Arkansas Sports 360 - ArkansasSports360.com

11/25/2010 at 9:41pm

Image by 103.7, The Buzz

Tommy Smith worked for Magic 105 for more than 20 years before moving to 103.7 The Buzz in 2004.

Legendary Arkansas radio personality Tommy Smith gave listeners, friends and family a scare when he collapsed on air in September.

The collapse, which Smith now says was brought on by his attempt to quit alcohol "cold turkey," led to days in the hospital and a realization that he couldn't let go of a decades-old vice by himself.

Last night, Arkansans got more of Smith's story on KATV-TV, Channel 7, which aired a lengthly interview with the Outlaw, his wife and others about alcoholism and what looks to be a slow, steady recovery.

The piece includes interviews with Smith's radio co-host David Bazzel, who calls Smith's collapse "one of the most frightening things I had ever seen," and Smith's wife, Karen, who turned on the radio that morning to hear another of Smith's co-hosts in tears.

"First thing I heard, of course the radio was turned to his station, so the first thing I heard was Roger crying. So it was tough. It was scary. It was real scary," she said.

Below, video of the entire segment:

Tagged: Tommy Smith, radio, media, close calls, 103.7 The Buzz, KATV Channel 7