R.I.P.: Long Time S-A Talk Host Carl Wiglesworth Dies

Carl Wiglesworth

Carl Wiglesworth, who was a talk show host on Newsradio WOAI 1200 AM for two decades and helped create the conservative talk radio format which became standard in AM radio, has died at the age of 73, family members tell WOAI.

Eliza Sonneland, who worked on Newsradio 1200 WOAI alongside Carl in the eighties and nineties, says the sorts of topics and people you heard on the show weren't what was usually heard on the radio in those days.

"To talk to people who had differing opinions from the status quo, that was the bread and butter of Carl's program," Sonneland said.

Sonneland says Wiglesworth's style of program caught on instantly.

"The groundswell of people who called the station saying, this guy has got to be the host," she recalled.  "This is who we need and who we want."

Longtime KTSA morning talk host, Trey Ware, wrote a tribute to Wiglesworth on his Facebook page Wednesday morning, calling him an “S.A. radio legend.” Lee Woods, another local radio veteran, also wrote special words Tuesday night to honor him: ”A dear old friend and fellow Radio Hall of Famer, Carl Truman Wigleswoth, passed away today. Carl hired me at KONO/KITY in 1975.” Woods then added a bit of humor: “May he rest in peace. Rumor has it he will be doing mid-days at KGOD.”

After leaving WOAI in 1999, Wiglesworth appeared on other stations, including crosstown rival KTSA 550 AM and also was involved in other businesses.

Wiglesworth suffered a massive heart attack Friday night, and never regained consciousness.  He was rushed to Methodist Stone Oak Hospital, where the decision was made by his family to discontinue treatment after doctors said he would not recover.

Carl's wife, Laurie Malfatano Wiglesworth, was also a long time Newsradio 1200 WOAI employee.