By Katherine S. Ward, Executive Director, Delaware Press Association
Since the loss of Allan Loudell, one of Delaware’s – and I dare say this nation’s – greatest communicators, on Monday, July 6, my spirits have been lifted high by the many messages and phone calls I’ve received to express admiration for Allan and the immeasurable contribution he made to the citizens of the First State. Via radio broadcasts, public speaking, blogging, and teaching, he kept us well and fairly informed of matters as weighty as the future of our nation and the world and as light as the correct answers to the trivia questions he floated daily over the airwaves he so skillfully navigated with a keen intelligence, a multitude of incisive questions, and a fine sense of humor for more than 50 years.
“Allan was one of the greatest minds I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing, and his presence in the Delaware community – and journalism as a whole – will be felt for a long time to come.”
WDEL Digital Editor DJ McAneny
Speaking of Allan Loudell as “the consummate journalist,” Alan Garfield, professor of Constitutional Law at Widener University, Delaware Law School, said: “He wanted to know about anything and everything, always seeking to add another volume to his already encyclopedic mind. He sought out information from the best possible sources, building a stable of domestic and international experts who were committed to working with him because they recognized his intelligence and integrity.
“Best of all, he brought to his job a joy and passion that was infectious and a delight for his listeners. He taught us all about the importance of being intellectually curious and a lifelong learner. And, most important, he reminded us that being a good citizen in a democracy means putting in the effort to be educated and informed about one’s community, the nation, and the world.”
Linda Feldmann, Washington Bureau Chief, The Christian Science Monitor, wrote to say: “Allan Loudell was a prince of a guy. He found endless fascination in the news – from the most local Delaware trivia to the intrigues of Washington (and Joe Biden!) to events in far-flung corners of the world. I loved my regular conversations with Allan. He asked great questions, and spurred my own thinking about events ‘inside the Beltway.’ I also loved his enthusiasm for his hobbies. The world is the poorer for Allan’s loss.”
“Allan enabled WDEL to punch above its weight by having a knack for getting nationally prominent commentators to join him for appearances by phone on whatever the news of the day was,” said Lou Jacobson, a longtime student of the American political scene and PolitiFact’s senior correspondent. Also senior author of The Almanac of American Politics, 2020 edition, and founding editor of Roll Call’s legislative wire service, CongressNow, Lou continued: “Allan was a brilliant and multifaceted individual. He was a consummate pro as a broadcaster, and I was glad to appear whenever he came calling.”
In his role as a columnist on politics in the states for Cook Political Report, Sabato’s Crystal Ball, and U.S. News and World Report, Jacobson was keenly aware that Allan also loved “the ins and outs of Delaware politics. I relied on him for years for understanding the state of play in politics in Delaware. And when I finally met him in person,” he added, “I learned he was a true Renaissance man, with a variety of interests, down to the history of license plates. He will be missed.”
“Allan Loudell was always the smartest person in the room” has been a common theme, offered with respect and admiration. The comment first came from Karen Galanaugh, APR, the 2006 Delaware Press Association Communicator of Achievement and CEO of a PR and Marketing Communications company, and was echoed by Amy Cherry, WDEL assistant news director, both of whom knew Allan for decades.
Several years ago, I heard this variation on the theme from my husband, who played an occasional round of golf with Joe Biden. When Allan’s name came up in their fairway conversation one day, Joe said, “I think Allan Loudell is the smartest person I know.”
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A Lifelong Passion for High School Journalism
It’s no secret that Allan Loudell lived, breathed, and unabashedly loved radio broadcasting from childhood days until the end of his storied life. He made his first commercial radio broadcast at 12 and started a schedule on his Lyons Township [Chicago] High School radio station at 14. He majored in communications at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, with minors in political science and history. From those roots grew Allan’s lifelong passion for speaking with, teaching, and judging / commenting on communications contest entries of student journalists.
“Allan was a tireless advocate for radio and for journalism, with a commitment to getting young people interested in the profession,” said Mark Fowser, who worked with Allan as News Director and Managing Editor at 1450 WILM NewsRadio, then as anchor-reporter at WDEL 1150 AM / 101.7 FM. “He would journey the length of Delaware to visit high school classes and would drop in on colleges and universities many miles away – often after anchoring a morning drive news program – to offer guidance and support to broadcast-journalism students. Wherever he worked, he created panel discussions featuring local student journalists who were able to talk about the issues and the stories they were covering.”
