[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 44 (Wednesday, March 30, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Page S1973]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        REMEMBERING DON MARKWELL

 Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. President, it is appropriate that we take a 
moment to honor the man who was heard on the airwaves in Montgomery, 
AL, for decades. A friend and longtime radio host, Don Markwell, passed 
away last Friday. Don was born in Island, KY, and began his career in 
radio as a disc jockey for WNES AM in 1956. He and his family moved to 
Montgomery in the late 1950s. Don created Alabama's very first talk 
show on WCOV in 1959.
  In 1967, Don Markwell began the program he would later become famous 
for, ``Viewpoint.'' Talk radio was a new concept in the 1960s, and Don 
had the foresight to see its potential and popularity.
  Some people criticize the talk show format and the hosts. But it is 
an open forum. People could call Don and disagree, but they better be 
prepared. Listeners knew the drill. They filter the honest and 
dishonest, the fair and unfair. Indeed, talk radio is the modern day 
town hall.
  I was delighted to be Don's guest on numerous occasions. He never had 
a problem asking the tough questions--something I very much admired in 
him and try to emulate. For some years, I took to calling him ``Dean 
Don,'' dubbing him the dean of talk show hosts. He was that indeed. No 
one in Alabama and few, if any elsewhere, had such a record--he liked 
that, I think.
  When I first ran for office, attorney general of Alabama in 1994, Don 
was aware of many problems associated with my incumbent opponent. He 
brought those issues out, gave me and my record a chance to become 
known by his Montgomery audience. Don offered my opponent a chance to 
appear, but he declined. Radio talk shows provide lesser known and 
lesser funded candidates a chance to be known by the public. I know my 
talk show appearances, as a little known challenger, helped voters to 
know about my position on the issues.
  Don spent more than half a century working in the radio industry, 30 
of those years hosting ``Viewpoint'' and never lacking in enthusiasm 
and controversy. He was fearless and principled.
  His persona was libertarian. He was not happy with Republicans or 
Democrats. His problem with Republicans was that he expected more of 
them. He could spot a phony a mile--or 1,000 miles--away. Sometimes he 
spotted phonies that weren't phonies, but that was not often. June of 
2006, Don celebrated 50 years in broadcasting. In 2008, he retired from 
WACV-AM 1170 and said goodbye to the radio world. When Dan Morris took 
over Don Markwell's time slot on WACV, Dan kept the name ``Viewpoint'' 
and has continued Don's tradition of covering local and national issues 
during drive time.
  As anyone in Montgomery, AL, will tell you, Don is a legend and a 
pioneer in talk radio. His accomplishments and outstanding service to 
both the broadcasting industry and the public are surely worthy of 
commendation. And what a voice--rich and deep--it was instantly 
recognizable.
  My thoughts and prayers go out to Nell and the Markwell family in 
their time of grief. I, like many others, am grateful to have called 
Don a friend, and he will be dearly missed.

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