Dick Burden, a revered figure in broadcast engineering, died on Saturday at the age of 92.His death was peaceful and occurred in his sleep, as announced by the Society of Broadcast Engineers’ Los Angeles chapter 47 via their Facebook page.
Richard W. Burden, born in 1931, was pivotal in shaping multiple areas of broadcast engineering from the mid-20th century onwards. His contributions spanned FM stereo development, TV/radio audio engineering, and he was instrumental in the establishment of the Traveler’s Information Service.
Innovations and Legacy
Burden’s technical innovations included the initiation of a control carrier for switching from FM mono to FM stereo, along with the development of the stereo light indicator. He was also instrumental in founding the Traveler’s Information Service at Los Angeles International Airport, contributing to the adoption of 530 and 1610 kHz as the original operating frequencies for this service.
Continued Influence and Contributions
Even in the later years of his life, Burden remained actively involved in the broadcast engineering community, frequently attending trade shows and supporting various professional organizations, including his local SBE chapter. His longstanding commitment to his profession and community is remembered fondly by colleagues and friends.
News source: Society of Broadcast Engineers
