Chicago Radio Legend Larry Lujack Passes On At 73

Larry Lujack, R.I.P.

THE CHIGAGO TRIBUNE's ROBERT FEDER is reporting that "SUPERJOCK" LARRY LUJACK has passed away.  Renowned for three decades entertaining WINDY CITY radio listeners, and the  majority of that with iconic Top 40 WLS-A (THE BIG 89) and another big chunk of time at crosstown Top 40 rival, WCFL-A.

According to FEDER, "his wife told the TRIBUNE late WEDNESDAY. JUDITH 'JUDE' LUJACK said her husband had been in hospice care for three days and died of esophageal cancer."

LUJACK was inducted into the NATIONAL RADIO HALL OF FAME in 2004, and was given the same honor with his induction into the NAB's BROADCASTING HALL OF FAME in 2007, (NET NEWS 11/13/07).

SALEM RADIO NETWORK VP/News & Talking Programming TOM TRADUP tells a great story about LARRY LUJACK:

"I am deeply saddened to learn of 'SuperJock' LARRY LUJACK's passing. He literally embodied WLS for millions of CHICAGOANS. But as huge as his reputation and following were, he always was down to earth and a humble guy.

"One time in 1989 (during my tenure as President & General Manager of WLS) LARRY was in the CHICAGO LOOP for a doctor visit. He brought his checkbook, but not his wallet ... and the onetime "MR. CHICAGO RADIO" had no cash to get his car out of the parking lot. So when he came to my office at WLS, I handed him $20.00, but he wouldn't take it unless I agreed to accept his check for the $20.00, which I stuck in a desk drawer somewhere.  A year and a half later, during an awards luncheon at the BROADCAST ADVERTISING CLUB, LARRY spotted me in the audience and yelled from the podium: 'Hey TRADUP ... would you please get around to cashing that check already? I can't balance my checkbook!'

"To this day, in my DALLAS office, I have a ceramic coffee mug on display with LARRY's face on it, inviting us to WAKE UP WITH CHICAGO's favorite mug."  

Got a great memory about LARRY?  Share it below!

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