‘Ticket’ personality and Dallas-Fort Worth sports radio legend announces retirement

Longtime Dallas-Fort Worth sports broadcaster and radio host Norm Hitzges announced Thursday that he will retire on June 23, according to KTCK The Ticket, where he hosts a show from 10 a.m. to noon with Donovan Lewis.

Hitzges recently had hit the milestone of 48 continuous years on the air.

“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,” said Hitzges.

And it’s all been sports — DFW sports.

“I’m so proud to be a part of what The Ticket has built — a ratings dominator in a fantastic sports city,” said Hitzges.

Dan Bennett, the regional vice president of Cumulus Media-Dallas/Houston, called Hitzges one of “Dallas Radio’s great storytellers.”

More than 30 years ago on KLIF, Hitzges became the first to host a full-time talk radio show about sports on a Dallas radio station. He moved to The Ticket in 2000.

For 22 years, Hitzges’ annual day-long radio broadcast around Christmas, dubbed the “Norm-A-Thon,” has raised more than $8.9 million for homeless people, with proceeds going to Austin Street Center.

The radio personality has been honored by the Texas Radio Broadcasters Hall of Fame, the Dallas All of Sports Association and the Texas Baseball Hall of Fame.

Bennett praised Hitzges’ special ability to communicate, saying he knew he was special “from the minute [he] hit the airwaves” on KILF.

While it’s time to move on, Hitzges said he will “so miss the daily rush of being on the air.”

Hitzges still plans to participate in special events on The Ticket, including draft coverage and the Norm-A-Thon.