{"id":44237,"date":"2020-07-09T07:54:36","date_gmt":"2020-07-09T11:54:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=44237"},"modified":"2020-07-09T07:54:36","modified_gmt":"2020-07-09T11:54:36","slug":"remembering-allan-loudell-radio-was-his-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2020\/07\/remembering-allan-loudell-radio-was-his-life\/","title":{"rendered":"Remembering Allan Loudell: “Radio was his life”"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>

(Photo: WDEL)<\/p><\/div>\n

Tuesday, many of us in the shortwave and DXing community learned about the unexpected passing of our good friend and veteran radio reporter, Allan Loudell.<\/p>\n

I got to know Allan via the Winter SWL Fest community. Allan attended every year and was well known for being not only wonderfully good-natured, the sort of guy who is liked by everyone, but also one of the most knowledgeable DXers on the planet. As a mutual friend recently noted, his knowledge of the domestic and international broadcasting scene was very nearly “encyclopedic.”<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Dan Robinson (left) and Allan Loudell (right) at the 2020 Winter SWL Fest (Photo source: Dan Robinson)<\/p><\/div>\n

I made a point of chatting with Allan each year at Winter SWL Fest. This year, we all noticed that he had lost some weight, but otherwise seemed fine and, as usual, in great spirits. He mentioned to me that he had been through months of medical issues and rehabilitation, but believed he was on a positive track. I only wish that might have been so.<\/p>\n

It was among my favorite things to do at the Fest\u2013\u2013and I got to enjoy this a few times\u2013\u2013 to page through albums of QSL cards with Allan that he and other Fest attendees like Dan Robinson brought to share. Allan’s eyes would light up as he turned each page.\u00a0 Not only did he know each card and each broadcaster, but\u2013\u2013if you asked\u2013\u2013he could take you on a deeper dive into the nuanced history of each station.<\/p>\n

WDEL<\/h1>\n
\"\"<\/a>

Allan interviewing a young lady in the studios of WDEL. (Photo source: WDEL)<\/p><\/div>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Clipped from the February 1994 issue of Pop Communications<\/p><\/div>\n

As our mutual friend, Tracy Wood, put it: “[Allen] was a giant… radio was his life<\/em>….and thankfully he shared his passion with us.”<\/p>\n

Moreover, Allan was a longtime Delaware radio newsman, having spent 18 years with WILM and most recently 15 years with WDEL.<\/p>\n

In a typical year, I make at least a couple of trips through the mid-Atlantic states, and each time I do, I tune to WDEL to hear Allan’s voice.<\/p>\n

Yesterday, WDEL posted an announcement about Allan’s passing<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The subtext is plain:\u00a0 he was a well loved at the station and, indeed, in the community. The station included the following quote from Delaware Governor John Carney:<\/p>\n

“I’m very sad to hear that Allan has passed away. I tell people that, in my thirty years of public service, I’ve developed a list\u2013\u2013just a personal list of good guys and gals, people that were really good to work with…Allen was one of those guys…He was always very fair…He always covered his subject matter in a way that most reporters didn’t. And he used the radio media as a way of communicating, and having public officials like myself communicating, with the people that I worked for, the people in northern New Castle County. I particularly liked his show DelAWARE, because…he did, in very intense kind of way, various subject matter that got below the surface…”<\/p>\n

Governor Carney continues:<\/p>\n

“[Allen] was just a really interesting guy and a very real gentleman…and I enjoyed being with him…I know that the people in the WDEL, WILM listening area here in northern New Castle County and, actually, across our state now will miss his programming, will miss him as as a media person, and it’s sad to hear that he’s passed.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Click here to read the full article at WDEL.<\/a><\/p>\n

We’re going to miss you, Allan…rest in peace, friend.<\/p>\n

Broadcaster tributes<\/h2>\n

CBS Tribute To Allan Loudell (via WDEL):<\/p>\nhttps:\/\/bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com\/wdel.com\/content\/tncms\/assets\/v3\/editorial\/2\/f6\/2f68998e-c124-11ea-9ad6-5b7a644f2dd3\/5f05d3012bcd4.audio.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

