R.I.P.: Iowa Radio Mad Hatter Darryl Hensley At 79

Darryl Hensley

Iowa Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member and industry pioneer Darryl Hensley, 79, known as “The Mad Hatter”, died after colliding with a car while riding his bike on Wednesday, Sept. 27, according to WQAD-TV8.

Hensley was riding in rural Henderson County Illinois shortly before 6 p.m. on Wednesday when he allegedly turned in front of a car. According to police reports, Hensley was killed instantly.

Hensley, who most in the public only knew by his disc jockey name The Mad Hatter, was inducted into the Iowa Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001. Hensley, who has spent the last several decades in Burlington and still was working as an account executive at KBUR 1490 AM / 99.3 FM,  was the featured personality on radio station KZEV-FM in Clear Lake in the late 1970s when he decided a tribute was in order to commemorate the deaths of rock stars Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper.

In addition to spearheading the creation of the Buddy Holly Memorial Concert, he also helped found
three rock and roll FM stations: KZEV, now KLKK in Clear Lake/Mason City, KDWD in Burlington, now 93.5 KKMI, and a station in Minnesota.

Rob Sussman, news director of KBUR, called Hensley an inspiration and beloved co-worker.

“Hatter was a dear friend and coworker to all of us at Pritchard Broadcasting,” Sussman said. “He was larger than life and had the heart to match. Not a day went without Hatter telling us a wild story from his long and legendary career in broadcasting. We will miss him dearly. All of Burlington will miss him dearly.”