Longtime SEC Sports Broadcaster, Auburn’s Paul Ellen Passes Away

(KMDL-FM) A longtime radio voice of a longstanding LSU rival has passed away. The Auburn University Athletic Department confirmed the passing of longtime radio broadcaster Paul Ellen yesterday.

Ellen, who had spent most of five decades telling the story of Auburn athletics on the radio, was 75 years old at the time of his passing. The university confirmed Ellen's passing in a post made on social media yesterday.

Auburn University Confirms Longtime Broadcasters' Passing

Auburn football helmet

The post read:

For five decades, Paul was a trusted voice of the Auburn radio broadcast team. He will forever be a part of the Auburn Family. We offer our condolences to the entire Ellen family.

We echo those sentiments. As someone who has been in the broadcast industry for five decades myself, I can relate to the connection a broadcaster can make with an athletic program and its fanbase.

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I grew up in the shadow of the legendary Jack Cristil at Mississippi State University and had the pleasure of working with the man who followed in his footsteps, Jim Ellis, also well known as the voice of the Bulldogs.

I have also spent more than a few decades working alongside Jay Walker here at the University of Louisiana. I can't remember a time when the Cajuns played a big game, and Jay Walker wasn't in the booth. I am sure many of you can relate and probably have a bit of compassion for the fans of Auburn.

How Long Was Paul Ellen a Broadcaster for Auburn University Athletics?

Paul Ellen was the host of Auburn's football broadcasts. Many LSU Tiger fans may have listened to him and his team set up games when the Bayou Bengals traveled to "the Lovliest City on the Plains" to do battle with those Alabama Tigers.

If you're a sports fan who truly has a passion for sports before TV timeouts and NIL divas, and fanbases who never even heard of the word loyalty, you'll appreciate what Paul Ellen brought to the experience. He will be missed. And Saturday afternoons will miss him, too.