Jody Dean

Jody Dean (born 1959) is an American journalist and author and a member of the Texas Radio Hall of Fame. During his career, Dean has worked with, interviewed, or performed with thousands of public figures, actors, musicians, authors, artists, and comics. Most recently, he hosted a weekly half-hour TV program for CBS-11 entitled "More Life with Jody Dean" - featuring uplifting and inspiring stories during the heart of the COVID pandemic and lockdowns. Since then, Dean has returned to acting and film work. A seasoned stage performer, he has most recently appeared in streaming series such as The Chosen and Lawmen: Bass Reeves, and has also taken an interest in behind-the-scenes work such as set design and construction. Dean stars as "Charles" in the upcoming independent short Chiquita, and has lead and featured roles in several other pending projects and shows.

Early life and education

Born in Fort Worth, Texas, Dean's career in broadcasting began in junior high school in 1973 on WBAP-TV's Museum of Horrors. After graduating from Ft. Worth's Paschal High School, he took a shift at Abilene Christian University's campus radio station. Dean eventually left college for his first job, at KPAR in Granbury, Texas. A few months later he was hired at 1360 KXOL and has worked in Dallas-Ft. Worth ever since.

Career

1980-1987

In 1981, Dean moved to 1190 KLIF. In 1982, he took on a three-hour Tuesday overnight shift at Dallas' legendary KVIL. Dean was eventually promoted to evenings, but his ratings were disastrous. In 1987, he was taken off the air and moved to a behind-the-scenes job as morning show producer, a move that resulted in seven years of tutelage under the direct oversight of National Broadcast Association Hall of Famer Ron Chapman, who remained Dean's close friend and mentor until Chapman's death in 2021.

1991-1999

In 1991, Dean became executive producer for the Dallas Cowboys Radio Network. In 1994, he moved to KRLD to host a mid-day talk show. Again, his ratings as a solo host were disappointing, and in a last-ditch change, he was reassigned as co-anchor of the KRLD Morning News in 1999. That led to a collaboration with co-anchor Jack Hines that lasted for another six years and included coverage of pivotal events such as the Oklahoma City bombing, the Fort Worth Tornado, and 9/11.

In 1995, Dean was named co-host of KTVT's Positively Texas! – an afternoon talk and variety show. After initial success, the show began languishing in the ratings, and Dean was approached about possibly switching to news. He began hosting the noon and 5 p.m. news with Rene Syler on CBS 11 – followed by co-hosting duties with Maria Arita on CBS 11 News at 4.

2002-present

By 2005, Ron Chapman was at KLUV and seeking a successor. He turned to Dean, who became KLUV Morning Show host upon Chapman's retirement that year. For a period of time, Jody Dean and the Morning Team was also televised each weekday morning from 7 until 9 on KTXA-TV. Until January 2013, the KLUV Morning Show was co-hosted by news reporter Kathy Jones, traffic reporter Jonathan Hayes, Rebekah Black, and producer Bernie "Mac" Moreland.

Dean was the original deejay, emcee, and rodeo announcer at Billy Bob's Texas, allowing him the chance to work with legends such as Bob Hope, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Chuck Berry and many more. In 2009, he became the original public address announcer for Dallas Cowboys home games at Cowboys Stadium. He also served as public address announcer for the Cotton Bowl in 2010. Dean was followed as the Cowboys stadium announcer by his friend and former KRLD colleague Roger Emrich.

In 2011, Dean appeared as a peripheral cast member on a cable reality show entitled Most Eligible Dallas.

In August of 2018, the owners of 98.7 KLUV declined to renew Dean's contract. Radio veteran Jeff Miles was hired as his replacement, which Dean himself announced on the air. Both Miles and Black were also released by the station four years later. Dean's last show with KLUV was September 28, 2018. Dean ended his years at KLUV as the longest-serving and consistently highest-rated morning show host in station history. Within 5 years the station had dropped the historic "KLUV" call letters and rebranded itself under a different format.

Personal life

Dean's personal life has been tumultuous. Married four times, he has three grown children. An adoptee, Dean reunited with his birth-family in 2002 and maintains a close relationship with them. Raised in the Church of Christ, Dean is a published author (Finding God in the Evening News) and a frequent motivational and inspirational speaker. A professed Christian, Dean experienced a spiritual reawakening in 2002, but openly continues to wrestle with personal choices, as chronicled in a 2003 article authored by Elise Pierce for D Magazine.

Books

• Jody Dean, (2004), Finding God in the Evening News: A Broadcast Journalist Looks Beyond The Headlines, Renell, ISBN 0-8007-5972-9

External links

• Jody Dean's review of The Passion of the Christ