The Original Famous Hams and ex-Hams List

by N2GJ and W2SG

To our readers:  We make no claims as to the absolute accuracy of this information, gleaned from many sources, including lots of apocryphal hearsay!  However, we have made every effort, through exhaustive research and direct communication with many of the people on this list and their relatives and associates, to maintain as accurate a list as possible.

I've received a great deal of help from my old college friend, Steven Glazer, W2SG.  We were both in the Rutgers Amateur Radio Club (WA2NPP) together.  Steve and I believe that a worthwhile goal for the site is not only to highlight those folks with amateur radio licenses who have found some interesting thing that distinguishes them from the pack, but also to try to verify each entry, adding links that support the inclusion of that person, along with links to pictures, QSL cards, memorable stories, etc.  We hope to continue to make this list the pre-eminent Famous Radio Amateur Operator/Notable Hams list in the world!

http://users.tellurian.com/gjurrens/new02.gifStan Horzepa, WA1LOU, a pretty famous author in ham radio circles and a contributing editor whose "Surfin'" column appears each week on the ARRL web site, chose our site for his July 4th, 2003, feature!  We are delighted for the mention, located at the following link:  " You Are in Good Company."

How YOU can help us to improve this site:  we are looking for either QSL cards or pictures for each of the entries on our list.  We would like to get pictures in standard formats (bmp's, jpg's, gif's, etc.) or, if you don't have a scanner, the actual item, which we will be happy to scan for you and return (an SASE would be very helpful).  Send me an email describing what you've got....thanks!

Popular belief says Donnie Osmond (the entertainer) and others are currently amateur radio operators.  For years, I harbored the same misconception.  Check out our "Rumors and Mistaken Identities" listings at this URL.

So you may know, I've been building my list since the early 1980's, starting on a New Jersey Bulletin Board System -- later on Prodigy and GEnie ham/hobby boards.  The HTML version here dates back to the early 90's. I've added a section at the bottom for sites that appear to contain similar info, including inaccurate info we've long ago corrected!  Do not hesitate to link to our site if you'd like.  It's free, and, like ham radio itself, we derive no pecuniary interest from this site.

Helpful notes:  for those unfamiliar with amateur radio jargon, the acronym "SK" means "Silent Key" - a a time-honored radio euphemism for "deceased."  Wherever possible, we've tried to determine the age at death, which follows the date in parentheses.  An "Elmer" is a person who helps another become a ham by offering encouragement, training, and, sometimes even radio equipment to get started in the hobby.  A "SWL" is a Short Wave Listener.  A "YL" is a female operator (Young Lady of any age).  An "XYL" is a male ham's spouse.  "MARS" is the Military Affiliate Radio System which has historically relayed messages among active service men and women and their families.  The "QCWA" is the Quarter Century Wireless Association, comprised of radio amateurs who have been active for at least 25 years.  "ARRL" is the national association for amateur radio.  "OOTC" is the Old Old Timers Club. 

Please send additions, clarifications, amplifications and corrections to me, Gerry Jurrens, N2GJ:

[Click HERE to send me email]

For general info on ham radio (amateur radio) click on: How Ham Radio Works or visit ARRL, the national association for amateur radio.  A new website is now online: http://helloradio.org/ 

See also the "CQ Magazine Amateur Radio Hall of Fame" at:  CQ Hall of Fame. (It is not my intention to duplicate entries for people on that list, unless they are likely to be known by the general public.)

If you are thinking about getting a vanity callsign, check my list before you visit N4MC's Vanity Callsign HQ, lest you wind up with the callsign of someone whose history may not be one you'd like to be reminded of....

Tom Roscoe, K8CX, has built a wonderful site full of ham radio QSL cards, many of which relate to people honored here.  Please check out his web site at:  www.hamgallery.com/qsl/.  

IMDB is the Internet Movie Data Base.  Their URL is at:  www.imdb.com.

QRZ! is the pre-eminent source of ham radio information, including free access to the FCC's amateur radio data base.  Their URL is at:  www.qrz.com.  Donations are graciously accepted there.

U.S. Callsigns

Name

Claim to Fame

Notes & Sources

(US & Foreign)

Various

****Astronaut and Cosmonaut hams **** ==============================================>

see astronaut hams

K1AC

Keith Henney

Author of many classic electronics texts.  (ex-K2BH); K1AC call re-issued to "Low Band DX Club" in Arizona; first licensed as 8ZD in Marion, OH in 1915; he was also an editor of "ELECTRONICS" magazine and of technical books at McGraw-Hill; article w/pix; wrote New Hampshire history books after his retirement; 11 of his technical books listed here.

(SK) (died in 1990 at age 94); W2AAB; links & updates W2SG

K1ADJ

Peter Guber

One of the most successful and powerful producers and executives in Hollywood; see bio  

K1VR

K1AKE

James M. Moran

Dr. Moran is the "Donald H. Menzel [W1JEX] Professor of Astrophysics" at Harvard, a leading researcher in the field of astronomical masers and black holes.  Received "2003 Fellow of the IEEE" award.  Links.

W2SG

1ANB

Phillip H. Smith

inventor of "Smith Chart" used to calculate transmission-line impedance.  See bio.  See also IEEE oral history.

W2SG

W1AST

Harold Dorschug

Also W8AST; was Chief Engineer for WTIC AM FM TV3, then VP of Engineering Research and Development; Dorschug was one of the two engineers on duty in Master Control the night  of Orson Welles' famous 1938 broadcast of "The War of the Worlds."  See obit with picture:  here.

W2SG

W1AW

Hiram Percy Maxim

Inventor, radio pioneer, early aviation pioneer; ARRL Founder also known as "The Old Man."  Full biography; short bio; a picture of Maxim's 1915 Station (1ZM); his card; picture of his invention, the firearms silencer (for which he may be more famous than ham radio); Burial site.

(SK) 17-FEB-1936 (66); N8EE; updates & links W2SG

K1AYA

Walter "Pee Wee" Hunt

musician, band leader and recording star; bio; MARA Newsletter article and another; ham radio mention; some albums; other recordings; 

(SK) 22-JUN-1979 (72) ; W8SU; update W2SG

K1BFG

Robert A. Payne

Retired Air Force Brig General, WW II B-17 pilot, POW.  See ARRL article;

W2SG

W1BKR

William F. Baker

President of flagship public television station WNET, Channel 13 in New York City; see also QRZ! profile; he previously served a dual role as President of Westinghouse Television, Inc. (from 1979) and Chairman of Group W Satellite Communications (from 1981).

W2SG

W1CCN

Maj. Gen. Elmer P. Yates (Ret.)

Nuclear power pioneer in U.S. Army.  See article.

W2SG

KA1FZQ

Lawrence S. Bacow

President of Tufts University.  See "Tufts Online Magazine" article.

W2SG

WB1GCE

Arthur B. Beal

At the age of 18 became Naval aviation ordnance chief, one of the youngest to ever achieve this rank. He served on the "USS Ranger" (CV-4), a unique World War II aircraft carrier and infamous "ghost ship" that sank five German ships after Axis U-Boat commander Otto von Bulow believed he had "sunk" her in 1943.  Links.

(SK) 04-July-2004 (80); W2SG

W1JEX

Dr. Donald H. Menzel

Leading Harvard astrophysicist, author, and Director of the Harvard College Observatory for many years.  Links.

(SK) 14-DEC-1976 (75); W2SG

K1JT

Dr. Joseph H. "Joe" Taylor

Ph. D. in Physics; co-winner with (Russell Alan Hulse, ex-WB2LAV, KN2ITQ) of 1993 Nobel Prize in Physics for discovery of binary pulsars. Scientist/Princeton University Dean of Faculty (1997-2003)/James S. McDonnell Distinguished University Professor of Physics; see Nobel Autobiography;  Author of "WSJT" and "JT44" weak signal mode software; Bill, KP3O, recently retired from the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico, designed the filter bank and receiver that Joe used in his research.  Link to JARL newsletter with summary of 1993 “QST” piece about Joe.   Prior callsigns:  KN2ITP (Novice) and W1HFV.

KP3O; W2SG

N1JZS

Monroe Y. Mann, Jr.

Author and actor who has appeared in TV series "Third Watch" and "100 Centre Street" ; official web site.

W2SG

W1KFG

David W. Borst

Founder of student-run college radio and the Intercollegiate Broadcasting System (IBS), at Brown Univ. (WBRU); IEEE Fellow in the field of power semi- conductor devices. (ex-W2IAU); article w/picture; granddaughter's eulogy; Brown University Alumni Magazine Online obituary.

(SK) 08-DEC-2000 (82); W2SG

W1KOO

Paul E. Hope

Radioman of the "USS Dorchester," WW2 casualty of the famous Four Chaplains who gave their life jackets to other servicemen.  Interesting links and story about the US postage stamp here.

W8SU and KK8W

K1OKI

Dr. Michael P. "Mickey" Schulhof

Former Chairman and CEO of Sony America now runs a private investment firm in New York according to ARRL article; Ph.D. in Physics; commercialized CD music; interesting "Red Herring" article; "Business Week" article on his ouster from Sony;

updates NE2Q and W2SG

KA1SA

Richard S. Lindzen

Alfred P. Sloan Professor of Meteorology at MIT; "a leading expert in the physical processes of the atmosphere"; widely published and written about for his contrarian views on global warming and related issues (see, e.g., The New York Times (6/18/96), Newsweek (7/23/01)); elected to both the National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences at age 37.  Links.

W2SG

W1UHI

Ernest Wheatley

Was once known as the "oldest living US ham," died at age 106 in 1993; see "Amateur Radio Newsline" article.

(SK) 1993 (106);  W2SG

1XS

Reginald Aubrey Fessenden

Scientist; prolific inventor; wireless pioneer; licensed in 1928 for 20 meter station in Newton, MA ; made first radio broadcast of human voice and music on Christmas Eve 1906 from Brant Rock on Massachusetts coast; spent final days in Bermuda. Articles and pictures:  here, here, here, here, here, here, and here;  See VP9F below.

(SK) 22-JULY-1932 (65);  W2AAB; update & links W2SG

W1ZE

Irving Vermilya

"the first licensed radio amateur in the U.S.A."  See "Boston Radio Archives" article; co-founder of OOTC and its first President in 1948; operator at old "CC", original Marconi wireless station on Cape Cod at South Wellfleet, MA; "Worldradio" article; his original spark call was "VN"; Another interesting link:  "Amateur Number One," by "VN" from February 1917 QST.

(SK) JAN-1964 (73); links W2SG

N1ZSU

Ted Ts'o

Linux kernel developer; personal web site

VE7RJT

KA1ZY

Dr. Gary B. Ruvkun

Professor of Genetics at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital; widely reported groundbreaking researcher in the field of genetics and aging using C. elegans worm, the first live creature to be completely gene-sequenced; Ruvkun Lab web site, including CV /w pix; personal home page; description of research at Massachusetts General Hospital; "Harvard University Gazette" article;

WA2NGB; links W2SG

W2AFX

Donald G. Fink

Former President of IRE; first General Manager and Executive Director of IEEE; prolific author and editor of electrical engineering books.  bio; obit;

(SK) 03-MAY-1996 (84); W2SG

K2AGZ

David A. Mann

Composer, born David Freedman; wrote hundreds of songs, his most popular perhaps was "There I've Said It Again"  -- "was the last #1 hit in the USA before The British Invasion. It was knocked out of 1st place by The Beatles' hit 'I Want to Hold Your Hand.')" according to his "Composers/Lyricists database entry;" "NY Times" obituary requires registration.

(SK) 01-MAR-2002 (85); W8SU; update W2SG

W2ALS

Frank Gunther

Established first mobile two-way police communications system in 1932, opening up VHF mobile spectrum; FM pioneer with Armstrong.  See ARRL article.

(SK) 31-MAY-1999 (91);  W2SG

K2AMH

Robert A. "Bob" Moog

Founder and President of RAMCO (1953), builder of theremins, as well as many other electronic wonders.  His "Moog Synthesizer" became the ad-hoc standard for composers in the electronic media for many years.  The landmark album, "Switched on Bach," was composed/performed on his device.  See fascinating company archives site.   Links.

(SK) 21-AUG-2005 (71); via N1ND; KC5EXU; updates W2SG, Jeff Winner (raymondscott.com)

WB2AQC

George Pataki

No, not THAT George Pataki!  This prolific traveler/writer ham is responsible for lobbying Senator Barry  Goldwater to sponsor the legislation that eliminated the rule that limited licensing to US citizens only.  He also helped supply information that led to the publishing of the first callbook (American Flying Horse) of Soviet radio amateur callsigns.  This encouraged other Eastern European radio clubs to send their lists to the CallBook and the secrecy and prohibition was ended!  official web site; refer to my Rumors page for more information.

