R.I.P.: Allan Loudell, Longtime Delaware Radio Newsman

Allan Loudell

Longtime Delaware radio newsman Allan Loudell has died at the age of 64, according to wdel.com.

Louden joined WILM Newsradio in Wilmington in 1987, working there for 18 years as Program Manager before joining WDEL in 2005, hosting morning and afternoon magazine-style programming during his time as an anchor and host before his departure in 2020.

"Allan was someone who was admired and respected, and by far the most interesting person I've ever worked with," said Chris Carl, Director of News & Programming for WDEL-FM/AM. "From his knowledge about news and current events to his varied hobbies, you always had an interesting conversation with Allan. And he truly cared about radio and the news profession."

"I'm very sad to hear that Allan has passed away. I tell people that, in my 30 years of public service, I've developed a list--just a personal list of good guys and gals, people that were really good to work with," said Governor John Carney.

"Allen was one of those guys who 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.

Loudell founded the Suburban High School Radio Network, hosted high school journalists during his time at WDEL and WILM, covered the Gulf War, Soviet coup-attempt, and was a master at elections coverage. He grew a stable of local, national, and international journalists around the world to cover news in every corner, earning the moniker "Man of a Million Sources" from Delaware Today in 2011.

"Allan Loudell was quite possibly the quirkiest man I've ever met and always the smartest guy in the room," said WDEL Assistant News Director Amy Cherry. "He was an expert interviewer, loved a good game of trivia, but really truly loved radio and adhered to the highest journalistic standards. We're like a family in the newsroom, and we'd poke fun at Allan, and he'd always respond with a phrase we came to love: 'Too much frivolity!' But you know, he loved it."

He won numerous awards over his lengthy career, including from the Delaware Press Association, a national Crystal award, "Best Radio Newscast" from the Society of Professional Journalists, "Best Radio Star" from Delaware Today, the National Federation of Press Women, and the "People Helping People" award from the Delaware Chapter of People to People International.