R.I.P.: Veteran Chicago, St. Louis News Anchor Ty Wansley

Ty Wansley

Ty Wansley, a Chicago and St. Louis radio news anchor and talk show host for more than 35 years, was being remembered Thursday as a man who was passionate about his profession and the community he served.

Wansley, 63, died Wednesday at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, according to Chicago Media Writer Robert Feder.

Wansley was admitted last week for treatment of congestive heart failure and related illness, according to his brother, Larry Wansley. He previously suffered a series of small strokes.

Wansley most recently was news and information director for three iHeartMedia stations — urban contemporary WGCI FM 107.5, urban adult-contemporary WVAZ FM 102.7 and gospel WGRB AM 1390. He anchored morning news on V103 and WGRB and hosted two weekend public affairs shows, “Chicago Insight” on WGCI and WGRB, and “Chicago Speaks” on V103.

Beyond his success in urban radio, Wansley teamed in 1993 with former Chicago Alderman Ed Vrdolyak at news/talk WLS AM 890. “This will be the greatest boon for race relations this city has ever seen,” Wansley said of the unlikely partnership, which scored high ratings and headlines on WLS and later on the former WJJD.

Born Thaxter Wansley, he graduated from Jefferson Community College in Hillsboro, Missouri, and began as a radio newsman in his native St. Louis, where he worked at KWK, KATZ, KKSS and KMJM before moving to Chicago in 1980.

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