I'm not much older than you!"

Now I say, you were right Ben - you were not much older than me and that brought me closer to Ben and the good, bygone days of radio the way he and I knew it, the radio we fell in love with! You were one of my all-time radio favorites. I loved you and I'll miss you! RIP, Ben. I'll never forget you! You were one of the great ones!! Another boyhood hero gone!
 
Ok, relatives found and preparations begun. No word on services yet, but North Dallas Funeral Home is handling it. I think that's where Hubcap was. Jay, what a nice and wonderful tribute. We're sure going to miss Ben. Thank you.
 
Wow...I don't know where to start. When I began at KVIL in 1976 I was doing the allnight show and the first person I would see every morning was Ben. Always smiling...always with a warm greeting for everyone, always with the latest joke. He loved to laugh and more importantly he loved to make people laugh. World class voice. World class newsman. World class talent. World class person. I miss him already.
 
Visited KVIL when I was a teen trying to get into the business. Watched Ben do a newscast and realized what a talent! Never will forget that while reading one story he was still editing the next one without missing a beat. There was none better at what he did. Even though I'm sure I was an intruder to his busy day, he had that smile that put you at ease.
 
Saw Ben just a couple of weeks ago at Kel's on Forest at Inwood. It was a fav of his (mine too).

He was his normal happy go lucky self and we had a nice chat.
We were laughing over how many places we had worked together ...KVIL in the 70's, KLUV in the 80's, Traffic in the 90's, back at KVIL for both of us, then at ABC Radio Network as well.

He was one of the few people who would forward email jokes almost on a daily basis. His was also about the only ones I took time to read because I knew if he sent it, it likely was pretty good stuff.

He was a great DJ early in his career, a top notch newsman later and probably knew how to do radio traffic reports better than anyone.

I remember one morning on Chapman's show, Mike Donahue and I were standing behind Ron in the control room. Mike was about to take over the FM and I was about to split the AM for the midday shift. Ben radioed on the 2 way to say he had one last thing if Ron had time. Ron said to him "you got 5 seconds" and with that the spot was ending on the air, Ron hit Billy Joel's "Don't Ask Me Why" and said "Ben Laurie, whattaya got?". Ben says "Southbound Central at Yale, stalled car left center lane, Ben Laurie in the KVIL-0- copter", which left enough time for Ron to say "K-V-I-LLLL" smacking the vocal of Billy Joel's 7 second intro perfectly!

Donahue then says to Ron "Man you got guts doing a traffic report over a 7 second intro!" and Ron says "nah, Ben's an old jock, he 'gets it'!"

One more story. When we worked together at KLUV, I did afternoons, he did the news. His first newscast was 3:45pm. He was usually there by 3 to start getting it together. I looked over to the newsroom and noticed he wasn't there at 3:30 one day and thought "wow, he's running late today". A few minutes later I started wondering if he was going to make it.
A few moments later I'm in the stopset that preceeds the news and thinking I would have to blow off the news and hoped he wouldn't get in trouble over it. Then all of a sudden he comes running into the newsroom. I hit the intercom and say "Ben you've got 30 seconds, can you make it?" He gives me a thumbs up so I load the news intro cart and it fires. He plops down in the seat, hits the mic button and starts the news tease without headphones and while still ripping the teletype beside him! He is reading the news direct from the long stream of teletype paper without skipping a beat! I was standing there in awe, just amazed.
Listening, one would have never known the mayhem behind the scenes. When the newscast was over, I walked into the newsroom and said "Man, I just gotta shake your hand!" We had the biggest laugh.

A terrific broadcaster...a better friend.
 
I feel like I grew up hearing Ben Laurie on the radio. Guess I did. Met him at (I think the first) DFW Media Lunch Bunch that I went to. Ben came in a bit late & sat right across from me. He was gracious & kind, seemed a bit weary, said that all the years of smoking he had enjoyed were catching up with him. It was good to meet & get to visit with him for a bit. Over the years, Ben worked at numerous stations in Texas. The ones I remember hearing him on were in DFW, primarily: KVIL, KLUV & WBAP. Heard him on BAP just a week ago. Rest in Peace, Ben Laurie. You will be missed by many.
 
Wow.
I am shocked to hear this. I had gotten to know Ben just recently and enjoyed talking to him about days long gone and common friends in the biz. If anyone hears of funeral arrangements please post here!
You will be missed Ben!!!
 
Sorry about that, Bob. I tried to get hold of everybody I could.

UPDATE: No service for Ben until early May. The family opted for cremation and wants to get past Easter and such before scheduling anything. It may be held at the North Dallas Funeral Home still, but by the number of folks I've talked to over the weekend, we might need to rent the AAC!
 
Have seen where there will be a memorial service held on May 15th at 2PM at North Dallas Funeral Home... information can be found on Ben's Obituary in the Dallas Morning News, as well as online.

I am certain that there will be one hellva turn out, and some of the stories are just going to be great!

Just a thought

Dave Michaels
North Texas Sports Network & Davradio Productions
 
Thanks, Dave! I'll make sure the word gets out. This is the same place where Hubcap's funeral was. I'll see about reserving space over at Humperdink's afterwards. I'll bet that the funeral home is not going to hold everybody...I'd guess 200 max for a crowd that will likely rival Labella's service.
 
Steve Eberhart said:
...I remember one morning on Chapman's show, Mike Donahue and I were standing behind Ron in the control room. Mike was about to take over the FM and I was about to split the AM for the midday shift. Ben radioed on the 2 way to say he had one last thing if Ron had time. Ron said to him "you got 5 seconds" and with that the spot was ending on the air, Ron hit Billy Joel's "Don't Ask Me Why" and said "Ben Laurie, whattaya got?". Ben says "Southbound Central at Yale, stalled car left center lane, Ben Laurie in the KVIL-0- copter", which left enough time for Ron to say "K-V-I-LLLL" smacking the vocal of Billy Joel's 7 second intro perfectly! Donahue then says to Ron "Man you got guts doing a traffic report over a 7 second intro!" and Ron says "nah, Ben's an old jock, he 'gets it'!"
Click to expand...

Now, that's awesome... A traffic helicopter pilot who can really "hit the post." What a cool cat. Godspeed.
 
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