WB2AQC

W2ATW

George W. Rogers

Famous (infamous) as the chief radio operator on the ill-fated S.S. Morro Castle.  First hailed as a hero, he later came under suspicion for starting the fire.  See Thomas Gallagher's highly-detailed account, "Fire at Sea."  Later convicted of a double murder, Rogers died in prison in 1958.  See article.

(SK) 10-JAN-1958 (61); W2AAB; link W2SG

W2BML

Dr. Harold H. Beverage

Inventor of the Wave antenna, more commonly known as the "Beverage antenna."  Consulting engineer for RCA for years.  Philip B. Peterson Article.  Oral History.

W2AAB; articles W2SG

W2BWC

Leslie J. Fitzgibbon

Longtime tennis official and champion; won the National Father and Son Tennis Tournament in 1967; inductee of the Eastern Tennis Assn. Hall of Fame. Links.

(SK) 19-SEP-2003 (90);W2SG

2CVJ

Robert Hart

Ham who received in his Hartsdale, New York, cellar first transatlantic TV signal transmitted by its inventor, John Logie Baird, from amateur station 2KZ in London on February 8, 1928; three days later, The New York Times compared the feat to Marconi's first transatlantic transmission of the letter "S" in 1901.  Links.

W2SG

K2FX (1)

Durwood "Dee" Finch

One of the team of "Klavan and Finch", radio personalities on NYC station WNEW.  , W2AAB says "Dee was a super CW op, usually on 40 or 20 meters." (ex-W2SJH); "DCNY Radio" listing; (K2FX call has been re-issued).

(SK) 29-MAR-1983; W2AAB; W2SG sent this W2SJH QSL

K2FX (2)

Capt. Paul Kolacki

Coincidence?  Paul currently works for the #1 rated Radio Station in Rochester, NY where his show is also the top rated show on the station; Radio Station web site; nice personal web site; 

K2FX

K2GL

Hazard E. Reeves

Invented the stereophonic sound system used with Cinerama; avid radio contester; #1 on "CQ Magazine Contest Hall of Fame."  See biographical notes.

(SK) 23-DEC-1986 (95); NN4X

KB2GSD

Walter Cronkite

Former TV Journalist, long-time CBS correspondent, avid sailor.; Has an asteroid named after him! ARRL CD-ROM

(SK) b. 04-NOV-1916 St. Joseph, MO d. 17-JUL-2009 New York, NY (92);

K2HEP

John Sculley

former CEO of Apple Computer.  (Callsign lapsed)

-

WA2HVM

Ronald A. Swoboda

New York Mets baseball player from long ago.  (Callsign lapsed); picture at site with those of many CBS retirees.

from Winter "Callbook" magazine 76-77; link W2SG

W2IBO

Robert Miller

former Chief Engineer, RCA Astro Electronics; now retired.

K2RCG

KC2IJI

Casey W. Raskob III

Attorney specializing in traffic violations, featured in "The Learning Channel" documentary "Speed Traps," official web site; "National Motorists Association" web site. ("NY Times" article (28-MAR-2003) by Dana White requires registration.)

K2GW; links W2SG

K2JK

Elmer C. Easton

former Dean of the Rutgers College of Engineering when W2SG and I went to school there; elected Fellow of ASEE in 1983; received ASEE Centennial Medal in 1993;

W2SG

WA2JXX

Gerson Strassberg

Inventor of the plastic pocket protector.  Newsday mini-bio.

W2SG

W2KFB

Julian D. Hirsch

Longtime audio and stereo equipment journalist and engineer, whose consumer reviews often appeared in "Popular Electronics," "Stereo Review" and "Sound & Vision."  Links.

N3IJW; W2SG

KC2KNU

Daniel J. Peng

Princeton University Class of 2005 student who ran afoul of the Recording Industry Association of America and settled with them to the tune of US$15,000; if you would like to help, Dan has put a link online; "Trenton Times" article; picture and article from "Daily Princetonian."  Interesting trivia/note:  N2GJ was on the Volunteer Examiner team when Dan passed his ham license! 

google search

WB2LAV

Russell Alan Hulse

co-winner with K1JT of 1993 Nobel Prize in Physics for discovery of binary pulsars; See Nobel Autobiography.  See also note on web site of Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory.  (Callsign lapsed)

W2SG

KB2LHI

Joe Walsh

"Guinness Book of World Records" lists him as the "World's Fastest Shooter."  See ARRL article.  

(SK) 28-FEB-2000 (60)

W2LX

Stuart Dubois Cowan

Co-authored numerous antenna books with Bill Orr (W6SAI); during WWII, following graduation from Princeton, bunked with motion-picture star Robert Montgomery while serving as communications officer aboard flagship destroyer USS Barton (DD-722) on 06-JUN-1944 (D-Day) screening for invasion fleet at Normandy and supporting troops ashore at Omaha Beach using 80 meter amateur band. Princeton University Class of 1939 obit/memorial; books; article by Cowan regarding his USN service; 

(SK) 18-NOV-1999 (82); W2SG

K2LYS

Mark Rudd

Self-styled revolutionary, Students for a Democratic Society  (SDS) leader and member of the "Weather Underground" in the late '60's and early '70's.   Documentary nominated for 2003 Academy Award.  (Callsign lapsed)  Links.

W2SG

W2MEZ

Raymond Scott

Prolific composer/electronic-music pioneer/inventor (patented a
scanner radio)/musician/bandleader; official web site; actual clips of some Scott music played on radio broadcasts by K2ORS; (ex-W6TMH in the '70's); "Director of Electronic Music R&D" for famed music mogul Berry Gordy's Motown Record Company; the method of coding that
Raymond Scott developed (claiming it was faster & more efficient than other modes of that period) was called "MorseMatic."

(SK)  08-FEB-1994 (85); W2AAB; links and email from Jeff Winner to W2SG

W2MFW

Jerome H. "Jerry" Schatz

Child actor who played the "spoiled rich kid" in the "Our Gang" comedies (credited as Jerry Tucker); see Hiram's Hams Amateur Radio Society web site; survived injuries sustained on 14-APR-1945 while serving aboard USS Sigsbee (DD-502) when struck during a Kamikaze attack off Okinawa; see bio; pix; XYL is Myra, WA2FIW; recent picture.

K2TV; links W2SG

W2MGE

Martin Block

Radio personality known for "Make Believe Ballroom" in New York (various listings have it on WABC, WOR, WNEW); "Radio Hall of Fame" bio; a book entitled "The Hits Just Keep on Coming" by Ben Fong-Torres contains stories, interviews and photos of Block and others from the "Golden Age of Radio."  In phone conversation, son Gene told me his father used to identify himself by saying "Wasting 2 Much Good Energy!"

(SK) 18-SEP-1967 (~64); W8SU

WA2MKI

Lazarus Louis "Larry" Ferrari

Musician/TV personality; bio;  posthumously inducted into the "Hall of Fame of the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia" on 16-NOV-2000.

(SK) 20-NOV-1997 (65); W2SG

K2MLT

Walter Steven Taylor

Vintner/artist/inventor/aviator/poet/auto racing enthusiast and distant relative of P.T. Barnum; interesting "Vineyard & Winery" article; obit; official web site; court decision barring his use of "Taylor" wine trademark here; stories behind the lawsuit here and here; Greyton H. Taylor Wine Museum web site.

(SK) 20-APR-2001 (70); links W2SG

WA2NGB

Paul H. Ginsparg

Professor of Physics and Computer and Informational Science at Cornell University; 2002 fellow of MacArthur Foundation ("Genius Award"); creator of on-line system for distributing scientific research results, widely known as " arXiv.org"; as a theoretical physicist, he has made substantial contributions in quantum field theory, string theory, conformal field theory and quantum gravity.  Pictures:  link1, link2; MacArthur Fellowship ("Genius Award") article; "Physics Today" article.  (Callsign lapsed).  

May 2003 " Scientific American"; links W2SG

W2OJW

F. Gerald "Jerry" Powell

New Jersey Ham who is the subject of a book published in April 2003 called "Hello World:  A Life in Ham Radio," by Danny Gregory (KC2KGT) and Paul Sahre (KC2KHN); the project grew out of the authors' purchase of  his QSL collection at a flea market in Manhattan, after more than 70 years of operation; OOTC # 2964.  Book reviews here, here and here; we recently received PDF versions of the "New Yorker" review, the "New York Times" review, "QST" review.   Links.

(SK) 27-FEB-2001 (92); W2SG; click here for my own mini- review

KC2ONX

Dr. Gregory H. Olsen

Space Tourist and entrepreneur, Dr. Olsen has a Ph.D. in materials science from the University of Virginia. He founded Sensors Unlimited in 1991 and sold it five years ago for $700 million.  Photo

see also: astronaut hams

KA2ORK/J3

Mark Barettella

Medical student who was sole source of communication from Grenada during U.S. invasion on October 25, 1983 (now licensed as N2MD).  Links.

W2SG

K2ORS

Jean Shepherd

Author/Actor/Radio/TV personality.   Links.

(SK) 16-OCT-1999 (78); W2SG

KB2PNN

Matthew Ahearn

New Jersey Assemblyman (D-38th District); NJ official site; sponsored NJ amateur radio legislation;

W2SG

NE2Q

Jay Kolinsky

In 1969, invented and manufactured the electronic sirens used on most burglar and fire alarm systems throughout the world . U.S. Trademark "Earsplitter". Holds a number of other U.S. patents. (ex-WV2BLX, WA2BLX).  See Jay's OpEd on p. 95 of Feb. 2003 "QST";  Greater Norwalk ARC; Malm's official web site

W1FXQ

W2QBO

Wilson Greatbatch

Inventor of the cardiac pacemaker; article.  "Mars Society" interview.  (Callsign lapsed)

W2SG

W2RID

John F. Rider

CEO of John F. Rider Publications, publisher of many radio, electronic, and technical textbooks; books; more books; picture of "Rider's Perpetual Troubleshooter's Manual" from John Dilks' antique radio web site.

W2AAB; links W2SG

WA2SEI

Raymond Czyzewski

Polka drummer of some renown, played with the band that eventually became the “Young Rascals” with Eddie Brigati (vocals), and Felix Cavaliere (keyboard, vocals).  Played for many years with Jimmy Sturr’s band, which can still be seen on channel 379 on DirecTV every Friday night.

WA2SEI

WA2SGC

Robert M. "Bob" Cusumano

Jazz trumpet great who played with many big bands and on the Merv Griffin TV show.  Links.

(SK)  ??-SEP-1987 (73) W8SU  and KK8W; W2SG

W2SGG

Stan Danko

co-inventor of printed circuits; Smithsonian Web site; Philip B. Peterson article.

W2SG

W2SKE

William "Bill" Leonard

former President of CBS News; wrote famous "Sports Illustrated" article, "Battle of the Hams."

(SK) 23-OCT-1996 (78); W8SU and KK8W

K2SSQ

Henry R. Feinberg

Designed "E.T.'s" communicator in Steven Spielberg's 1982 movie "E.T."; has had a long career as "interpreter of science and technology for the public."  See QRZ! profile; official "E.T." web site w/Feinberg credit;

W2SG

KH2TD/KH2TE

Jacco & Jannie van Tuyl

Father and mother of 13-year old Willem; family was attacked on 28-MAR-2000 by pirates wielding AK-47 machine guns off the coast of Honduras; Willem was paralyzed and his emergency care was provided for by K4TCV.  ABC News story; Jefferson City News Tribune article; "Cruising World" piece;  K4TCV "Champ" Award; ARRL one article and another.

W2SG

WB2TED

Ted David

co-anchor of CNBC's "Morning Call"; former ABC News correspondent; CNBC article.

W2SG

KA2WEU

Dr. Ulrich L. Rohde

From the Rohde & Schwarz company; neat QSL; article on appointment as professor; press release:  elected IEEE fellow; official web site; publications; ARRL book review;

KF7E; links W2SG

W2YHO

Herman Gross

Recognized, at age 86, as the World's Oldest Active Scuba Diver.  Interesting undersea slide show.  (as of 2003)

 

KX2Z

Anthony Bongiovi, Jr.

Cousin of Jon  "Bon Jovi" Bongiovi.  NJ Rock Star!  QRZ!  Profiled in March 1990 issue of QST at page 46.

VE7RJT; W2SG

K2ZCZ

George Pataki

Governor of New York 1994-present.  (Callsign lapsed; now re-issued).  His brother, Louis, is K2PRB. Confirmation of Pataki's ham status and call as K2ZCZ" via "ARRL Letter" article and Amateur Radio Newsline" article.

links W2SG

W2ZGU

John W. Campbell, Jr.

Named Publisher of "Analog" magazine in 1938.  (See Vol. 1, No. 1, of "73" magazine for highly interesting article on amateur radio); official web site; Space.com article; Click "Search" and enter his name at this URL for a very complete bibliography (ignore message 'No data found'; another interesting link. 