Allan Loudell tribute from WDEL’s Peter MacArthur (via WDEL):<\/p>\nhttps:\/\/bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com\/wdel.com\/content\/tncms\/assets\/v3\/editorial\/7\/d3\/7d35d2e2-c126-11ea-9551-272c16e21668\/5f05d6caa8753.audio.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Tuesday, many of us in the shortwave and DXing community learned about the unexpected passing of our good friend and veteran radio reporter, Allan Loudell. I got to know Allan via the Winter SWL Fest community. Allan attended every year and was well known for being not only wonderfully good-natured, the sort of guy who […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[3,5],"tags":[8652,1031,8653,8654,1615],"class_list":["post-44237","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","category-swlers","tag-allan-loudell","tag-dxing","tag-wdel","tag-wilm","tag-winter-swl-fest"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-bvv","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":8671,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2014\/01\/naswa-details-its-27th-annual-winter-swl-fest-program\/","url_meta":{"origin":44237,"position":0},"title":"NASWA Details its 27th Annual Winter SWL Fest Program","author":"Thomas","date":"January 24, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"For those of you readers who often feel you\u2019re alone in your enthusiasm for radio, I highly encourage you to attend the NASWA-sponsored Winter SWL Festival\u00a0in Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania this year. This will be my sixth year attending, and I have eagerly awaited the arrival of the \u2018Fest.\u00a0 It is\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Current Events"","block_context":{"text":"Current Events","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/current-events\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"David Goren hosts the annual Shortwave Shindig","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/09\/Winterfest-Shindig-199x300.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":12199,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2015\/02\/as-radioshack-closes-shop-look-for-deals\/","url_meta":{"origin":44237,"position":1},"title":"As RadioShack closes shop, look for deals","author":"Thomas","date":"February 6, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"I've received a number of messages and comments regarding close-out and clearance deals at RadioShack retail stores. While this varies by market and the type of store (some are corporate, others are RS franchises), there's no question: now is the time to check for deals. My good friend and SWLing\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"1280px-RadioShack_Exterior_Modified","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/1280px-RadioShack_Exterior_Modified.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/1280px-RadioShack_Exterior_Modified.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/1280px-RadioShack_Exterior_Modified.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":13137,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2015\/05\/the-2015-winter-swl-fest\/","url_meta":{"origin":44237,"position":2},"title":"A recap of the 2015 Winter SWL Fest","author":"Thomas","date":"May 8, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"The following article originally appeared in the April 2015 issue of The Spectrum Monitor magazine. Every year, I attend two great radio conventions: the Dayton Hamvention and the Winter SWL Fest. While the Dayton Hamvention draws a massive crowd of ham radio operators, vendors, and makers from across the planet\u2013and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Current Events"","block_context":{"text":"Current Events","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/current-events\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Hotel.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":31054,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2018\/03\/a-recap-of-the-2018-winter-swl-fest\/","url_meta":{"origin":44237,"position":3},"title":"A recap of the 2018 Winter SWL Fest","author":"Thomas","date":"March 7, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Last week, I attended the 31st annual Winter SWL Fest in Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania. This was the ninth year in a row I made the pilgrimage to join my radio friends and family--it was certainly a \u2018Fest to be remembered! I made the trip by car, leaving Monday, February 26\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Pirate-Fest-Radio.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Pirate-Fest-Radio.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Pirate-Fest-Radio.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":36728,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2019\/03\/video-wagm-visits-wbcq-and-interviews-allan-weiner\/","url_meta":{"origin":44237,"position":4},"title":"Video: WAGM visits WBCQ and interviews Allan Weiner","author":"Thomas","date":"March 31, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"(Source: WAGM) The skyline in Monticello looks a lot different now. 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