I learned today that former WAKY DJ Tom Dooley is having serious, life-threatening health issues. A special website has been set up by his daughter Kristin to keep his friends, family, fans and former co-workers up to date on his progress:
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/tomdooley
The site says Tom began experiencing some neurological issues several weeks ago such as difficulty with balance and extreme fatigue. Since then, he's undergone a battery of tests. (The doctors are limited in some of the tests they can do as he only has one kidney; he donated his other kidney to his sister over two decades ago.) Right now, they know that he has a large tumor in his brain. The "name" of this tumor or his prognosis is unknown.
Needless to say, your prayers are welcome. Please keep this very talented broadcaster and his family close to your heart during these tough times.
For those not familiar with Tom, here's his DJ bio listing from the 79WAKY.com tribute site:
WAKY afternoon drive jock twice: 1968 and 1974-1976. Worked at KELI (Tulsa), WQAM (Miami), KNUZ (Houston) and WSAI (Cincinnati) before coming to WAKY the first time. Left WAKY to concentrate on his musical career full-time. Lost his voice and had two operations. When his voice returned, he got back into radio and worked at WMPS (Memphis, Dooley's hometown), WORD (Spartanburg, SC), KRIZ (Phoenix), WFIL (Philadelphia), WHBQ (Memphis) and KHJ (Los Angeles) previous to returning to WAKY. Left WAKY to go to work for the Jimmy Carter campaign in Atlanta. While in Atlanta, he got a job with WGST, leaving there to go to FM100 in Memphis. Tom also did time at stations in Rockford, IL, Cleveland, OH, and Knoxville, TN. Now does a nationally syndicated Contemporary Christian radio show ("The Journey") and more out of MasterMedia Ministries in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area. [Real name: George Patrick Thomas O'Dooley, Jr.]
John Quincy
www.79WAKY.com
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/tomdooley
The site says Tom began experiencing some neurological issues several weeks ago such as difficulty with balance and extreme fatigue. Since then, he's undergone a battery of tests. (The doctors are limited in some of the tests they can do as he only has one kidney; he donated his other kidney to his sister over two decades ago.) Right now, they know that he has a large tumor in his brain. The "name" of this tumor or his prognosis is unknown.
Needless to say, your prayers are welcome. Please keep this very talented broadcaster and his family close to your heart during these tough times.
For those not familiar with Tom, here's his DJ bio listing from the 79WAKY.com tribute site:
WAKY afternoon drive jock twice: 1968 and 1974-1976. Worked at KELI (Tulsa), WQAM (Miami), KNUZ (Houston) and WSAI (Cincinnati) before coming to WAKY the first time. Left WAKY to concentrate on his musical career full-time. Lost his voice and had two operations. When his voice returned, he got back into radio and worked at WMPS (Memphis, Dooley's hometown), WORD (Spartanburg, SC), KRIZ (Phoenix), WFIL (Philadelphia), WHBQ (Memphis) and KHJ (Los Angeles) previous to returning to WAKY. Left WAKY to go to work for the Jimmy Carter campaign in Atlanta. While in Atlanta, he got a job with WGST, leaving there to go to FM100 in Memphis. Tom also did time at stations in Rockford, IL, Cleveland, OH, and Knoxville, TN. Now does a nationally syndicated Contemporary Christian radio show ("The Journey") and more out of MasterMedia Ministries in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area. [Real name: George Patrick Thomas O'Dooley, Jr.]
John Quincy
www.79WAKY.com