STATION MOURNS PASSING OF LONGTIME POLITICAL COMMENTATOR LOUIS FREY JR.
Special stories air Tuesday-Thursday to commemorate him
October 15, 2019 — 90.7 WMFE is sad to announce the passing of longtime WMFE political commentator and former Congressman Louis Frey Jr. He died Monday at age 85.
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From left, Intersection producer Brendan Byrne, host Matthew Peddie, political commentators Lou Frey and Dick Batchelor at WMFE in March 2016. Photo by Jenny Babcock / WMFE[/caption]
WMFE & 89.5 WMFV will air stories this week commemorating Frey:
♦ Feature: Hear from his friends and colleagues. The story aired during Tuesday’s All Things Considered (4-6 p.m.) and Wednesday’s Morning Edition (5-9 a.m.). Listen to the story>>
♦ Thursday at noon: Intersection host Matthew Peddie remembers Frey with former co-commentator Dick Batchelor as well as commentator Frank Torres.
What's your favorite memory of Lou Frey over the years? Send us a message or voice memo. We might use your message on the air or online.
Frey dedicated more than 20 years as a political commentator on WMFE’s TV and radio stations. In 1996, he joined Channel 24’s The Lawmakers with Batchelor, a former Democratic state representative, and that was carried over to WMFE radio in 1998 on The Notebook. Later, the red-and-blue duo, known fondly around the station as “Dick and Lou”, appeared in a regular political segment on Intersection, from 2007 until 2016.
WMFE honored him in March 2016 with an apple pie and cheddar cheese reception, where former President and General Manager LaFontaine Oliver presented him with a plaque thanking him for two decades of public service and his continuing dedication to the station.
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Lou Frey, left, receives a plaque from former President and General Manager LaFontaine Oliver for his two decades of public service as a political commentator on WMFE. Photo by Jenny Babcock / WMFE[/caption]
Frey’s daughter Julia L. Frey followed in her dad’s footsteps to give back to public radio. She served on WMFE’s Board of Trustees from 2009 until 2017, serving as chair from 2014-2015.
“Our hearts go out to Julie and the Frey family,” Peddie said. “Lou made a lasting impact through his public service on our airwaves and in the community, and we are so thankful we got to work with him.”
About Community Communications Inc.:
Community Communications Inc. is a non-profit, member-supported, community-based public broadcasting company that operates 90.7 WMFE-FM, metro Orlando’s primary provider of NPR programming; 90.7-2 Classical; and 89.5 WMFV, public radio for The Villages, Leesburg and The Golden Triangle. Part of the community since 1980, Community Communications focuses on providing quality national and local news and programming. Visit wmfe.org and wmfv.org for more information.
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MEDIA INQUIRIES: Please contact Communications & Marketing Specialist Jenny Babcock at jbabcock@wmfe.org or 407-273-2300 ext. 112.