Dawson McAllister

Dawson McAllister (November 14, 1946 – December 17, 2020) was an American speaker, radio host, and author. He was the host of the radio program "Dawson McAllister Live" on Sunday nights from 10:00pm–2:00 am ET, which had an average audience of 500,000 listeners a week. Up until his death, McAllister had developed another version of his call-in show, “Dawson McAllister Live!” and a topic-driven podcast available online.
He died December 17, 2020 at Vanderbilt Medical Center after being treated for heart problems.
Career: Public Speaking, Writing, and Youth Ministry.
The following is a timeline of key events in McAllister’s life at the beginning of his career as a youth minister, teacher, and speaker.
Top 40 Broadcasting and Online Ministries.
In January 2005, the Top 40 version of Dawson McAllister Live! signed on with its first affiliate station; KJYO in Oklahoma City. Eventually more 140 stations would air the show with a weekly audience of over 1 million listeners.
In 2012, McAllister launched Dawson 24/7, his first of two 24/7 streaming internet radio webcasts. He returned to Christian radio in February 2015 with his new show, TheHopeLine® with Dawson McAllister. Launched in partnership with Way Media Network, it was eventually syndicated on 109 stations.
McAllister and his team made the move to a fully web-based ministry in 2017 in an effort to reach as many teenagers and young adults as possible. His website, TheHopeLine.com, includes streaming radio, podcasts, social media, blogs, stories, videos, eBooks, online chat and mentoring, referrals to support groups and counseling organizations, and many other digital resources. ThePrayerZone.com, also a part of McAllister’s ministry, allows people to offer prayer for struggling teens and young adults, and allows people in need of prayer to make prayer requests.
Dawson McAllister Association.
McAllister’s nonprofit, the Dawson McAllister Association, funds the creation and distribution of the resources and media he provided to support teenagers and young adults in difficult life situations. It has been in operation for more than 40 years as a 501(c)3 organization.
Suicide Prevention.
One of the issues McAllister was most passionate about is suicide prevention among teenagers and young adults. In August 2016, “Dawson McAllister Live!” intervened in over 1,000 potential suicides in a month, setting a record in the industry.
Personal life.
In 1977, Dawson McAllister married Ruth Hill. Together, they had two sons, Fulton and Eugene. His son, Fulton, has significant disabilities due to a traumatic brain injury after a serious car accident. He often wrote about Fulton and shared messages of encouragement about Fulton on his various blogs. He and his wife lived on a farm outside Nashville, Tennessee.
On December 17, 2020, Dawson passed away from cardiac complications at Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee.
Education.
Dawson attended Bethel College in Minnesota for undergraduate work where he graduated in 1968 and began graduate studies at Talbot School of Theology in California. He also has an honorary doctorate from Biola University.
Areas of Support for Teenagers.
Offering emotional support and spiritual encouragement to teenagers has been central to McAllister’s work throughout his career as a writer, minister, radio and podcast host, and public speaker. He offered teenagers support in a variety of areas with the help of counseling organizations and professional counselors, including: