When did Al Allen retire from Fox 2? Detroit’s award-winning news legend dies at 79

Al Allen, an illustrious Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame member, died on Tuesday at the age of 79 after an amazing more than 50-year-long career with Detroit's broadcast news.

WJBK, the FOX affiliate where Allen spent nearly three decades of his career, confirmed his passing on Wednesday, February 5, through a statement from a family representative. Allen passed away on the evening of Tuesday, February 4, at a hospital in Metro Detroit, as reported by WJBK. The statement read:

“For nearly 30 years, Allen was a fixture on air on FOX 2, reporting on crime and corruption, featuring stories highlighting the best of people in Metro Detroit. He was a constant presence, bringing viewers traffic and weather reports with a style and sensibility that was uniquely his own."

From Little Rock, Arkansas, Al Allen moved to Detroit with his family, and it was there that he began his career in journalism reporting on his high school student broadcast program at Mumford High.

In 1984, Al Allen became a vital player at WJBK TV2 (then a CBS affiliate) and retired from the station in 2012 after years of success.

Al Allen became news director of KOKY radio in Little Rock in 1969. He returned to Detroit two years later as a reporter at WCXI-AM and WGPR-FM before rising to news and public affairs director at WJLB-FM.

Al Allen's career saw him being honored by United Press International, Associated Press, and the Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award. He was also nominated for an Emmy Award from the National Academy of Television, Arts, and Sciences. In 2019, he received the Working in the Spirit of Diversity Award from the journalism faculty of Wayne State University.

---

Tributes pour in for Al Allen

Amy Andrews a news anchor for Fox 2 took to her X to write:

"Al Allen showed me the ropes when I first got to @FOX2News. There was no better teacher. RIP my friend."

Taryn Asher, another news anchor at Fox 2, said:

"Longtime beloved #fox2detroit anchor Huel Perkins joined us on set tonight to honor his dear friend, legendary reporter Al Allen, who died last night at 79. He was not only our colleague, but our friend. He will be missed."

The Drew Lane Show also posted a tribute to Al Allen. The post read:

"I was so sorry to hear this in the morning. Just minutes ago I opened my Twitter and saw Al Allen TRENDING! It’s a small thing but it did my heart good as so many remember Al and felt the need to post something. @FOX2News"

Al Allen's passing marks the end of an era in Detroit's broadcast journalism, leaving behind a legacy of dedication, professionalism, and compassion. His remarkable contributions to news reporting over more than five decades earned him widespread recognition and admiration, not only from viewers but also from his colleagues and peers.

From his early days in Little Rock to his iconic role at WJBK, Allen's work embodied the essence of journalism, always striving to inform, uplift, and connect the community.