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THE
DAILY OKLAHOMAN
Page 3-C
Mon, 11 Mar 2002
Talk show host Lutz dies after battle
with cancer
Mel Bracht |
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Dan Lutz, an inspiration to listeners and colleagues after
overcoming cerebral palsy to become a popular radio sports
talk show host, died in his sleep Saturday night. He was
36, just five days short of his 37th birthday.
Lutz had been undergoing treatment for cancer in his lungs
and liver after first being diagnosed with the disease
in November 2000. He made his last appearance on the Sports
Animal radio network (WWLS AM-640 and FM 104.9) on Thursday
as part of "The Morning Animals."
In his final weeks, his voice had weakened and a persistent
cough made it difficult for him to go on the air.
"I don't think he gave up. I don't think the cancer
won," said Mike Steely, a colleague on "The
Morning Animals" and one of his closest friends.
"I think he felt it was time to go on."
Born with cerebral palsy, which restricted him to a wheelchair
the last four years of his life and gave him a slight
speech impediment, Lutz never allowed his handicaps to
keep him from being successful in radio. His determination
inspired many who knew him.
"It seems like he started life with two strikes against
him," Steely said, "But he kept swinging to
the end. He loved doing the show. That was his life. No
one took more pride in his job than Dan. No one cared
more about the overall quality of the station than Dan."
Sports Animal talk show host Craig Humphreys said, "I
saw from his life the sacrifices he made to do what he
loved. Every day was a struggle, to get out of bed, to
get dressed, to go to the bathroom, to make it to work.
I really do admire him."
His twin brother Denny, who was born without cerebral
palsy, said, "I always said he got the brains and
I got the legs. He knew a lot about sports and history."
A passionate fan of the Minnesota Vikings, New York Knicks
and Chicago Cubs, Lutz had a vast knowledge of sports
and also had strong opinions, which made him a natural
for sports talk radio.
He joined WWLS in 1990 as a board operator, but Humphreys
talked WWLS management into giving Lutz his first shot
as a talk show host in 1993. Humphreys later took Lutz
with him when he set up a competing station, Sports Talk
1340, in 1995.
"We wouldn't have done it without Dan," Humphreys
said. "Dan knew how to get everything done."
Born in Miles City, Mont., Lutz spent his childhood in
Montana and North Dakota and attended broadcasting school
in Billings, Mont. In 1990, he moved to Oklahoma City
with his sister Debbie, with whom he lived for more than
15 years. He is also survived by Denny, another brother
Steven, and sisters Patty Becker and Diane Gleason, both
of Norman.
Two days after Lutz was diagnosed with cancer in 2000,
Humphreys said he led Lutz to Jesus Christ in his room
at Southwest Medical Center, and Lutz began attending
First Church of the Nazarene of Oklahoma City, 4400 Northwest
Expressway.
"I have a peace that he is far better off than he
ever was down here," Humphreys said. "My 6-year-old
son (Sam) said today, 'Dan's finally out of his wheelchair.'
"
Lutz was one of the most popular members of the Oklahoma
City sports media, drawing the largest ovations at listener
parties.
Services are pending.
Reprinted with permission © Copyright, The Oklahoma Publishing
Company
© Copyright
The Dan Lutz Rehabilitation Fund. All rights reserved.
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