Dex Allen Obit. -- Pittsburgh Radio and TV Nostalgia

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Date Posted: 18:26:52 05/27/18 Sun
Author: Jeff Roteman
Subject: Dex Allen Obit.

Here is the Obit for the late Dex Allen:

Claude "Dex Allen" Turner 1943 - 2018 Rancho Santa Fe Claude Turner, known professionally as Dex Allen, passed away surrounded by his family on May 5, 2018. Born in a WWII blackout in Ventura, CA in 1943, Claude's family subsequently moved to Burbank, CA where he spent his childhood. His interest in broadcasting began with his father, a radio engineer who was in charge of the Armed Forces radio and television in Hollywood after returning from WWII.At the age of 15, at John Burroughs High School in Burbank, Claude or "Butch" as he was nicknamed, was chosen to be DJ of the week after winning a contest at KLAC radio in Los Angeles. Butch went on at 19 to work as a page at NBC Studios Burbank, where he met his wife, Karen; a tourist waiting in line for a TV show called "First Impression." They married in 1963, and the all night DJ newly christened Dex Allen, began his career in Indio, CA. From there he went to work for KQV radio in Pittsburgh, part of the "Fun Lovin Five" in 1964. The highlight of his career there was his opportunity to tour with the Beatles, broadcasting from their concert in Baltimore in September of 1964. He traveled with the Beatles again during their west coast tour in 1966 while working for KOL radio in Seattle. Determined to come back to Southern California, Dex became a morning DJ at KCBQ radio in San Diego. He soon realized his entrepreneurial personality was better served in sales. FM radio was a new format in San Diego, and Dex was hired as general manager of KPRI radio in 1976. The station was then in the sparsely populated Sorrento Valley. His wife Karen recalls driving him out there on his first day and realizing he had no idea where his new office was.The next stage of Dex's broadcasting career meant ownership, and he went after it. Together with his partners from the law firm Thorsnes, Bartolotta, McGuire and Padilla, he formed Commonwealth Broadcasting, with stations in the Western US.Dex's next venture was with CapStar radio in the 1990's, responsible for 42 stations in the West. In 1998, he relaunched Commonwealth with the purchase of 21 stations. Always looking for a new challenge, he decided to go into the newspaper business with the purchase of the Rancho Santa Fe Review.At the time of his death, he was still involved with a group of radio stations called Mapleton Broadcasting. His passion for the business never stopped. Dex and his wife Karen traveled the world with their children and grandchildren, Maui being his destination of choice. He cherished his role as a grandfather. Shortly before his death, he said to his wife, "We did it all." And they did!He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Karen; children, Kimberlee Turner Andrews, Kori Turner Bick and Todd Turner; as well as grandchildren, Collin, Michael, Claire, Matthew and Cole. He is also survived by his sister, Sheila; and nephew and niece, Heath and Holly.

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