Lydia Timmins, assistant professor of communication at the University of Delaware, adds, “My fondest memories of Allan are when he spoke to my UD classes. The students weren’t exactly sure what to make of this man with wildish hair, but as soon as he opened his mouth, they were entranced. His stories, his knowledge, his skills. I remember one class in which he asked a student from Mongolia several specific questions about her country – she and the rest of the class were amazed at all he knew about Mongolia. But you know what? I wasn’t amazed – that was just Allan. A Renaissance man, a hardworking reporter, a top-tier radio host . . . and my friend. Rest peacefully, Allan, your legacy continues on.”
Professional Achievement
Over the years, Allan interviewed or covered a number of US presidents and foreign leaders. And because of the network of journalists, government officials, scientists, economists, and more that he cultivated around the globe, he was able, as WDEL anchor and host Peter MacArthur stated in a tribute to Allan, “to bring you, here in Delaware, the world.” He provided his listeners with interviews and live reports of breaking national and international stories, including some not otherwise available in the US media.
Allan’s professional life began at a radio station in Memphis, where he honed his craft for 10 years. He moved to Delaware in 1987 and launched a noteworthy career at 1450 WILM NewsRadio where he shone as a newscaster and also as program manager. He anchored the morning and midday newscasts and oversaw 20 or more reporters covering local and regional news. On weekdays at noon, he hosted a one-hour live broadcast, interviewing experts from the US and abroad on current affairs. At that time, WILM was the only 1,000-watt AM station in the US in markets of fewer than one million to have a primarily locally originated all-news-and-information format. Both Allan and the station won many awards for a mixture of in-depth local reporting and far-ranging international coverage.
In 2005, Allan moved to 1150 WDEL. There, as Mark Fowser said, “Allan was without peer when it came to work ethic and a passion for journalism and radio. He would take on storm coverage, school closings, and local politics with the same enthusiasm he devoted to national and international stories.”
WDEL AM/FM director of news and programming, Chris Carl, said Allan was “by far the most interesting person I’ve ever worked with. From his knowledge about news and current events to his varied hobbies, you always had an interesting conversation with him. And he truly cared about radio and the news profession.”
Allan also produced podcasts for WDEL, and he blogged regularly. The Allan Loudell blog on WDEL.com, when Allan was senior correspondent and afternoon drive-time news anchor, was one of Delaware’s leading news blogs – respected for its non-partisan analysis of news, politics, and issues from Delaware and around the world.
“I try diligently to avoid partisanship for any party or portion of the ideological spectrum,” Allan said. “Still, to make my blog ‘sizzle’ – and to provoke debate – at times, I’d take a stand. I often tried to come up with arguments that had been largely absent from the public discourse. The entire WDEL.com blog page is continually among the most viewed pages on WDEL.com – getting tens of thousands of hits per month. Other Delaware political blogs periodically posted ‘threads’ to my blog, which obviously increased hits.”
On weekdays, fans enjoyed “Delaware News at Noon” with Allan hosting the show. More recently, on “Del-AWARE with Allan Loudell,” which aired weekday mornings on WDEL, First State governor John Carney said Allan tackled “in a very intense kind of way, various subject matter that got below the surface and really focused on some of the underlying causes of a particular issue.” Governor Carney added that Allan “knew the issues in a very, very detailed kind of way. He was always very fair about his questions. 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. . . .”
Alan Garfield, Professor of Constitutional Law |
Service to Community/Humanity
Allan’s public service activities included innumerable speeches to civic groups, churches, synagogues, and students at high schools and colleges, and he helped the Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Board identify students with leadership potential. For a few years he worked for and was honorary chairman of Delaware United Nations Day. US Senator Chris Coons said, “He was a friend to everyone he met, and he personified Delaware’s pride in community. I’ll never forget the many times I’d see him at parish festivals and working with student journalists.”