(SK) 11-JUL-1971; W2AAB; links W2SG, KAŘAZS

W2ZH

Dr. E. Stuart Davis

Personal Telegrapher to President Franklin D. Roosevelt.  Telegraphers museum.  Station & personal effects are on rotating display at the Smithsonian.  He was a personal friend of W2WU & resident of Union, NJ when he became a SK; original spark call was "4IV"; interesting article; K2AVJ recollections; 

W2WU; links W2SG

W2ZK

Amory "Bud" Waite

Radio pioneer, inventor, and Polar explorer, after whom the Waite Islands and Cape Waite are named; rescued Admiral Byrd in 1934.  Links:  W2DME article; William L. Fox article; autograph.  Postage Stamp.  Google search.

W2SG

W2ZXM

Capt. Kurt Carlsen

Survived sinking of the Flying Enterprise, which sank in storm near Falmouth in 1952.  Later sailed the world, operating maritime mobile on Flying Enterprise II.  (Callsign now re-issued to Wayne, ex-N4OJY); interesting article.  George Csahanin, ex-WB2DYB
now W2DB wrote to say "I can confirm Capt. Kurt Carlsen W2ZXM was a ham, worked him many times after he retired to his home in Colonia (Woodbridge Twp., NJ). He was a member of the Woodbridge Radio Club (146.22/82 repeater). Saw him many times at meetings. He kept daily skeds with Ben Stevensen W2BXA for many years ."

(SK) 07-OCT-1989; W2DB; N1VP

NR3A

Michael D. Griffin

Eminent physicist and space scientist nominated by President George Bush on 11-MAR- 2005, to be the 11th Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Ex-AA6BM. Links.

W2SG

W3ACE

Armin H. Meyer

Former US ambassador to Japan, 1969-1971 - oral history; also former Ambassador to Iran, held EP2AM in 1969. He was also the Ambassador to Lebanon.

W8SU and KK8W; EP2 info from K9UE; link W2SG

WZ3AR

Nathaniel T. Heatwole

Guilford College student from Damascus, MD, who is widely reported to have allegedly committed acts of civil disobedience during the third week of October 2003 by leaving skyjack materials (including box cutters and simulated plastic explosives) on two Southwest Airlines planes, resulting in inspection of all commercial US airlines; July 2003 recipient of Foundation for Amateur Radio (FAR) $1000 Scholarship; his father is N3FX (ex-KB3ENM). (WZ3AR is ex-KB3CBW).  Links

AA5VU; W2SG

W3ATN

Jules Helzner

Noted musician, composer/arranger and band leader. credited on a video called "Life Was A Lark"; UPENN listing;

W3ATN

3BEC

Arthur M. Young

Inventor of the first commercially practical helicopter (Bell Helicopter), as well as philosopher, poet and painter; official web site.

(SK) 30-MAY-1995 (89); W2SG

N3BIZ

Dr. Winthrop M. Leeds

High-voltage circuit-breaker designer and developer at Westinghouse Electric for 44 years; inventor with 100 patents; Fellow of the IEEE; designed the circuit breakers for the Hoover Dam. Haverford College obituary.

(SK) 11-MAR-1998 (92); W2SG

W3BW

Brian F. Wruble

(ex-W4BIE); one of 15 original crew in 1969 of "NR-1", secret Cold War submarine, capable of diving 3000', powered by Navy's smallest nuclear reactor; subject of recently published book; original crew also included LCDR (Ret.) Robert T. Lunt, N3IFF (ex-WA8LBY); ARRL book review; QRZ! picture

W2SG

W3DCL

Dr. Michael S. Brown

Recipient of the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1985 for discoveries concerning the regulation of cholesterol metabolism; "An amateur radio operating license obtained at age 13 led to a life-long fascination with science."; (callsign lapsed and re-issued);  Nobel Award article; Nobel bio; University of Texas Hall of Fame inductee; Cheltenham High School Hall of Fame inductee.

W2SG

KB3DE

Lawson P. "Red" Ramage

"Red" earned the Medal of Honor after a submarine that he commanded, the USS Parche (SS 384), attacked a heavily-escorted Japanese convoy in the South China Sea off Taiwan on July 31, 1944, sinking two enemy vessels and damaging several others. The Parche's crew received a Presidential Unit Citation, and President Franklin D. Roosevelt personally presented Ramage with the Medal of Honor on January 10, 1945.  Links.

(SK)15-APR-1990 (81); W2VX, WE4C, W2SG

W3DEF

Stephen Aug

broadcast and print journalist (now semi-retired); former business correspondent for ABC News and "Good Morning America"; "Old Radio" column.  (ex-K2EOF)

update W2SG

W3GV

Frank Dawson Bliley

founder of Bliley Electric Co., manufacturer of amateur radio, military and commercial RF crystals beginning in 1930; W3GV now club call.  See interesting company history by Charles A. Bliley, K3NAU.  (ex-8AGR, 9AXT, 8XC)

(SK) MAY-1955 (49); W2SG, K3NAU

W3HRD

William R. "Bill" Ruth

Chief Warrant Officer 4, Maryland Army National Guard soldier who died in the hijacked-jetliner attack on the Pentagon; flew medevac helicopters as a Marine officer during Vietnam War; Gulf War veteran.  US Army obituary.  Memorial site.

(SK) 11-SEP-2001 (57); W2SG

KA3IAX

Rebecca T. Mercuri

internationally-known expert on electronic voting & computer security; has been interviewed numerous times in various media; interactive resume; 

-

K3ISR

Dr. John H. Joseph

President of the University of Maine at Machias (UMM); credited with helping to raise the enrollment at UMM during his relatively short tenure (from 2000).   Links.

(SK) 10-MAY-2003 (60); K2GW

WA3MFH

Lt. Col. Pierre A. Finck, MD

Forensic pathologist, one of three doctors who performed the controversial autopsy of John F. Kennedy shortly after JFK's assassination.  See transcript of oral history of Dr. McMeekin (K4MUT) referring to Finck's interest in amateur radio, at page 9.  Finck's signed statement re autopsy.  Finck's testimony to the Warren Commission.

W2SG

KD3P

Scudder Georgia

Medal of Freedom recipient, WWII OSS operative, founding member and senior communications chief of Central Intelligence Agency.  Links: Maury Peiperl W3EF remembrance here; ARRL article; obit.

(SK) 26-DEC-2000 (86); W2SG

W3PTB

Perry T. Blum

WWII POW in Stalag 17.  "Stalag 17" was a famous 1953 movie starring William Holden, and the TV series  "Hogan's Heroes" was also based on Stalag 17.  See Montgomery Newspapers Online article.  

W2SG

W3QKT

John M. Wolfskill

Inventor in field of crystal-controlled RF and chief engineer for Bliley Electric Company. See W3GV. bio here.  (ex-W8QKT)

(SK) 15-DEC-1981 (73); W2SG, K3NAU

WA3SWS

Stephen E. Uhrig

Surveillance expert who appeared with Gene Hackman in 1998 movie "Enemy of the State" ; "Business 2.0" calls Steve "one of the most respected surveillance and technical countermeasure specialists in the world."   Links.

W2SG

WA3VJB

Paul Courson

broadcast journalist, reporter, producer -- see "Amateur Radio Newsline" article.

AE6J

W4BUG

Charles D. "Chuck" Ritchie

Served two US presidents during his US Army career with the White House Army Signal Agency, where he headed the Press Radio and Television section. (ex-K2GRM).  Links.

(SK) 13-FEB-2004 (79); W2SG, W4RIS

W4BW

A. Prose Walker

former head of FCC's Amateur and Citizens Division (1971-75), co-authored CONELRAD plan, IEEE Fellow, and "godfather" of the WARC bands; see ARRL article. 

(SK) 08-AUG-2002 (92); W2SG sent this W4BW QSL 

N4CBC

Lt. Col. John H. DeWitt

Completed first moonbounce (Earth-Moon-Earth/EME) transmission from Fort Monmouth, NJ, on 10-JAN-1946.  Links.

(SK) 25-JAN-1999 (92); W2SG

W4CGP

Chet Atkins

Singer/Composer/"Certified Guitar Picker"; (ex-WA4CZD); ARRL obit;

(SK) 30-JUN-2001 (77)

KD4CKM

Veronica L. "Roni" Bowers

Baptist missionary killed, along with her infant daughter, when her Cessna 185 float plane was shot down over the Amazon jungle by the Peruvian Air Force, mistaking them for narcotics traffickers; her husband, Jim, (KD4CKN), and their young son survived; various reports are here, here, here, and here.

(SK) 20-APR-2001 (35); W2SG

WA4DSY

Dale A. Heatherington

PC modem pioneer and co-inventor of "smartmodem" on a dining-room table in 1977 with Dennis Hayes; co-founder of Hayes Microcomputer Products in 1978; subject of detailed article in "The Atlanta Journal-Constitution" 23-NOV-2003. Links.

W2SG

K4EB

Larry Junstrom

Bass Guitar player for the rock group 38 Special; official web site;

K4GZZ; link W2SG

K4FW

Albert R. "Al" Kahn

Founder of Electro-Voice, which derived its name in an interesting way:  Legendary Notre Dame football coach and Professor of Chemistry Knute Rockne needed a device to amplify his voice during practice so his players could clearly hear him. In the late 1920's, Mr. Kahn built him a public address system which Knute referred to as his "Electric Voice."  The name stuck. Electro-Voice grew and emerged as a leader in professional audio equipment.   K4FW was also instrumental in the founding of Heathkit, supplying it with WWII surplus parts in the late 1940's; in 1968, he founded Ten-Tec with Jack E. Burchfield, K4JU, now Ten-Tec's President.  See biography.  Official web site. (ex-W8DUS, QSL via W2SG)

W2SG

K4GIO

Col. Jack G. Hines (ret.)

Retired Army Signal Corps soldier who was signal security officer for President Franklin D. Roosevelt at the Yalta Conference in February, 1945, (where the fate of post-war Europe was decided); signal adviser to Military Assistance Command--Viet Nam a (MACV) in early 1960's; Hines' role is discussed in a book about the subject; received Legion of Merit

(SK) 04-APR-2003 (83); W2SG

N4HX

James R. Bullington

Peace Corps Director in Niger; holds 5U7JB; as former ambassador to Burundi (ex-9U5JB); Letter from Niger w/ham pix; President Reagan making Burundi appointment; Henry Kissinger re Viet Nam service

KF7E; links W2SG

N4HZP

Henry M. Harrison, Jr.

aka "Uncle Henry" -- Announcer/emcee of Jim Bakker's "PTL" TV show; See article.

W8SU and KK8W; link W2SG

K4IC

Lt. Gen. Thomas H. Miller

Former head of Marine Corps Aviation; before his retirement in 1979; very highly decorated combat pilot in WWII, Korea and Vietnam, set world's speed record on 5 September 1961 of 1216.78 mph in F-4 Phantom II, for which he received Distinguished Flying Cross.  Links.

W2SG

K4ICA

Vera Mayree Tallman

Founder/past president YLISSB System; she also was a nurse and one of the first airline stewardesses for American Airlines in Little Rock, Arkansas; see official YL International web site; links.

(SK) 19-JUN-2001 (99); W2SG

WA4IUM

Samuel G. "Sam" Brown

Broadcast TV and radio news journalist who has received numerous national awards, including the first ARRL Media Excellence Award.  "Newstalk99" article; ARRL article; Columbia University item (with picture).

W2SG

KF4KBT

Sakura M. Christmas

"USA Today" 2003 High School All-Stars, first team, Sakura pens two nationally syndicated comic strips, "Bad Advice From Bagnana" and "Laissez Faire," and publishes monthly cartoons in "Seventeen" magazine; national cartooning winner, "Quill & Scroll Society for High School Journalists;" Presidential Scholar; science club president; math club secretary; teen court defense attorney; does volunteer work with Red Cross as a licensed ham radio operator.   Links.

-

N4KC

Don Keith

Birmingham, AL-area ham will soon publish his eleventh novel, a techno-thriller set aboard a nuclear submarine and in the jungles of South America.  (ex-WN4BDW, and WA4BDW). Official web site.  New book web site.

W2SG

WB4KCG

Ronnie Milsap

Singer/Songwriter; Spoke at Dayton Hamvention, MAY-1998; official web site;

VE7RJT

N4KET

David T. French

TV journalist; formerly with CNN; current whereabouts unclear.

-

KD4KMQ

George B. "Byron" Hill

Country music songwriter, whose hit songs have been widely recorded by such singers as George Jones, George Strait, Ray Charles, Randy Travis, Anne Murray, Conway Twitty, and Clay Walker, among many others; 
official web site.

W2SG

WB4KVB

Paul Yandell

Musician (with Chet Atkins) see also - brief bio

AE6J

W4LAA

Paul Kangas

co-anchor and financial commentator of Nightly Business Report see NBR web site; see also ARRL article; Profile;

K0CBA; links W2SG

K4LIB

Arthur Godfrey

TV personality (SK); See Arthur Godfrey K4LIB Fan Club; Radio Hall of Fame bio;

(SK) 16-MAR-1983 (76)

KI4LUH

Vice Admiral Donald C. Arthur

35th Surgeon General of the Navy; Chief, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery.   Links.

