ARLINGTON, Texas — Ted Nichols-Payne, the Texas Rangers' radio network engineer for nearly 30 years, collapsed in the parking lot of Globe Life Field before Sunday's game against Minnesota and died at a hospital. He was 56.
Nichols-Payne worked in Dallas for 31 years at the company now called Audacy and formerly CBS Radio. He was the primary engineer and technical director on Rangers’ radio broadcasts from 1995-2010, first on KRLD-AM and then on 105.3 The FAN. He resumed that role when the Rangers’ English radio rights returned to 105.3 in 2015.
"Ted’s dedication and attention to detail made him an expert engineer who provided an outstanding technical quality to our broadcasts," Rangers spokesman John Blake said. "All of us with the Rangers’ organization send our deepest sympathies to Ted’s family. He will certainly be missed."
Nichols-Payne was also the radio network engineer for the Dallas Cowboys.
The team shared a statement on Twitter:
"We were all deeply saddened by the sudden passing of Ted Nichols-Payne, long-time radio network engineer and friend to all that knew him. We send our deepest condolences to his three daughters, his friends and family and to the Audacy family," the Cowboys said.
Many who work in radio in the North Texas area and knew Nichols-Payne offered their condolences.
"We are all devastated. Ted was a great friend and a kind, compassionate and caring person. He so adored his three daughters. Can’t imagine what it will be like for all of us without him. RIP Ted," Rangers' radio voice Eric Nadel said on Twitter.
"When people work together for decades, they are family. We lost a family member today. The BELOVED engineer of @dallascowboys and @rangers radio broadcasts, Ted Nichols-Payne, died suddenly at 56. We are speechless. Perfect at his job. Better human. Gutted," Cowboys' radio voice Brad Sham tweeted.