One of Michigan’s Most Beloved Longtime News Anchors Has Passed Away

An entire state is mourning the loss of one of the most beloved news anchors in Michigan’s history, as it was announced on the afternoon of January 5 that long-time Detroit Fox 2 news reporter, Al Allen had passed away.

Al Allen, who was born Andrew Long, moved to Detroit when he was only 13 and got his career started off as a radio DJ. But he would develop his own personality through the years of reporting things like the weather on the overpass off I-75 and 696. Fox 2 Detroit put together a special video package for him, commenting on just how much he meant to the community and the station:

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For more than 30 years, Allen has been part of the fabric of Detroit. As part of the Fox 2 family covering tough stories, but always finding a way to highlight. What’s best in our community. He always helped us shape our days with traffic, weather and news reports, always bringing his own style and sensibility.

They went on to highlight some of the accomplishments that he reached over his career

Alan won many local and national awards, including recognition for his reporting on the death of Jimmy Hoffa, and for issues plugging the African-American community in Detroit. He was eventually inducted into the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame.

Watching the news growing up on the East Side, a lot of the news anchors and reporters are people who become a part of your daily life. Al Allen was a very special reporter, and when he retired in 2012, it was a tough loss for the station and the community.

But those of us who remember him will always be able to appreciate the years of entertainment and information that he delivered to us.