AI4ME & W2SG

WD4LZC

Larnelle Harris

Country/Christian Music Singer.  Seven-time Grammy winner; official web site.

K4GZZ & W2SG

WB4MCJ

Carl Rochelle

Former CNN and ABC news correspondent; Mini-bio on the McGinn Group web site.  Was seen filing a report on the military buildup in the Middle East on NBC Nightly News 08-MAR-2003. Recently under contract to MSNBC as a Pentagon correspondent.  

W2SG, WA3VJB

W4MWW

Kenley M. Lanter

(ex-N4DTI), one of only 317 survivors of the torpedoing on July 30, 1945, of the cruiser USS Indianapolis (CA-35), which went down in the Philippine Sea with 1196 sailors and Marines, the worst naval disaster at sea in U.S. history, shortly after it delivered the first atomic bomb to Tinian Island, from where it was later dropped on Hiroshima, Japan,  by K4ZVZ. Lanter spent almost five days floating in the deepest waters of the Pacific, surviving unbearable heat, hunger, thirst, exhaustion, hypothermia, dehydration, shark attacks (which alone killed some 200 of the men), delirium, hopelessness and unimaginable hardship. God bless him and all his shipmates. The recent best-seller, "In Harm's Way," by Doug Stanton, is a definitive history of the disaster. Links.

W2SG

N4OC

Admiral Edmund P. Giambastiani, Jr.

Recently-retired Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.  Very nice interview in “CQ Magazine” -- October, 2007.

W2SG

WA4PBG

Montie Fowler Cone

Obituary in the Washington Post said he was a former assistant director of the American Radio Relay League (ARRL).  See Silent Key article from ARRL.

(SK) 24-AUG-2002 (95); K2GW

AD4PU

Laura Sobon Murray

This University of CO graduate is an Extra class ham who enjoys CW.  She was the recipient of 2002 NCDXC Scholarship.  Laura also spent two years (2007-2008) as a Denver Bronco's Cheerleader.  She is a recruiter for a Denver-area Information Technology consulting firm.  Links

K2GW

KG4RGN

Larry L. Wheeler

Ham who saved life of 83-year old Walter C.Siebert (K3KBR) on 7/15/03, when Wheeler received Siebert's distress call on 75 meters, after a 911 call went unanswered; the story is being made into a segment for "PAX" network television show "It's a Miracle," which was scheduled to be televised in February 2004 (according to an article in the 12/15/2003 issue of the "Daily Press" Virginia).  Links.

W2SG

N4RH

Ralph A. Haller

former FCC Personal Radio Bureau chief; currently a consultant with Fox Ridge Communications - see web site; 

links W2SG

N4RJR

Vice Admiral Frank O'Beirne

Flew with Colonel Charles Lindbergh as member of Navy's early aviation stunt team; was squadron commander of 12 PBY-3 patrol planes at Pearl Harbor on 7-DEC-41, all of which destroyed or disabled; CO of carrier USS Midway after WWII; directed first test of air-to-air rocket missiles at Sandia labs in NM in 1957; member of Joint Chiefs Staff; commanded Atlantic Fleet's Naval Air Forces; obituary; official Navy picture as a Lt. (j.g.) on 16-AUG-1929;  Picture showing dramatic scenes of N4RJR and 1957 atomic tests ("Plumbbob") at Sandia. His wife Grace is buried beside Frank and their daughter, Anne, at Arlington National Cemetery.

(SK) 19-OCT-1998 (94); W2SG

N4RVE

Steven K. Roberts

Author of the book "Computing Across America" and famous for his bicycle operations complete with "all-band" ham radio station. Lately he's been busy with other TechNomadic projects.  He got quite a bit of world- wide media coverage about a decade ago, when he was traveling around America with his monstrous recumbent bike; (ex-WN4KSW, KA8OVA).   Links.

Ari OH7KA (Finland)

KD4SYB

Carlos Luis Caceras

One of three United Nations relief workers killed by a mob of militiamen in West Timor, Indonesia, on September 6, 2000; article. eham.net article official web site; see listing below for 9A4SP.

(SK) 06-SEP-2000 (33); W2SG

KB4TM

Michael R. Starling

Vice President for Engineering at National Public Radio.  Official bio.

W2SG

K4TPJ

David Funderburk

former US Congressman (R-2nd Congressional District of NC -- 104th Congress), former US Ambassador to Romania during Reagan Administration.  See bio. 

W2SG

WB4TUN

Duncan W. Mackiernan

brother (and sometime colleague) of Douglas S. Mackiernan (also a ham), said to be CIA's first atomic spy, who was shot in 1950 by Tibetan border guards while fleeing Communist Chinese. Their story is the subject of recent book, "Into Tibet."  Check out this recent MIT article; and this, from the "NY Times".

W2SG

W4TXL

Zachary "Zach" Reynolds

Son of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company founder; QSL card; call re-issued to his brother-in-law, Bill, the current holder of W4TXL.  Bill reports that "Zach got me into ham radio in the early 60's."  Bill also told us that "Zach died in a plane crash in North Carolina in 1979."

W8SU and KK8W; link W2SG from K0CX and email from W4TXL

WA4UDB

Luke H. "Jack" Montgomery

Co-founder of WSM radio in Nashville, TN, in 1922, and engineered first broadcast of the Grand Ole Pry in 1925; built first US commercial FM station in 1938; early pioneer of the pacemaker and IRE Fellow for developments in medical electronics; assistant professor at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine; (ex-WA4ADF);  obituary;

(SK) 12-OCT-1998 (91); W2SG

W4USR

Dennis J. Had

Founder of Dentron Radio Company, Ameritron, and Cary Audio Design; picture at official web site.  (ex-K8KXK)

W2SG

KG4UYY

James L. "Lance" Bass

'N SYNC pop singer and cosmonaut wannabe.  "Amateur Radio Newsline" article.

W2SG

W3VCG

Martin L. Kaiser, III

Electronic security and countermeasures expert.  Subject of interesting story at link.

WA3SWS

KB4VJG

Tommy Tucker

Band Leader and network radio host; bios here and here;

(SK) 13-JUL-1989 (81); W8SU; links W2SG

AC4VW

Gordon Barnes

Meteorologist (ret.); (ex-KC4OCA); see also biography.

AC4VW

W4WRO

Emory L. Gordy, Jr.

Country music record producer and husband of country-music singer Patty Loveless (nee Patty L. Ramey, KD4WUJ).  See "Amateur Radio Newsline" article.; also ARRL Letter.  "Resigned" license May 2007 for unknown reasons.

N8PUU, AA7OA; links W2SG

KD4WUJ

Patty L. Ramey

AKA "Patty Loveless"; Country Music Singer (Her Agent) and (mini-bio); sang "You Don't Seem to Miss Me" w/George Jones at 1997 CMA Awards telecast; her husband is record producer Emory Gordy, Jr., W4WRO. "Resigned" license May 2007 for unknown reasons.

AA7OA; N8PUU

KR4XL

Captain Richard R. Stark

Assumed command of "Ohio"-class/"Trident" nuclear submarine "USS Kentucky" (SSBN 737) on 15-SEP-1994.  Very nice personal web site.

W2SG

N4ZFM

Robert E. "Zack" Turner

Country music songwriter, who has been widely recorded, including "High-Tech Redneck," written with Byron Hill (KD4KMQ) and sung by George Jones.  Lyrics and audio clip for High-Tech Redneck (mentioning CB and shortwave but not ham radio!)

W2SG

W4ZG

Worth Z. Gruelle

Son of John Barton " Johnny" Gruelle, the originator of the "Raggedy Ann & Raggedy Andy" series, and who continued the tradition, along with his siblings. (Callsign lapsed and re-issued).   Links.

(SK) ??-APR-1997 (84); W2SG

K4ZVZ

Brig. Gen. Paul W. Tibbets

World War II Hero; Pilot of "Enola Gay" the B-29 aircraft which dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan at 8:16 AM on 06-AUG-1945, resulting in the end of World War II.; (callsign lapsed "due to hearing problems" according to Gen. Tibbets' email.) official web site; Jacob Beser, ex-W3NOD, was the radar countermeasures officer on the mission.

(SK) 01-NOV-2007 (92); AA7OA; link and email W2SG; W3NOD citation via AA7OA

W4ZVZ

Colonel William M. Long

World War II Hero; P-51 pilot who was credited with shooting down 3 ME-109's over Germany after becoming separated from his squadron; he also led a successful B-24 bombing raid over an airport south of
Paris just before D-Day (article); later became the US military attaché to Turkey before retirement; awarded the Legion of Merit and 2 Distinguished Flying Crosses; avid MARS member.

(SK) 24-MAR-2003 (83); K2GW; links W2SG

W5ACT

Andrew J. Wallace

TV weatherman who played NOAA Weather radio operator in Warner Brothers' movie "Twister"; ex- KC5GHH; Mini-bio.  According to AD5WS, "Andy's previous call sign was WX5LAW when he lived in Lawton, OK and worked for KSWO-TV (from 1992 to 2003). He now lives in Waco, TX and works for KXXV-TV and KRHD-TV."

W2SG; AD5WS

W5BQU

Byrl H. "Tex" Burdick, Sr.

Reputed to be "oldest [living] ham in the US"; turned 103 years old on 25-SEP-2003.  Links.

W2SG

W5CY

Howard Robard "Sonny" Hughes, Jr.

Inventor, Pilot, Hollywood producer, America's first billionaire; IMDB says his nickname was: "The World's Greatest Womanizer"; biographical links:  here and here;  1927 film produced by Hughes, "Two Arabian Nights," is one of only 3 Academy Award winning films unavailable for viewing.  Click here to see why!

(SK) 05-APR-1976 (71); N8EE and W8SU; links W2SG

KK5DON

Donald A. Smith

High-profile Texas cameraman/reporter/producer for NBC and CBS News; was CBS News cameraman who shot the burning of the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, Texas, where AB5KZ and AB5LA died.  Links.

W2SG

WD5DVR

Mike Ross

US Congressman (D-Arkansas), believed to be only other
ham now in U.S. Congress (with WB7OCE) (as of 3/7/2003); see ARRL News article; official web sites here, here and here

W2SG

NT5E

Curtis W. Robb

President and Chief Executive Officer for Delta Technology, Inc., serves as Chief Information Officer for Delta Air Lines, Inc. at its world headquarters in Atlanta, GA.  Corporate bio.

NE2Q

K5FLU

Martin F. Jue

President of MFJ Enterprises, Inc., which he founded in 1972.  Official web site. Pictures here (speaking), here (Martin on left), and here (plant).

W2SG

KA5IFV

John McCalmont

Actor who appeared in movies "Acts of Love" and "The Evening Star," and on the TV series "Walker, Texas Ranger"; resume.

W2SG

N5IN

Dr. Ronald A. Stordahl

Founder, CEO and Chairman of Digi-Key Corp., one of the top ten U.S. electronics distributors, named for the digital electronic keyer that he developed and marketed while obtaining his Ph.D. in electrical engineering. (ex-K0UXQ); official web site; Corporate profile; Dayton 2002 Hamvention picture

W2SG

W5IXP

Col. William A. Gresham

Army Colonel who retired after 34 years, with three Legion of Merit medals; postings included Army Attaché in Argentina, as well as Military Attaché in Nepal, where he was base radio contact with Father Marshall Moran (9N1MM) in 1963 for first successful U.S. Mount Everest expedition; co-founded America Nepal Society on 05-JAN-1967; obituary;

(SK) 21-DEC-1998 (79); W2SG

W5KL

Brig. General Leland W. Smith

U.S. Marine Corps. (retired); President Emeritus of QCWA; President of OOTC; first licensed in 1930 as W4AGI, later as W4YE while serving in Atlanta, GA; both former calls now held by his sons!  Links.

(SK) 15-FEB-2004 (90); W2SG, AG4ZB

AB5KZ

Jeffrey C. Little

Branch Davidian who died during FBI/BATF raid at Waco, TX; See FBI report; "QST" article; pathology report (in PDF format); (ex-KJ5HJ).

(SK) 19-APR-1993 (31); W2SG

AB5LA

Douglas Wayne Martin

Branch Davidian who died during FBI/BATF raid at Waco, TX;  (ex-KJ5HK).  "QST" article; pathology report (in PDF format);

(SK) 19-APR-1993 (42); W2SG

W5MAP

Robert A. Broding

Leading inventor in field of oil exploration, who made major contributions regarding sonic logging; bio;

(SK) 20-APR-2003 (86); W2SG

W5MUG

Floyd Teetson

Retired ARRL Delta Division Director and his wife Winnie, WN5YTR, (69) were slain in a robbery in Louisiana.  See "Amateur Radio Newsline" article.

