Alfred William Edel
Encyclopedia
Alfred William "Al" Edel (July 30, 1935 – July 3, 2005) was a veteran news broadcaster who anchored the newscast for the Voice of America
on shortwave radio.
. He graduated from the College of Wooster in Ohio
and received his master's in communications from Syracuse University
. Edel worked for radio station, WBKW in Buffalo before moving to Frankfurt
, Germany
in 1960 to broadcast on the thirteen station American Forces Network
in Europe
. In 1966, he moved to New York City
to join ABC Radio News to anchor the network's newscasts, which were broadcast across the United States
. In 1969, Edel moved to Sioux Falls, South Dakota
to anchor the television newscasts for KSOO-TV (later renamed KSFY-TV
). In 1980, he moved to Washington, DC, where he worked at ABC as a news writer for Good Morning America
. In 1982, Edel anchored the newscasts on the Voice of America
shortwave radio service for eighteen years.
After his retirement in 2000, Al Edel moved to Utah
. On July 3, 2005, he died of cancer
at the age of 69 in a hospice in St. George, Utah
. He was survived by his wife, two sons, and three granddaughters. He had requested that no funeral or memorial service be held.
Voice of America
Voice of America is the official external broadcast institution of the United States federal government. It is one of five civilian U.S. international broadcasters working under the umbrella of the Broadcasting Board of Governors . VOA provides a wide range of programming for broadcast on radio...
on shortwave radio.
Biography
Al Edel was born in Buffalo, New YorkBuffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
. He graduated from the College of Wooster in Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
and received his master's in communications from Syracuse University
Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
. Edel worked for radio station, WBKW in Buffalo before moving to Frankfurt
Frankfurt
Frankfurt am Main , commonly known simply as Frankfurt, is the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth-largest city in Germany, with a 2010 population of 688,249. The urban area had an estimated population of 2,300,000 in 2010...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
in 1960 to broadcast on the thirteen station American Forces Network
American Forces Network
The American Forces Network is the brand name used by the United States Armed Forces American Forces Radio and Television Service for its entertainment and command internal information networks worldwide...
in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. In 1966, he moved to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
to join ABC Radio News to anchor the network's newscasts, which were broadcast across the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. In 1969, Edel moved to Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Sioux Falls is the largest city in the U.S. state of South Dakota. Sioux Falls is the county seat of Minnehaha County, and also extends into Lincoln County to the south...
to anchor the television newscasts for KSOO-TV (later renamed KSFY-TV
KSFY-TV
KSFY-TV is the ABC television affiliate in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. It broadcasts on ATSC Channel 13 . Its transmitter is located near Rowena, South Dakota. KSFY is currently owned by Hoak Media Corporation of Dallas, Texas.-Station history:...
). In 1980, he moved to Washington, DC, where he worked at ABC as a news writer for Good Morning America
Good Morning America
Good Morning America is an American morning news and talk show that is broadcast on the ABC television network; it debuted on November 3, 1975. The weekday program airs for two hours; a third hour aired between 2007 and 2008 exclusively on ABC News Now...
. In 1982, Edel anchored the newscasts on the Voice of America
Voice of America
Voice of America is the official external broadcast institution of the United States federal government. It is one of five civilian U.S. international broadcasters working under the umbrella of the Broadcasting Board of Governors . VOA provides a wide range of programming for broadcast on radio...
shortwave radio service for eighteen years.
After his retirement in 2000, Al Edel moved to Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
. On July 3, 2005, he died of cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
at the age of 69 in a hospice in St. George, Utah
St. George, Utah
St. George is a city located in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Utah, and the county seat of Washington County, Utah. It is the principal city of and is included in the St. George, Utah, Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city is 119 miles northeast of Las Vegas, Nevada, and 303 miles ...
. He was survived by his wife, two sons, and three granddaughters. He had requested that no funeral or memorial service be held.
External links
- Al Edel's obituary in the Washington Post.
- S. D. Watch Blog entry