I feel compelled to write this letter about the recent passing of Lee Hendee of WALH Radio.

I am new to town — very new, as we just moved here on Jan. 7 to take the new Assistant Professor of Accounting position at Wilmington College. My wife, Molly, and I relocated from Jackson, Ohio, where I was teaching full-time at the University of Rio Grande/Rio Grande Community College. I really enjoyed teaching there. I also had a tax preparation business there.

However, my love was really here at Wilmington College. I had taught here in the past, and I feel so fortunate to be here.

August 2016 to this past May was nothing short of a whirlwind of activities of selling our home, teaching at both colleges, and relocating here.

I met Lee through social media and listening to his station. He was so welcoming to us! He had my students and I on-air no less than three times in a period of eight months. As many may now know we re-launched the VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) program at the college, where our students prepared tax returns for taxpayers meeting certain criteria — for free.

Lee was such a supporter of this program. He shared this information through broadcasts and word-of-mouth promotion. He was even our first tax client at the site!

What touched me the most about Lee was that during this process, out of the blue, he would send me a message just wondering how were doing with our move! He was always open to suggestions when I had questions about where to live, have our auto serviced, etc.

Of course, we all remember the drive he did for the folks in Tennessee with the forest fires last fall.

Lee Hendee … I have enjoyed listening to his music on the radio, public announcements, and his support in my transition here. Outside of the college, Lee supported and guided me more than anyone else in this town.

As he said when I told him this move would be taking place, he said “We welcome you with open arms.” That was Lee Hendee. God bless, Lee. We will miss you!

Allen “Al” Beatty

Wilmington