(SK) 22-FEB-1996 (74); W2SG

K5PSG

Peggy Sue Gerron-Rackham

The namesake of the late Buddy Holly's 1957 "rockabilly" hit "Peggy Sue"-- Rackham went to high school with Holly and later married the drummer in his band, "The Crickets." After participating in special event station W5B she was excited enough to want to get her ham license! (ex-KE5AKW)  Links.

WA6FAH; W2SG

W5QN

Wilbur "Bill" Dearing

Member of the "oldest US ham" club, according to the ARRL, having replaced George "Dewey" Wilson, W7HF, who died at age 102 on 08-JUL-2000. The ARRL mistakenly (?) thought at the time that no other living US ham was born in the 19th century.  ARRL story.

(SK) 20-SEP-2000 (101); W2SG

W5STD

Leo J. Potvin

WWII communications officer for Admirals Halsey and Nimitz.  See article on Northwest Louisiana Amateur Radio News.

W2SG

KD5VNP

Barbara R. Morgan

Next NASA "educator astronaut" due to fly into space; her predecessor and best friend, Christa McAuliffe, was killed in the Challenger shuttle disaster in 1986; Morgan was McAuliffe's back-up; Morgan was licensed in March 2003.  Links.

W2SG

KC5VWK

Richard J. Abruzzo

World famous balloonist.  Links.

W2SG

K5ZC

Jay Maynard

That "Tron-suit" guy who keeps showing up on the "Jimmy Kimmel Show!"  Link.

WD0ACD

5ZJ

Ralph W. Goddard

Cousin of pioneering rocket scientist Robert H. Goddard; first head of EE dept., and, later, dean at New Mexico State University where he created world's most powerful college radio station (KOB) in 1920, and first radio station in NM; electrocuted while working there on New Year's Eve. Station now named after him (KRWG-FM). NMSU history; Las Cruces history and timeline; 

(SK) 01-JAN-1929; W2SG

WA6AAA

Bryan K. Joseph

writer/TV series creator of "Adam-12", "Three's Company", and others

KK8O

6AE/6FT/6WH

Frederick E. Terman

Professor of Electrical Engineering at Stanford University for many years.  Author of  "Radio Engineering" - for many years the standard text.  According to article, Dr. Terman held the callsign 6FT.  He also held 6WH:  see Stanford Amateur Radio Club W6YX history.  Picture and memorial link.

W2AAB; 6FT/6WH info W2SG

WB6ACU

Joe Walsh

Guitarist/Singer/Songwriter/Eagles; official site

W2SG

WA6AEH

John A. "Johnny" Zell

Musician, solo trumpet player for Lawrence Welk.  He is still active in ham radio and has his own band in the LA area.  QRZ! profile/pix;

KN6NS

W6AQ

Dave Bell

Movie producer;  (ex-W6BVN); See brief bio.  Dave's picture.

W2AAB; links W2SG

K6ARO

William A. Wilson

first U.S. Ambassador to the Vatican.  At his suggestion, the Knights of Columbus donated new equipment to the Vatican amateur radio station HV1CN.  See article.

W2SG

K6ATX

Walter A. Tompkins

Author/writer.  Some titles:  "SOS at Midnight", "CQ Ghost Ship", "DX Brings Danger" and "Death Vally QTH". Credited as a screenwriter for the TV series "Death Valley Days" as well as others.  (callsign reassigned) IMDB link.

K1YQ

K6BBC

Tony Randel

Hollywood director of "Hellraiser II (1988)" among others; black belt in Kenpo Karate; His former callsign, WA6LGW, is heard over a shortwave radio in this and two other films he worked on!  see: IMDB

KK8O

KB6BES

Peter H. "Pete" Lovio

Played tenor sax in early Frank Zappa band, "The Omens," circa 1958-62. (callsign lapsed) Story contained in 20-FEB-2004 edition of Los Angeles Daily News (Antelope Valley).  Frank Zappa link mentioning Lovio:  here

W2SG

6BHI

Dr. Harold A. Zahl

Military electronics and radar pioneer who invented Zahl radar tube used throughout  WWII, beginning with early detection of attack on Pearl Harbor.  See:  SMECC article; "InfoAge" article; Philip B. Peterson article.

W2SG

K6BJ

John L. Reinartz

Early radio pioneer, inventor, North Pole explorer.  Very nicely done memorial web site.  (ex-JL, 1XAM, 1QP)

(SK) 05-OCT-1964 (70);  W2SG

WA6BND

Stephen G. "Steve" Wozniak

Co-founder of Apple Computer in 1976; bio; interesting "Q&A" piece where Wozniak confirms he had his ham license by 6th grade;  speech crediting "Tom Swift" novels and ham radio as early influences. (ex-WV6VLY (novice call); (callsigns lapsed); See also picture.

W2SG; W4RIS

K6BP

Bruce Perens

Maverick software engineer with movie credits on "A Bug's Life" and "Toy Story 2"; Linux guru.  See "Linux World" article.  Claims to be driving force behind international "no-code" movement; official web site; (ex-WA2TNM)

W2SG

KD6BUP

James M. Treybig

Son of former Tandem Computer CEO; father is W6JKV.  As of latest updaes, no longer listed in FCC database.

KE6DIO; update W2SG

W6CGD

Clyde E. Wiegand

Renowned physicist who worked on Manhattan Project and present at first detonation of atomic bomb;  See obituary.

(SK) 05-JUL-1996 (81);  W2SG

K6DGN

Keith A. Wester

Emmy Award-winning sound engineer; earned Oscar nominations for his work on "The Perfect Storm," "Armageddon," "Air Force One," "Black Rain," "The Rock," and "Waterworld."  See Norwich (CT) Bulletin article.  See also IMDB details.

(SK) 01-NOV-2002; W2SG

W6DOE

Clarence Leonidas "Leo" Fender

Prolific musical-instrument inventor, including the legendary Telecaster and Stratocaster Fender electric guitars. (callsign reassigned several times).  Links.

(SK) 21-MAR-1991 (81); W2SG

K6DUE

Roy Neal

Late TV personality/producer;  retired NBC News correspondent; major expert in spaceflight and science; starred in ham radio videos. Links.

(SK) 12-AUG-2003 (82); W2SG

K6DXK

Ernest P. Lehman

Writer, Producer, Actor, Director; won Honorary Academy Award for lifetime achievement 25-MAR-2001.  Links.

(SK) 02-JUL-2005 (89) ; WBŘABM; WR6WR

K6EWP

General Eugene E. Habiger (Ret.)

Former commander in chief, United States Strategic Command, Offutt Air Force Base, NE.  See official bio.

KK8O

WB6EWU

John Draper

In the late 60's and 70's he was known as the notorious 'phone freak' "Captain Crunch" aka "Crunch."  Famous for his use of the telephone 'blue box' - a device for defeating the telephone company's long distance billing equipment (the device was built by an engineer friend of his.) While serving a sentence related to his phone freaking activities, John wrote the EasyWriter word processing program - the first popular word processor for the IBM PC.  John has remained close to his longtime friend, Steve 'the Woz' Wozniak.  Co-founder of ShopIP.  Official web site.   (Callsign lapsed)

K0RGR; confirmed by email from John!  Additional info from "C.R."

W6EZV

General Curtis LeMay

Military legend - also held callsigns K3JUY/K4RFA/K0GRL; see also SAC archives note. Neat article about his callsigns!  official bio; LeMay was also an unsuccessful vice presidential candidate on the 1968 ticket with George Wallace.  Famous quote:  "The President can make you a General, but only communications can make you a Commander."

(SK) 03-OCT-1990 (84); update W2SG

N6FUP

Stu Cook

Bass player with Creedence Clearwater Revival. Married to N6GGM.  See article.

K4GZZ

W6FZZ

Samuel F.B. Morse III

great-grandson of the inventor of Morse Code, as well as a famous painter of the time; still listed as licensed, although born in 1902!

W2SG

W6FY

Ben Moses

Emmy-winning writer and TV/movie director and producer, who produced 1987 movie "Good Morning, Vietnam" (ex-W6TJR, W2GGV).  QRZ! profile/pix; personal Web site; movies;

W2SG

WD6GBZ

Chris Justice

Inventor, holder of several patents; Chief Engineer of C. Crane Company in Fortuna, CA; biographical info; 

Leman Marcus

N6GGM

Laura Cook

XYL of N6FUP.

K4GZZ

WA6HHQ

Eric Swartz

COO and co-founder of Elecraft LLC in 1998 with Wayne Burdick, N6KR.  Member of ARRL Industry Advisory Council (IAC); official web site; brief bio.

W2SG

N6IWP

Anthony Ray

reportedly rap star Sir Mix Alot; see official web site

KB2NOW

AE6J

Timothy "Gaines" Hagelganz

Bass Player in the world famous rock group Stryper; (ex-K6WLS).  Interview.

AE6J; W2SG

KC6JCQ

John H. Reynolds

Professor Emeritus of Physics at Berkeley; "father of extinct radioactivities," who worked at the intersection of physics and geology, applying the use of isotopes to make fundamental advances in plate tectonics and the pre-solar origins of meteorites, including "stardust"; developed widely adopted potassium-argon dating methodology, which, among many other things, permitted accurate construction of the timeline of human development from the fossil record at Olduvai Gorge in Africa. Memoriam; 

(SK) 4-NOV-2000 (77); W2SG

W6JKV

James G. "Jimmy" Treybig

Founder and former CEO of Tandem Computers (1974-1996);  current Chairman of the Board of ClearCommerce - site;  W6JKV official web site; brief bio with picture; son is KD6BUP;

W2SG

K6JLY

Larry Josephson

Long time Public Radio host/producer/manager/engineer, Peabody Award Winner, and producer for "Bob & Ray" radio shows.  The Radio Foundation article.  (Callsign lapsed)

W2SG

W6KHJ

Beau Weaver

Radio Personality and voiceover specialist - brief bio & picture; see official web site;

AE6J

WQ6L

Steven H. Goldberg

CEO of Arcwave, Inc.; company web site; bio and picture;

W2SG

KB6LQR

Jeana Yeager

Pilot/Adventurer; Voyager 'round the world flight 1986; bio; NASM picture.

links W2SG

KB6LQS

Dick Rutan

Pilot/Adventurer; Voyager 'round the world flight 1986;  Also Vietnam Ace, after Voyager flight, ran unsuccessfully  for Congress; See "Amateur Radio Newsline" article. 

update/links W2SG

KC6LXQ

Anthony S. "Tony" Valdez

Award-winning TV and radio journalist in Los Angeles.  Bio

W2SG

AI6M

Barry Friedman

2-time World Champion Juggler with Raspyni Brothers

-

KI6M

Stewart B. Gilliam

Comic and TV personality, (ex-WD6FBU).  Unexplained mystery:  FCC listing has Mr. Gilliam born 10 years earlier than his publicity releases have him!  Contrast QRZ!; (born 1933), his IMDB listing, and this from TV TOME.

W8SU and KK8W; W2SG

WB6MID/8R3

Albert Touchette

Member of Peoples Temple at Jonestown, Guyana, who reportedly took part in the airport ambush of California Congressman Leo J. Ryan, killing him and four others, before dying with Rev. Jim Jones and over 900 others in mass suicide on 18-NOV-1978.   Links.

(SK) 18-NOV-1978 (24); W2SG; QSL K8CX

WA6MOS

Joseph Pevney

Director of numerous movies (e.g., "Man of a Thousand Faces"; "Away All Boats"; "Tammy and the Bachelor") and many TV shows (e.g., "Star Trek"; "The Munsters"; "Mission: Impossible"; "Bonanza"; "Fantasy Island"; "The Fugitive"); also an actor (e.g., "Street With No Name").   Short bio; IMDB entry; Movies; TV Shows.

W2SG

W6MRC

Donald S. Passman

Entertainment lawyer who represents Janet Jackson, Mariah Carey and R.E.M. See Harvard Law article.

W2SG

K6MYC

Michael B. Staal

Pioneered many ham designs and products, especially, antennas, as 1960s-80s owner of now-defunct KLM.  Known for excellent antennas, amplifiers and other radio products.  Now with (since 1980s) M2 Inc. antenna company; M2 Systems, 

KM6CE

W6NAZ

Lenore Jensen

NBC radio drama actress; World Radio columnist; founding member of YLRL; appeared in ARRL films (ex-W9CHD, W2NAZ).  See KA7ITT.  See obit. Very interesting mini-bio at "Where Are They Now? LARadio.com" site. (Listed under 1st married name, Lenore Kingston.)

(SK) 05-MAY-1993 (79); W2SG

N6NHG

Kevin Mitnick

once known as the infamous "Darkside Hacker" recently released from prison; official web site;

VE7RJT

W6NL

Dr. David B. Leeson

Founding Chairman and past CEO of California Microwave, Inc.; Consulting Professor of Electrical Engineering at Stanford University; IEEE Life Fellow; author of "Physical Design of Yagi Antennas," published by ARRL; (ex-HC8L, ex-W6QHS).   Links.

