WBAP news director Rick Hadley leaving after 20 years

Rick Hadley, the longtime news director and even longer-time newsman for WBAP/820 AM and its sister station KLIF/570 AM, is leaving, he announced today via Facebook.

“After 30 years in radio, 20 at WBAP (and now KLIF) and 10+ years as a major market news director, it's time for a change,” he said, and linked to a news release about his new gig: executive director of communications for the Grapevine-Colleyville school district.

“Hadley’s background as a reporter, anchor, producer and news director, provides him with a unique perspective that will aid our district as we continue to strengthen and enhance our communications and online presence,” Grapevine-Colleyville Superintendent Robin Ryan says in the release.

Hadley has won or shared in winning numerous awards at WBAP, including a duPont-Columbia University Award for broadcast journalism for JFK 40, a series of live radio reports and reflections commemorating the 40th anniversary of President Kennedy’s assassination. He also contributes to the WBAP Newsroom Blog.

According to his WBAP bio, Hadley began his radio career as an intern at KCLE in his hometown of Cleburne. After graduating from Texas Wesleyan College, he had a brief gig as a country-music DJ before becoming a news reporter/director. Pre-WBAP stops included Mineral Wells’ KYXS/KJSA and Dallas-based USA Radio Network. He was also a Fort Worth Star-Telegram correspondent in the early ’90s.

Hadley, who has been WBAP’s news director since 2002, was TCU’s men’s basketball public-address announcer for three seasons, and he has served as the voice of the Golden Pride of Cleburne High School marching band. He was inducted to Cleburne High School’s Walk of Fame in 2008.

Hadley is scheduled to begin his Grapevine-Colleyville school district job July 20.

This story was originally published June 25, 2015 at 4:04 PM with the headline "WBAP news director Rick Hadley leaving after 20 years."