Longtime Montgomery radio personality Melvin “Mel” Marshall, 69, died Thursday in a traffic crash.

According to Alabama State University, Marshall had just finished his early morning show on the Alabama State National Public Radio station. He had hosted a show on WVAS for more than 30 years.

WSFA reported that the crash happened on County Road 13, about six miles east of Shorter, when Marshall’s 2006 Ford F-150 left the roadway and overturned in a ditch, before hitting a utility pole. He died later at a hospital.

A native of Shorter, Marshall was a graduate of Tuskegee University and an Army veteran. He worked as a full-time announcer and assistant program director in Prattville and Tuskegee and later handled promotions for The Commodores.

In 1983, Marshall helped launch WVAS-FM, a jazz-oriented public radio station on the Alabama State campus. He was also the halftime show announcer for ASU’s Mighty Marching Hornets for 28 years.

“This is an immeasurable loss to WVAS, to our community, and to his listeners around the globe,” Station Manager Candy Capel said. “Our WVAS family will cherish every moment of music and laughter that we shared with our beloved Mel Marshall.”

Marshall was the third Black inducted into the Alabama Broadcaster’s Association Hall of Fame in 2013.

ASU President Quinton T. Ross, Jr. said “there really was no other voice like his.”

“We are grateful for his contributions to the industry and for his work with ASU’s student interns over the years. His voice and his radio presence will be greatly missed,” Ross said.