W2SG

KO6NM

Michael L. "Mike" Dorrough

Audio engineer and inventor, recipient of many awards in the music industry; has developed new techniques for high-quality enhanced AM audio ("Advanced Modulation System"); official web site; entertaining RealAudio clip; brief story w/pix after winning the NAB award in 2000; brief bio w/pix after winning Emmy for lifetime achievement in 2000.

W8SU; W2SG

W6OBB

Art Bell

Syndicated radio personality; (ex-W2CKS).  Links.

Leman Marcus; W2SG; W6MKU

KB6OLJ

Paul J. Cohen

Stanford University mathematician; in 1966 he was awarded the prestigious Fields Medal at the International Congress of Mathematicians in Moscow for his fundamental work on the foundations of set theory bio; biography.com entry. (Callsign lapsed)

-

N6OTW

Sidney Padrick

TV repairman who claims to have flown in an alien flying saucer on January 30, 1965.  Hey, what people won't claim to do to get on this list!  Picture, one account and another account.

W2SG

KD6OY (or KQ6KA)

Garry Shandling

Actor/Comedian/Writer/Producer.  According to one correspondent "He no longer has an interest in ham radio." Another correspondent reports that Mr. Shandling is keeping his license current.  Shandling is reported to have studied Electrical Engineering in college.  See matching birthdays, here and here.

K4GZZ - updated with callsign by W8SU and KK8W; W2SG

W6PUC

George Teraoka

US citizen kept in Japanese internment camp during WWII.  See Sacramento Bee article.  Amazingly, a 1996 poll revealed that 60% of Americans were unaware of the Japanese-Americans' internment.

W2SG

WA6PUK

Milton T. "Bill" Putnam, Sr.

Widely recognized to be "father of modern recording."  Links.

(SK) (1920-1989); W2SG

KE6PZH

Marlon Brando, Jr.

Actor; (pseudonym Martin Brandeaux) - (see also FO5GJ); bio; in this "Larry King Live" transcript from 07-OCT-1994, Brando confirms his interest in ham radio in response to a caller's question.  Links.

(SK) 01-JUL-2004  (80); VE7RJT;  K4GZZ; links W2SG, G4DCV

W6QUT

Freeman Gosden

Actor; most famous role was "Amos" of the old "Amos 'n' Andy" radio show; Official web site; the show is a Radio Hall of Fame inductee;

(SK) 10-DEC-1982

W6QYI

Cardinal Roger M. Mahony

Archbishop of Los Angeles, the largest Catholic Diocese in the U.S.  "Though he communicates with God through nature, prayer and celebrating the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, he often communicates with others on an amateur radio frequency as a ham radio aficionado with the call letters W6QYI" says article.   Picture of the cathedral and his residence with yagi antenna on tower.  Recent photo.

W2SG

W6QYT

Oswald Garrison "Mike" Villard, Jr.

Renowned RADAR and SSB pioneer, RF engineer, Stanford University researcher, and technical author; son of the publisher of "The New York Evening Post" and "The Nation." (ex-W1DMV). Links.

(SK) 07-JAN-2004 (87); W2SG

W6RCL

Alan S. Kaul

NBC News producer, including for NBC "Nightly News with Tom Brokaw," "Today" Show, and MSNBC.  Official web site.  His personal ham radio site highlighting his love of QRP operation. Links.

W2SG; (SK) 22-DEC-2006 (64); links KT7G

WB6RER

Andy Devine

Actor; Hualapai Amateur Radio Club in Kingman, AZ, adopted the callsign and operates a number of special events.  See official web site.  The Mohave Museum of History and Arts has an excellent bio.

(SK) 10-FEB-1977 (71); links W2SG

N6RLM

Joseph C. Antrim

WWII C-47 pilot of lead plane that carried 101st Airborne ("Screaming Eagles") into battle on D-Day through darkness, fog and heavy ground fire to Drop Zone at Ste-Mere-Eglise, re-supplied "Operation Market Garden" in Holland, and brought desperately needed supplies to the besieged 101st Airborne at the Battle of the Bulge.  See the widely acclaimed HBO movie series "Band of Brothers." Obituary published in the 11 January 2004 issue of "The San Diego Union-Tribune."  Links.

(SK) 22-NOV-2003 (88); W2SG

WN6RNR

Priscilla Paris

Member of the Paris Sisters -- recording artists in the 60's whose most famous song, "I Love How You Love Me" has become a favorite of many; fan web site; tribute site; bio with pictures; record reviews; 

W8SU, KK8W; links W2SG

W6RR

Gordon S. Marshall

founder of Marshall Industries, philanthropist, WWII bomber pilot; recently gave $35M to USC.  See "Amateur Radio Newsline" article.

W2SG

W6SP

Col. John W. Browning

decorated fighter pilot who was "father" of military satellites and former AMSAT board chairman; See "Amateur Radio Newsline" article. See AMSAT obituary;

(SK) 03-JAN-1996 (72); W2SG

KB6TAM

David B. Clark

Oldest person to sail solo around the world, at age 77 in 2001.   Links.

W2SG

WA6TWX

D. Kent Cullers

blind physicist portrayed in Warner Bros. movie "Contact," manages  "Project Phoenix" for the Institute for the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI); People magazine article.

W2SG

6UK

John Huston

 Famed film director, screenwriter, actor.  See Huston's autobiography, "An Open Book" - picture between pp. 88-89 shows Huston at his spark station.  The call "6U" is just visible on the picture!  A circa-1920 callbook confirms the call and name;  fan tribute; MSN bio; see also IMDB entry.

(SK) 28-AUG-1987 (81); W2AAB; update/links W2SG

W6UK

Alvino Rey

Radio/TV/Records, reportedly invented the electric guitar; OOTC# 1047; ex-6UE; article with picture and bio; Walt Maxwell, W2DU, played trumpet in Rey's band in the 40's according to this article.  Obituary in the "New York Times"  27-FEB-2004.  QSL.

(SK) 24-FEB-2004 (95); W8SU; links & updates W2SG; QSL from W8SU

KC6VHG

Anthony J Thorsson

aka "Desmond Crisis" on Cnet television program.  Links.

W3RAZ; W2SG

N6VXH

Charles H. "Chuck" Smith

President and CEO of SBC Pacific Bell/Nevada Bell (now known as SBC West). See this and this.  (ex-KC6EFA).  Smith confirms he is a ham radio operator -- which got him his first job with the telephone company -- in a recent interview appearing in the November 2, 2003, edition of the "San Francisco Chronicle," where he also mentions his callsign, N6VXH.

K2GW; updates W2SG

K6WLZ

Irene Kelly

Singer/Songwriter; official web site.  XYL of AE6J.

AE6J

K6YBV

Robert Scott "Bob" Ringwald

Jazz pianist,  bandleader, father of actress Molly Ringwald; official web site.

W2SG

KE6YGN

Shari Belafonte Behrens

Daughter of film great, Harry Belafonte; actress/model/photographer & author;  same date of birth; bio (confirming her married name as Behrens).  Official web site.

W8SU and KK8W; link W2SG

N6YOS

Priscilla Presley

Actress.  She was listed in the 1990 call book under her maiden name Beaulieu. Held two calls KC6IWA & N6YOS. DOB checks out; interesting "Sunday Times (South Africa)" article in which Malcolm de Beer (ZS6MAL) claims to have "worked Priscilla Presley  in a pile-up!"  Links here and here that give same birthdates as QRZ! and Buck. (Callsign lapsed in 2000)

confirmedK4GZZ andW8SU and KK8W; links W2SG

W6ZH

Herbert Hoover, Jr.

Son of U.S. President/Callsign now held by the grandson of the President, Herbert "Pete" Hoover; licensed in 1921 as 6XH at Stanford University and as 3ZH in 1922 in Washington, DC.  QSL cards here and here via NX7U.

(SK) 04-FEB-2010; N6DHZ

6ZK

Arthur E. Bessey

very early ham pioneer in the 1900-1920s era; first ARRL Director from West of the Mississippi River; nice article that refers to KD6SU!

KD6SU; link W2SG

W7AEA

Max Bice

Famous for work in radio and television/former National Association of Broadcasters board chairman and state chairman for the federal Emergency Broadcast System; see ARRL obituary;

(SK) 18-NOV-2002 (86); W2SG

W7DUK

Nolan Bushnell

Inventor, Computer Pioneer, Founded Atari.  biography.com entry.  (Callsign lapsed - info from 1958 Callbook); interview where Bushnell mentions his call; another interview w/picture, mentioning ham neighbor teaching him electronics;

links W2SG

KD7ELR

Charles W. Missler

Founder of "Koinonia House" Ministries.  Religious author and speaker.  bio

NX7U

W7EQI

Greg Walden

Oregon Congressman see http://www.house.gov/walden/ (as of 3/7/2003) - believed to be only other ham now in U.S. Congress (with WD5DVR); see article. (ex-WB7OCE)

K3ZO/HS0ZAR; W2SG

KA7EVD

Donnie Osmond

YES!  This is the Donnie of "Donnie and Marie" fame.  See "Amateur Radio Newsline" article.  (Callsign lapsed).  He is NOT WD4SKT, as cited by many other "famous hams" sites.  Please see my "Rumors" page for more info.

W2SG

KA7ITT

Cynthia "Cindy" J. Wall

Prolific author of ham-radio related novels for young readers; stepdaughter of W6NAZ.  Some books:  here and here.

W2SG

K7JIH

Benjamin Hoskin Paddock

Alleged bank robber; was on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted List (#302).  "QST" published an FBI warning about Paddock during the 1970's.  According to the FBI history at this link, Paddock was added to the list: 10-JUN-1969, and was arrested on 05-MAY-1977.  He was removed from the list because he no longer fit the criteria for the "Top Ten" list. Current owner of the call is a Presbyterian minister!

W2AAB; email from K7JIH to W2SG

K7JPD

Jeffrey P. Duntemann

Author; (ex-KG7JF); official web site.

K7KR; link W2SG

KE7LK

Lt. Col. Francis J. Murray

USAF pilot; flew high-altitude CIA spy planes; was first to photograph seizure of USS Pueblo by North Korean gunboats on 1/26/68. Connie Pardew article.

W2SG

N7ML

Craig M. "Mike" Lamb

Founder of AEA Electronics.  See "Amateur Radio Newsline" article.

W2SG

NA7NA

Klein S. Gilhousen

co-founder of QUALCOMM; inventor and pioneer in digital wireless technology; recently donated $5M (largest-ever gift) to Montana State University.  See MSU Foundation article.  (ex-WT6G)

W2SG

KC7NHZ

Col. Susan Jane Helms

First female crew member of International Space Station and first female ham to operate from there.  bio link and picture w/credits:  here.  See also astronaut hams.

W2SG

K7NYD

Judge Roger G. Strand

U.S. District Court Judge for Arizona, (Reagan appointee, 20-AUG-1985); see mini-bio.

W2SG

W7PO

Arthur W. "Bill" Guy

Widely published and honored expert in field of bio-electromagnetics and microwave technology; Fellow of IEEE, International Microwave Power Institute and American Association for the Advancement of Science. (ex-W7KHC).  ARRL RF Safety Committee cv link.

W2SG

K7TA

Clifford P. Stoll

Scientist/Author/Actor; See "A Cuckoo's Egg"; featured speaker at 1995 Dayton Hamvention;  See "Amateur Radio Newsline" href="http://www.arnewsline.org/newsline_archives/cbbs915.txt" target="_blank">article;

W2SG

NK7U

Joe Rudi

Baseball player; bio ; nice article from Stan Horzepa, WA1LOU.

K2GW; W2QOB

WA7UBS

Dr. Charles W. Polzer, S.J.

Leading expert on Spanish colonial history and Jesuit missions in the Southwest (northern New Spain); curator of ethno history at the Arizona State Museum and faculty member at the University of Arizona; award-winning author of more than a dozen books.  Links.

(SK) 04-NOV-2003 (72); W2SG

K7UGA

Barry Goldwater

late US Senator/vociferous friend of amateur radio.  (ex-6BIP and K3UIG - his Washington, DC, callsign); QSL card.  Special Event Station QSL card.  In China, QSL card.

(SK) 29-MAY-1998 (89); QSLs K8CX & W2SG

WA7UKR

Bary R. Bertiger

VP & General Manager of Motorola's satellite systems group; inventor of Motorola's Iridium satellite mobile phone system; See article; Jim Barlow opinion piece.  (Callsign lapsed)

W2SG

K7USJ

Steven L. Herman

Award-winning broadcast journalist, correspondent and author, now based in Tokyo; also holds calls 7J1AIL (Japan) and T88SH (Palau).  Official web site; bio and pix.

W2SG

KB7UV

Andrew "Andy" Funk

Four-time regional Emmy Award winner for news-casting and technical achievements at Fox5 News (WAGA-TV) in Atlanta.  See resume; radio club W5AGA site.

