Chris Sommer

 Chris Sommer joined KRLD News as an afternoon anchor in July 2012, but he has been a familiar radio voice in north Texas since the early 1990s.

An award-winning anchor, reporter and air personality, Chris was part of the news staff at KLIF-AM from 1991-1997, and was a fixture on the morning show at KPLX-FM from 1992-2011.  He and his counterparts at 99.5 The Wolf won two NAB Marconi Awards, numerous national station-of-the-year honors and helped build America’s largest country radio station.  During his 29-year radio career, Chris has interviewed and covered a very diverse group of famous figures, ranging from Queen Elizabeth II to Emmitt Smith and from Henry Kissinger to Don Henley.

Born in Houston in 1966, Chris grew up in the Lavaca County town of Hallettsville, just down the road from the Little Brewery in Shiner, Texas.  He began his radio career at KRJH Radio (TSN affiliate) in Hallettsville as a 16-year-old in 1983.  After graduating with honors from Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos in 1989, Chris spent two years at KBST in Big Spring.  He moved to the area to join KLIF in 1991, and has been a Tarrant County resident ever since.

Of all his accomplishments and experiences enjoyed in a lifetime of radio, Chris is most often asked about his appearance on “Wheel of Fortune” in 2001.  As a contestant during Dallas-Fort Worth week, Chris was victorious and also conquered the bonus round, winning a new SUV as part of his total prize package worth $43,000.

Chris, his wife, Brenda, and their 12-year-old daughter, Ashleigh, have lived in Mansfield since 2001.  Chris is very involved in the community, having made hundreds of school visits to promote literacy and honor teachers for their hard work and achievements.  He also has helped to raise more than $10 million for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital during his career.