Lou Dietrich, N2TU, gave priority to building community across the globe through radio - and he was a prominent advocate of that in his former role as chairman of the board of directors of the International DX Association.

Lou became a Silent Key on the 15th of August.

He had been a DXpeditioner as well as a DXer, knowing that the thrill of the chase is only half of the challenge. He was part of the K1N activation of Navassa Island in 2015 and a team co-leader for the K5P Palmyra DXpedition in 2016. He was also part of the Sable Island CYØS DXpedition in 2023 and the St. Paul Island DXpedition CY9C in 2024.

Lou was originally licensed as WV2RNW as a teenager in high school in the 1960s and after his license lapsed, became relicensed in 1981.

His obituary on the ARRL website noted that he had been part of the league's DX Advisory Committee. His awards from the league include Ten-Band DXCC and the DXCC Top of the Honor Roll. He belonged to the Carolina DX Association

Lou was 78.