W2SG

NV7W

Clark S. Robinson

Professor Emeritus of Physics at University of Illinois; specialized in high-energy physics and made many significant contributions to the design and construction of particle accelerators; declared persona non grata by the Soviet Union, after becoming an expert on Soviet nuclear technology and spending much time in Russia and East Europe on scientific-exchange programs; worked on secret Radar project during WWII with Dr. Harold Zahl (6BHI). (ex-KA7YYH) (NV7W lapsed and reissued).   Links.

(SK) 07-APR-1998 (80); W2SG

N7YA

Adam S. Taylor

bass player for the rock group "Industry"; official web site

-

N7ZIM

Gary W. Zimmerman

Former Oregon U. football player whose stellar career with the Denver Broncos and Minnesota Vikings has earned him eligibility for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.  See Eugene, Oregon "Register-Guard" article by Ron Bellamy.

W2SG

8CR

Powel Crosley Jr.

A pioneer in radio broadcasting. His company became the world's largest radio manufacturer, he was known as 'The Henry Ford of Radio'.  At one time his radio station was the most powerful radio station in the world, WLW @ 500,000 watts, 1934.  Official web site.

KZ8ZZ

WD8CUF

George E. Terwilleger

Former Ohio State Representative -- 2nd House District (Warren County) (1991-2000); official web site (and another); see Hiram's Hams Amateur Radio Society web site;

W2SG

WA8DZP

Dewayne L. Hendricks

Wireless Internet pioneer; member of FCC's Technological Advisory Council; CEO of the Dandin Group.  See CV

W2SG

W8GZ

Loren G. Windom

John Kraus, W8JK, actually invented the "Windom" antenna (see this "Buck" Rogers' update on the original 1929 article) but named it after his friend, W8GZ; Windom also held W8ZG;  licensed as 8ZO in 1922 in Columbus, OH.  OOTC #1758

(SK) W2AAB, updated W8SU, KK8W; link  W2SG

W8JK

John Kraus

Astronomer and noted antenna designer (8JK array, corner reflector, and circular polarized endfire helix; also author/publisher.  Picture and dedication; related books; His bio mentions that his first call was 8AFJ.  ARRL Obit here.

(SK) 18-JUL-2004 (94); N8EE; links W2SG

W8KBF

Samuel M. Hevener

Avid WWII radio equipment collector who sold radios to MGM for use by Nicholas Cage in 2002 movie "Windtalkers."  See Sun Newspapers article.  IMDB added a "Trivia" item to their listing at our suggestion.

W2SG

KC8KVF

Sharon M. Spencer

Sole member of the West Virginia state legislature (D-Kanawha, 30th District)) who is a ham.   Links.

W2SG

8NH

Emma Candler

Reputedly first female radio amateur, licensed in January,1915 in St. Mary's, Ohio.  Links:  ARRL Web; Donna Halper article; Nancy Hall (KC4IYD) first YL's article; picture of station in 1916;

W2SG

W8OK

Francis J. "Frank" Schwab

"Mr. Hamvention" -- Founded Dayton Hamvention in 1952 with John Willig, W8ACE; CQ DX Hall of Fame member; WWII radioman on destroyer USS Ingersoll (DD-652) for over two years; OOTC#2495 (ex-W8YCP).  Links.

(SK) 30-MAY-2003 (77); W2SG

W8PAL

Al Gross

Communications Pioneer/Inventor of the "walkie-talkie";  inventor of the Citizens' Radio Service aka "Citizens' Band."  First CB was on 450 MHz, where GMRS and FRS are located now.  See "RF Design" article and 2) IEEE article; obit; QSL card and photo;

(SK) 21-DEC-2000; W2SG; QSL K8CX

WD8PQS

George A. 'Dutch' Leonard

Late leader of the Kroger stores and Red Cross philanthropist; Cincinnati Post obituary mentions his interest in ham radio.

(SK) 22-AUG-2002 original addition from K2GW; update W2SG

N8TMW

Jim Damron

Actor. IMDB link

W8FG

8XK

Dr. Frank Conrad

"Father of radio broadcasting," with first broadcast on 17-OCT-1919, from home in Wilkinsburg, PA; NPR broadcast transcript; Hammond Museum web site; Dr. Russell Naughton's article; James E. Brittain/IEEE article.  Philip B. Peterson article; Elizabeth McLeod article "Which Was the First U.S. Radio Station?"

W2SG

K8ZDA

Jeffrey T. Ferriell

Professor of Law at Capital University Law School in Columbus, OH. Bio and official web site.

W2SG

W8ZR

James C. Garland

President of Miami University (OH).  Avid collector of vintage amateur radio equipment.  See article.

W2SG

9ALD

Edgar F. Johnson

Founder of E. F. Johnson Co. in Waseca, Minnesota, a leading manufacturer of amateur and commercial transmitters through the 1970's.  Links.

(SK) 11-FEB-1991 (91); W2SG

W9DKI

Dr. Donald L. Walters

Professor at US Naval Postgraduate School in Dept. of Physics; trustee of J.S. Kilby Digital Millennium and grandson of Jack Kilby's "Elmer." See W9GTY listing and QRZ! profile; C.V.; 

W2SG

9DRV

David Packard

Co-Founder of Hewlett-Packard.  Link.

(SK) 26-MAR-1996 (84)

K9EID

Robert G. "Bob" Heil

Audio engineering guru; pioneered live-sound industry in 60's and 70's with the Grateful Dead, the Who, Joe Walsh (WB6ACU), Peter Frampton, et al.; awarded first "Pioneer Award" by Audio Engineering Society in 1995; founded Heil Sound esp. PROLINE Division devoted to high-performance audio products; QRZ! picture; 


KB7UV; links W2SG

N9FZX

Dr. Paul A. Flaherty

Co-inventor of the Alta Vista Search Engine; See QRZ!; Usenet post; ARRL Letter Vol 25, No 16 notes his passing.

VE7RJT; (SK) 16-MAR-2006

W9GFZ

Grote Reber

One of the earliest pioneers of radio astronomy, died 20-DEC-2002 (SK) in Tasmania.  Pioneering paper at this URL.  W9GFZ is now held by the NRAO Amateur Radio Club in Socorro, New Mexico; brief bio and publications; obit;

ARRL Letter; links W2SG

W9GTY

Jack St.Clair Kilby

Recipient of Nobel Prize in Physics in 2000 for invention of the integrated circuit; credits amateur radio for his interest in electronics leading to invention; call recently re-issued to J. S. Kilby Digital Millennium at U.S. Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA, with grandson of childhood friend of Kilby's who was his "Elmer," Dr. Donald H. Walters (W9DKI), the trustee! Links:  bio; entry into ham radio - and here; oral history; Year 2000 Nobel Prize winners; Nobel autobiography

W2SG

W9JS

Clyde C. "Rich" Richelieu

"The Banjo Man," famous banjo maker who was recently elected to the National Four String Banjo Hall of Fame, and who performed on national TV shows; as a ham, relayed re-supply requests for Admiral Richard Byrd during his trek to the South Pole in 1928-29.  (Callsign had lapsed by time of his death).  Links.

(SK) 09-OCT-2003 (94); W2SG

KB9KV

Edward J. Andrew

Former Chairman, and son of founder (Dr. Victor J. Andrew), of Andrew Corporation, manufacturer of commercial, industrial and governmental communications systems and antennas; philanthropist; corporate history and profile; another profile;

W2SG

N9LC

George H. Sweigert

Received patent for invention of cordless telephone in 1969 (ex-W8ZIS); obituary; 

(SK) 23-FEB-1999 (79); W2SG

K9QVL

Robert P. Hanssen

Former FBI agent and convicted spy.  See links here and here.

various sources; links W2SG

N9RHY

William "Bill"  J. Ward

Indiana policeman received "Radio Hero" award for arresting two youths suspected of murdering two Dartmouth College professors in 2001.  See ARRL article.  CNN story.

W2SG

9TH

Karl Hassel

Founded Chicago Radio Laboratory in 1919 with 9ZN, Ralph H. G. Matthews;  CRL became Zenith Radio Corp. in 1923.  "Zenith" name derived from their call letters (Z-NiTH); story;

W2SG

WB9VPG

Delbert Neil Rapp

Widely reported to have been the youngest licensed ham in the world (at age 5), as well as now youngest QCWA member (at age 32).  See QRZ!.  Picture and Illinois hamfest/QCWA article.

W2SG

W9WNV

Dr. Don Miller

Intrepid DX-peditioner.  Check out interesting item on Miller at this URL.  Freed from prison, now has AE6IY.

W2AAB, K3ZO/HS0ZAR

W9YZE

Harry A. Turner

Held Morse code speed record at 35 wpm set with a hand telegraph key on November 9, 1942, while in the U.S. Army Signal Corps, for which he was listed in the Guinness Book of Records beginning in 1981; OOTC# 1961.  Tony Smith G4FAI article; ARRL obituary;

(SK) 21-DEC-1994 (88); W2SG

9ZN

Ralph H. G.  Matthews

Founded Chicago Radio Laboratory in 1919 with Karl Hassel, 9TH;. CRL became Zenith Radio Corp. in 1923.  "Zenith" name derived from their call letters (Z-NiTH). story; "InfoAge" article; picture of Zenith radio.

W2SG

AA0AX

Dr. William B. Morgan

Tuskegee Airman; See article.  (ex-KA0ZNU).

K2GW; updated links W2SG.

N0AX

H. Ward Silver

Author of  "Ham Radio for Dummies," expected to be available in 2004 from Wiley Publishing; a "QST" editor and author of the ARRL's "Radio Puzzler." (ex-WB0GQP).  Links.

W2SG

W0BB

Edward J. Bock

Former President and CEO of Monsanto Co., who chose engineering over playing pro-football with the Chicago Bears, after being named All-American lineman at Iowa State University in 1938.  Elected to National Football Hall of Fame in 1970. Obit in 8/2/04 St. Louis Post-Dispatch.(ex-W0EKT).  Links.

(SK) 31-JUL-2004 (87); W2SG

W0BC

Wade H. Williams Jr.

Founded Associated Radio right after WWII, retiring in 1991.  He had over 1000 hours of flight time over the Pacific routes in WWII and has contributed to amateur radio in many ways.  His last commercial product was the BC-Matcher a small mobile antenna matcher.  Official web site; QRZ! profile;

(SK) 21-APR-2003 (81); Bill Williams (son)

W0CBL

Lester Dent

Prolific pulp-fiction writer of the 1930's and 40's.  See article about George Pal collaboration on "Doc Savage." Also:  collection.

(SK) 1959 (54); W2SG

W0CXX

Art Collins

Founder of Collins Radio.  QSL card; Call adopted as Club Call; bio;  QSL card.  Memorial QSL card.

links W2SG; QSL K8CX

KC0DNB

Martin R. Burnham

Christian missionary held hostage by terrorists with his wife, Gracia,  and others for more than a  year in the Philippines, before being killed during a rescue attempt by Filipino troops.  Articles here, here, here, and here.

SK  7-JUN-2002 (42); W2SG

K0DQ

John Scott Redd

Ret. Vice Admiral, former chief of all Naval forces in Persian Gulf ('94-'96), responsible for withdrawal of UN forces from Somalia; licensed as A92Q in Bahrain.  He is the Chairman, President and CEO of the NetSchools Corporation, a high tech education company headquartered in Atlanta, GA.  See bio. Dayton Hamvention picture.  In 36 years of active duty, Redd commanded eight organizations, led the re-commissioned Fifth Fleet and held several senior policy positions at the Pentagon.

W2SG

K0DWC

Gen. Francis "Butch" Griswold

Famous leader of the Strategic Air Command w/Curtis LeMay.  Helped get K0AIR on the air;  bio  link.

W1JD.

N0EAJ

Nicholas Johnson

FCC Commissioner during the Johnson and Nixon administrations.  See official web site; 

W2SG

W0FQY

Carl E. Mosley

Founder of Mosley Electronics Inc., long-time manufacturer of antennas; OOTC# 0480; ex-9BOJ; Official Mosley Electronics Inc. web site; QSL card front and rear from K4BKD.

(SK); K4BKD; link W2SG;

N0HFF

William G. "Bill" Pierpont

Author; wrote "The Art and Skill of Radio-Telegraphy" now available in several languages and considered by some as the definitive guide to radiotelegraphy; see SK info ARRL Letter. former Chief Scientist at Beech Aircraft and Biblical scholar; (ex-W9BLK); Google cached obituary.

(SK) 20-FEB-2003 (88); W2SG

K0HWY

Gordon L. "Tex" Beneke

Lead tenor sax player for Glenn Miller orchestra/movie actor -- see also IMDB bio; (ex-W2CKD); his wife was W2EHR (Callsign lapsed); See ARRL article;

(SK) 30-MAY-2000 (86)

KB0KUB

William "Bill" P. Hyde

Baptist missionary who was one of 21 killed by terrorist bomb at Davao City airport in the Philippines.  See Int'l Herald Tribune article; and Washington Times article; see SK info ARRL letter.

(SK) 04-MAR-2003 (59); W2SG

W0LHS

William Snyder

Pioneering filmmaker, and prolific Amateur Radio author.

