WA2ZDY
01-20-2006, 05:24 PM
Bill, W2OJJ left us in February 1986 at the age of 87.
Bill was a telegraph operator on the Lehigh Valley Railroad from 1912 until his retirement in 1959. In between he served his country in both WW1 and WW2 as well as a stint in a TB sanitarium.
Bill was first on the air, unlicensed as far as I know, starting around 1914. I know he was licensed as W2OJJ shortly before WW2.
He was the man who finally focused my interest in ham radio and got me on the air. He spent most of his time on 40cw with a J38, but he did have a bug (mine now) and a keyer he homebrewed around 1965, tubes and all. For a short time he used a homebrewed keyboard but I know he wasn't happy with it and it didn't last long. Then there was the afternoon roundtable on 75 every weekday afternoon.
Bill, you are still missed. Thank you for everything you did for me. You had a large part in my success growing up, not just in ham radio but in life itself.
My son's middle name is in memory of you. He knows who you were and who you are and the part you played in my life. Hopefully he will tell his kids when that time comes too.
We'll see you on the other side.
Bill was a telegraph operator on the Lehigh Valley Railroad from 1912 until his retirement in 1959. In between he served his country in both WW1 and WW2 as well as a stint in a TB sanitarium.
Bill was first on the air, unlicensed as far as I know, starting around 1914. I know he was licensed as W2OJJ shortly before WW2.
He was the man who finally focused my interest in ham radio and got me on the air. He spent most of his time on 40cw with a J38, but he did have a bug (mine now) and a keyer he homebrewed around 1965, tubes and all. For a short time he used a homebrewed keyboard but I know he wasn't happy with it and it didn't last long. Then there was the afternoon roundtable on 75 every weekday afternoon.
Bill, you are still missed. Thank you for everything you did for me. You had a large part in my success growing up, not just in ham radio but in life itself.
My son's middle name is in memory of you. He knows who you were and who you are and the part you played in my life. Hopefully he will tell his kids when that time comes too.
We'll see you on the other side.