Service to Delaware Press Association
Gloria Galloway, founding and charter member of Delaware Press Association, stated: “I knew Allan for more than 30 years through our association with DPA. He was really smart, that’s a given. He had a big heart, we all knew that. But there’s an intangible. No one who knew Allan will ever forget him.”
In 2001, Allan was named the Delaware Press Association Communicator of Achievement, the highest honor DPA bestows on its members. The COA Award is given primarily for a lifetime of achievement in the communications profession. But it also recognizes exemplary service to the community and to humanity as well as to the profession, especially to Delaware Press Association and the National Federation of Press Women. Allan was outstanding in all regards.
Delaware Press Association, an NFPW affiliate, was founded as Delaware Press Women in 1977, a time when most women working in the communications profession were facing significant discrimination in terms of job responsibilities, promotions, and involvement in key professional activities. But all of the DPW meetings, events, and the annual communications contest always were open to everyone.
First Man to Join Delaware Press Association
In 1995, having entered and won awards in Delaware Press Women’s professional communications contest for a number of years, Allan Loudell became the first man to join DPW. By 1997, when male membership had grown to 20 percent of its membership, believing “a name change – not a values change – would help build a more inclusive community of women and men devoted to practicing excellence in communication,” DPW voted to adopt “Delaware Press Association” as its new name.
Not only was Allan on the name-change committee, but he served on the DPA board of directors for more than twenty years. At DPA events, Allan moderated numerous panel discussions and political debates. He also secured many speakers of regional or national stature for our programs – White House correspondent for CBS Evening News, Major Garrett; bestselling author of Black Hawk Down, Mark Bowden; U.N. Resident Correspondent and CBS News Foreign Affairs Analyst, based at the United Nations, Pamela Falk; PolitiFact senior correspondent Lou Jacobson; senior editor for Politico and Politico.com, David Mark; award-winning journalist, author, and nationally syndicated columnist Georgi Anne Geyer; and the then Christian Science Monitor White House correspondent, Linda Feldmann, to name a few.
When DPA hosted the national NFPW/DPA “Brave New Media World” Communications Conference in Wilmington in 2003, Allan served as co-chair of the Programs Committee and lined up numerous speakers, panelists, and session facilitators. Amy Cherry said, Allan was “an expert interviewer,” and he spoke on “The Art of the Interview” at one of the sessions. Two months after the conference, I received an enthusiastic note from one of the writers who had gone to Allan’s presentation, saying not only was it one of the best she ever had attended but that she had used a number of Allan’s interviewing techniques for a recent story and was happy to report she had just received a check for $1,200 for the article.
Ralph J. Begleiter, Rosenberg Professor of Communication Emeritus and |
He Will Be Missed
No story about Allan would be complete without mentioning how much he loved his family, his hobbies and trivia. Mark Fowser reminds us that “although he put in marathon hours at work, often from dawn to dusk, Allan was at heart a family man – devoted to his wife, Barbara, and his children, Allison and Michael – and enjoyed having a good time. A man of great intellect, he also enjoyed 70s rock, progressive rock, indies, female rock artists . . . and The Three Stooges.” He had an endless supply of wide-ranging trivia questions for his audience and daily asked who knew the answer to some obscure but fascinating question. Allan rarely met a question – trivial or otherwise – he didn’t like or couldn’t answer. His knowledge of butterflies, dragonflies, and moths was extensive, and Mark adds, “his collections of stamps, flags of world nations, license plates, and QSL cards that confirmed receipt of radio transmissions are legendary.”
President of Delaware Press Association from 2008 to 2018, Mark said in closing, “I was honored to call Allan a friend. His loss is deeply felt among his colleagues, friends, the academic community, and the State of Delaware.”
Listen to some of Allan’s Del-AWARE broadcasts.
Thanks to all who contributed thoughts, stories, and comments to this article on Allan Loudell. Photos courtesy WDEL and Paul Pruitt. All of us, as Linda Feldmann said, are “Sending heartfelt condolences to his family.”
Cards and messages for Allan’s family may be addressed and sent to:
Delaware Press Association
Attn: Family of Allan Loudell
1012 Kent Road
Wilmington, DE 19807
Or, if electronic, please send to DelawarePress@aol.com with “Allan Loudell” in the subject line.
