Kidd Kraddick

Today I want to say how saddened I am at the loss of Kidd Kraddick. For anyone not familiar, Kidd was a radio personality based in Dallas and syndicated on over 75 stations in the US for the last 12 years. He died on Saturday of a reported brain aneurysm while hosting a charity golf tournament for his 21 year running charity, Kidd's kids.

My memories of Kidd go back to my freshman year in high school. My sister (a senior) would drive us to school at 6:45am and we would laugh the whole way. It was perfect because as I'm not a morning person, I wouldn't be ready to talk that early, but my sister and I could bond over the morning show. After that, I listened every day through high school and off and on during college. Once I graduated and started working and commuting, I got back into the show. Over the last year and a half I had been listening on the way to work and then plugging my phone in when I got there and listening until the show ended at 10am. 

A new dog park opened up in town about a month ago. My friend Heather and I went last Sunday and as we sat there chatting, I did a double take as I saw Kidd walking around the park with his little dog. I tried to take a photo but ended up catching him walking behind a fence post. I was too shy to approach him, obviously. 

What I saw Kidd do that day truly changed my view of him. I was never particularly drawn to him but instead just enjoyed the whole cast of Kidd Kraddick in the morning. But on Sunday he walked around trying to pet every dog, even Motley. There was a dog that wanted to be on the other side of the fence with its owner so it was whining and barking to get out. While the rest of us ignored it, I watched Kidd approach the dog and try to console it by petting and talking to it. Although the park was staffed, I saw as he went over to the water area and dragged large water tubs around to refill them after all of the dogs had romped through them. His compassion for the dogs there made me understand his reputation for having the same kind of compassion for children. I didn't realize the effect the day and Kidd's actions had on me until I heard of his death on Saturday night. Since then I've had a cloud over me just thinking of the pain his family, friends, and loyal coworkers are feeling along with the rest of us that simply tuned in to his show Monday-Friday mornings. 

My mornings will never be the same, and I'm not sure when it won't hurt to hear a reference to "must be nice" guy, "eat some corn", "curious johnny", and "too much weight on the chip!" So while I'm not usually affected by "celebrity" news, this one hurts deep and I'll always cherish the memories of Kidd Kraddick.