(SK) 14-SEP-2007 (90) ; ARRL

W0LTE

Andrew A. "Andy" Andros

Co-founder of Hy-Gain Electronics in 1949 with brother Ted, W0URN.  ARRL obituary with picture here.

(SK) 23-JAN-2001 (76); W2SG

KB0MDX

Heather D. Hollenbeck

Beauty contest winner, Miss Topeka 2000 and contestant and delegate for Miss Kansas.  ARRL story w/pix.  

W2SG

K0SNW

Harry J. Pearce

Chairman of Hughes Electronics Corporation since May, 2001;  Mr. Pearce was elected vice-chairman of General Motors on 01-JAN-1996; bio with picture.  Hughes Electronics bio;

W2SG

W0SX

Kenneth J. Wessels

Recently appointed Chairman and CEO of Strong Capital Management Inc., having some $40 billion under management, after controversial resignation of founder Richard Strong; former Chairman of the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD) in 1990, and member of its Board of Governors; numerous personal details, including ham radio, reported in "The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel" of December 14, 2003. (ex-WW0W).  Links.

W2SG

WB0TVL

James A. Whittaker

As WWII POW in Burma, he helped build The Bridge over the River Kwai. Minnesota American Legion article.

W2SG

W0UGP

Lt. Col. Edward Wiik, Ret.

Pioneer in establishing standards for pollution control in Minnesota.  Obituary.

(SK) 11-JUL-2003 (88); K2GW

N0UJR

Greg Trook

N0UJR Cartoons. Very funny, ham radio-related cartoons!  Greg N0UJR

-

 

 

 

Amateur Radio Operators with Callsigns from Foreign Countries (DX)

 

 

DX Callsigns

Name

Claim to Fame

Notes

VE/VO Famous Hams

Various

Canadian Ham of the Year; Canadian Radio Amateur Hall of Fame

-

3BB

Masaru Ibuka

Co-founder Tokyo Telecommunications Engineering Corp., the company that became Sony Corp.  Note that 3BB is an early Japanese call!!!  Here are some interesting links:  JARL obit; Turkish obit.

(SK) 19-DEC-1997 (89); W2SG

3BP

Edward S. Rogers

Canadian inventor of AC vacuum tube and battery-less radio; granted 1st TV license in Canada; see bio.

(SK) 06-MAY-1939 (38); W2SG

9A4SP

Pero Simundza

One of three United Nations refugee workers killed by a mob of militiamen in West Timor, Indonesia, on September 6, 2000; memorial site. eham.net article official web site; see listing above for KD4SYB; (also 4W6SP, T98P, ZA/9A4SP)

(SK) 06-SEP-2000 (29); W2SG

9K2CS

Prince Yousuf Al-Sabah

Royalty

-

9K2DZ

Abdul Jabbar Marafie

Heroic ham who maintained communications from Kuwait during Iraqi occupation in August 1990; 1992 ARRL Humanitarian Award Winner --  article.  Also:  Philip B. Peterson article.

W2SG

9N1MM

Rev. Marshall D. Moran, S.J.

"Father Moran" was a famous Jesuit missionary from Chicago who initially went to India in 1929, where he later befriended Mahatma Gandhi and J. Nehru while attempting to quell the Hindu-Muslim riots; he later became a Nepalese national, spending more than half his life there, including briefly serving as Nepal's Minister of Telecommunications; he founded numerous religious and secular schools and become the first and only permanent ham in Nepal in 1960; in 1963, with W5IXP, he was the base radio contact for first successful U.S. Mount Everest expedition.  Jet Propulsion Lab article and QSL card; reviews of Father Moran's bio, "Moran of Kathmandu" are here and here; history of his founding of St. Xavier's Godavari Jesuit school in 1951 in Nepal; obit with pix.  ARRL video.  QSL card.

(SK) 14-APR-1992 (86); W2SG

CN8MH

King Hassan II (Moulay Hassan)

King of Morocco

(SK) 24-JUL-1999 (70)

EA0JC

King Juan Carlos

King of Spain; QSL card link.  His Majesty's MV Agusta motorcycle, as seen in the Guggenheim Museum's "Art of the Motorcycle" show.

W2SG; Curtis Jurrens

EI7EQ

Manus McClafferty

Donegal ham whose  communications with Russian cosmonaut formed the basis for 1999 Irish movie "Mir Friends."  See video clip. QSL card.

W2SG

F5VBY

Tony Dolby

brother invented Dolby Noise Reduction System; (ex-G3TZH); near Toulouse, France; XYL: Anne F5VBX

-

FO5GJ

Marlon Brando, Jr.

Actor; (pseudonym Martin Brandeaux) - (see also KE6PZH); bio; in this "Larry King Live" transcript from 07-OCT-1994, Brando confirms his interest in ham radio in response to a caller's question.  Links.

(SK) 01-JUL-2004  (80); VE7RJT;  K4GZZ; links W2SG, G4DCV

G2DQU

Sir Brian Rix

Actor/Philanthropist

-

G2YL

Nelly Corry

2nd licensed YL in England.  QSL with station photo.

W2SG; QSL K8CX

G3SDN

'Doctor' Emil Savundra

Savundra, Emil, originally Michael Marion Emil Anecletus Savundranayagam
(1923 - 1976). Convicted swindler and fraudster, born in Sri Lanka. He gave
himself the title of 'Doctor', and perpetrated huge financial swindles in Costa
Rica, Goa, Ghana, China and Britain. He is best known in Britain for the crash of his Fire, Auto and Marine Insurance Co, which left 400,000 motorists without
insurance coverage in 1966.  Links.

G3TXL

G3YLA

Jim Bacon

TV Meteorologist

-

G6YL

Barbara Dunn

1st European YL operator, SWL in 1925 and licensed as EG6YL in 1927. Of course, she was also the 1st British YL op also.  QSL with picture.

W2SG; QSL K8CX

G0OAN

Feargal Sharkey

lead singer Irish punk band in 70's

G4KFK

GM3ITN

Les Hamilton

Scottish printer who first alerted England of Argentine invasion of the Falklands on April 2, 1982.  See article.

W2SG sent this GM3ITN QSL 

HI8MMJ

Manny Mota

Famous baseball player with the Pittsburgh Pirates and LA Dodgers great.  Links.

W8SU and KK8W; links W2SG

HS1A

Bhumiphol Adulayadej

King of Thailand

K3ZO/HS0ZAR

HS1D

Maha Chakri Sirindhorn

Princess/Heiress to throne of Thailand (second-in-line)

K3ZO/HS0ZAR

I0FCG

Francesco Cossiga

former President of Italy

XE1MN

JI1KIT

Keizo Obuchi

served as the 84th Prime Minister of Japan; official web site; BBC obituary; 

(SK) 14-MAY-2000 (62)

JA5FHB

Katsutsugu Sekiya

Minister of Construction and Minister of State for the National Land Agency

JH6MHO

JY1

King Hussein

King of Jordan; was very active ham before his passing; touching memorial here.  QSL card.

(SK) 07-FEB-1999 (63)

JY1NH

Queen Noor

Queen of Jordan; American-born Lisa Halaby

-

JY2HT

former Crown Prince Hassan

King Hussein's brother

-

JY2RZ

Prince Raad

The late King Hussein's cousin; Chairman of the Royal Jordan Radio Amateur Society

-

LI2B

Kon Tiki Raft Expedition

Callsign used on raft.  (Thor Heyerdahl was the leader of this famous expedition (SK) 18-APR-2002 at age 88). Article in "QST" online.  There's a very good documentary on the "History Channel" about this expedition, which shows Raaby operating the Hallicrafters radios on board!

LA3KY, and Torstein Raaby (ops)

LU1SM

Carlos Saul Menem

President of Argentina (1989-1999).

LW7EMN

M0SDX

Sergey Rebrov

Professional soccer player; (ex-UT5UDX); reportedly, Rebrov is now playing for a Turkish club and using call TA2ZF; QRZ! profile. QSL card. 

G4AHJ; G4EAN; W2SG

RAEM

Ernst Krenkel

Famous polar explorer; saved the lives of 104 people, for which he was named "Hero of the Soviet Union"; here's an interesting memoir that explains his unusual callsign, which was originally the callsign of the "s/s Chelyuskin"; he also operated as UPOL from the North Pole.

K8CX

SP3RN

St. Maximilian Kolbe

Roman Catholic WW II martyr/canonized saint; see also Patron Saint of Hams; Detailed bio (in Polish); picture.  Some people have speculated that St. Kolbe was sent to Auschwitz because the Nazis believed his ham radio activities somehow involved espionage. See, e.g., letter by C.B. Miller in the August 6, 2004, issue of the Marshfield News-Herald (Wisconsin).

WB9RXJ; W2SG

SU1VN

Prince Talal

Saudi Arabian royalty

-

UA1LO

Yuri Gagarin

First Cosmonaut; - died in jet crash - Click here to read a very nice note, reprinted with permission, from Yuri, YL2DX.  See also bio and entry on my Astronaut Hams page.

(SK) 27-MAR-1968 (34);YL2DX

VE2AHZ/ VK2AHZ

Robert W. Lane

Also known as "Tex Morton" - Very colorful country and western singer-songwriter born in New Zealand, was well known as a performer throughout North America and Australia in the mid-20th century,
recording over 300 songs; known as the "father of Australian country
music."  Links.

(SK) 23-JUL-1983 (66);  W2SG


VE5EK

Bryce Clarke Eckstein

One of the best-known broadcasters in Saskatchewan, a veteran of CBC Radio and TV in Saskatchewan since 1968.  Links.

(SK) 13-DEC-2003 (75); K2GW

VK2FV

Florence V. McKenzie

Australia's first female electrical engineer and first female certified telegrapher; trained over 10,000 servicemen in use of code; founded and directed in 1939 the Women's Emergency Signalling Corps, which became the Women's Royal Australian Naval Service, for which she received the OBE; Links.

(SK) 1982 (90); VK3DMS; W2SG

VK2KB

Sir Allan Fairhall

Statesman

-

VK3JU

Ross A. Hull

Australian radio pioneer, particularly in VHF; co-inventor of first publicly demonstrated R/C aircraft with Clinton Desoto (W1CBD); one-time Associate Editor of "QST"; electrocuted while switching on power supply of his homebrew TV receiver -- story; (ex-3JU; ex-OA3JU); "Model Airplane News" reprint; Eric Jamieson, KO1K, "QST" article; 

(SK)  13-SEP-1938 (36); W2SG

VK4HA

Harry Angel

Was Australia's oldest radio amateur.  See article.

(SK) 14-DEC-1997 (106); link W2SG

VP9F

Reginald Aubrey Fessenden

Scientist; prolific inventor; wireless pioneer... See 1XS above.

(SK) 22-JULY-1932 (65);  W2AAB; update & links W2SG

VR6TC

Tom Christian

Lives on Pitcairn Island,  in the South Pacific.  This famous ham is most notable as the ancestor of Fletcher Christian, the man who led the famous mutiny on "H.M.S. Bounty."  National web site; picture.

W2YHO

VU2RG

Rajiv Ghandi

late Prime Minister of India; victim of assassination/bomb explosion.

(SK) 21-MAR-1991 (47)

VU2SON

Sonia Ghandi

XYL of VU2RG

-

XE1GC

Guillermo González Camarena

Invented color television picture tube (Tri-Color Tube that made viewing the color signal possible U.S. Patent 40235 (17-AUG-1940)

(SK) 18-APR-1965 (48);XE1ZVO

XE1GGO

Enrique Guzman

Singer

XE1ZVO

XE1K

Walter Cross Buchanan

ex-Minister of Communications and Public Works (SCOP)

(SK) XE1MN

XE1MMM

Jorge Vargas

Singer

XE1ZVO

XE1N

Manuel Medina

Built first spark transmitter in Mexico

(SK) XE1MN

YU1RL

Radivoje "Rasa" Lazarevic

Yugoslav ambassador to Brazil; (as of March 2001)

-

YU4ZU

Goran Bregovic

Actor, Musician.  See IMDB; (Callsign lapsed)

 VE3ZIK/4N1DX

The Rumor Mill/Mistaken Ham Identities section has moved to this link.

Other Famous Ham sites...

My Astronaut and Cosmonaut hams list.

John (KU4AY) Famous Hams List

Five hams were killed in the World Trade Center Disaster on 11-SEP-2001:  web site.  (W2SG)

Dave (VK2KFU) Notable Ham Radio Operators Around the World list.

Flaviano (I2MOV) Amateur Radio VIP list.

Ron (W5WWW) Famous Hams and e-Hams site.

Kathy (WA6FAH) sent me her compilation, listed here.

 

"Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery" section:

Do your own Google searches on: 

Famous Hams /  Notable Hams / Famous Radio Amateurs / Famous Amateurs / Famous Amateur Radio Operators 

[Home][Astronaut Hams][Rumors and Mistaken Identities]