Well-known 440 MHz Repeater Owner Murdered in Owen Center Township near Rockford.

It is with deep regret that I report the passing of a long-time radio ham enthusiast and local repeater owner, Henry Murphy [WB9TFX/SK] of Rockford, Illinois. On the morning of Sat., July 18th, at approx. 7:45 AM, a neighbor noticed that a large house fire had broken-out just off of Owen Center Rd., near Rockton, IL in the country. The driver [not identified] called 911 and reported the fire.

Upon putting out the fire, Winnebago County Sheriff’s Police and firefighters from Rockton, IL and other responding agencies from MABAS, located him [Henry] inside and his dog named Shelby deceased. Information had been limited to this until a few days after the fire when the Winnebago County Coroner’s Office (the coroner also being a licensed radio ham herself, Elizabeth “Sue” Fiduccia, WD9JDY), released his name to the public.

The following day, of July 22nd, it was revealed that Henry’s death was ruled a homicide. It was further noted that he was most likely not alive at the time the fire was started to his house located at 7609 Owen Center Rd. in Rockford, IL. At the time of this report, no suspects were in custody. [The house was a total loss.]

Henry, a US Army Vietnam War veteran, long-time licensed radio ham having held an Advanced class license, prior to upgrading to Extra class in mid-2000, held the original-issue call of WB9TFX. (Records show him having more recently renewed his license back on May 24, 2012.) Henry also owned a local repeater system in the 70cm ham band on 443.450 MHz/CTCSS 114.8 Hz, which had been in operation since the early-1990’s.

Henry was retired from a long career with AT&T as a communications field technician and maintained an elaborate amateur radio station set-up, including a mixture of Motorola, GE, and other commercial and amateur radio equipment, including service monitors/oscilloscopes/spectrum and antenna analyzer test equip. He was also a ‘master’ of repeater duplexer cavity fine tuning, helped others maintain their repeater equipment.

Perhaps one of the most notable things I remember the most about him is he had a real creative and witty personality; always making light about something, yet even in the most seemingly difficult moments. (That’s just the way Henry was. Probably comes from being a Vietnam veteran is my guess.) One such an example I can recall is back in 2004, ARES and SATERN were working together to take-part in a mach disaster drill with the scenario of a bio-terror attack for post-9/11 emergency response, etc.

We were staged in a parking deck in downtown Rockford, close to the actual drill scene, and ended-up waiting-and-waiting for us to get called-in to assist with our radio equipment on-hand. It was real hot that day; and I mean hot! (Close to 95 degrees outside.) We were roasting in a big cement oven. Henry was there and we were told by the EOC that once the county govt. pagers went off, then we were ‘good-to-go’ in. Only problem was, no one had one of these.

So, knowing Henry, he just asked what the frequency of the paging system was on. Someone gave it to him, and he punched it in his dual-band HT radio. Eventually, we heard the ESDA (Emergency Services Disaster Agency) tones come out on Henry’s radio requesting the hams to assist. And, just like that, we drive in! If it weren’t for Henry’s intuition, we never would’ve known when or where to go.

We bid a final farewell to WB9TFX & will be listening over the static on a frequency of 443.450 MHz here in the Forest City [Rockford] for signals from the skies above. God speed Henry and 73!

*See official obit here: http://www.tribstar.com/obituaries/henry-a-murphy/article_12056455-ea8d-5371-823e-48b2cb46b306.html

 

It is indeed sad news with any SK but this is doubly tragic... RIP OM

 

Sad news indeed!

 

Yikes! I wonder if the perps were after his ham radio setup because they'd heard on the street that he had lots of valuable electronics in his house, and immediately thought of stereo equipment and such. I sometimes see strange ads for ham equipment on Craigslist which as we all know is where a lot of stolen stuff gets laundered. The cops need to keep an eye on CL. If a ham has a lot of really valuable stuff, he should buy an engraver and put his callsign on his stuff.

 

Killers are cowards, it takes more strength to give life than take it, unfortunately this world is full of the bottom feeders. We give thanks to those who help give life through emergency coms and maintain repeaters, HF and other coms to those in the front line who have real strength together that strive to give life. Some times I hang my head in shame that the race we call human has so many bottom feeders that are just cowards. Sorry, I feel so strongly about this but just my two cents worth.
ZL4IV

 

I'm going to miss him he was a good ham...

 

I didn't know Henry WB9TFX but this is such a shame to lose a fellow Amateur Radio Operator to vandalism and fire. I think whomever did this act must have known Henry's Good Hearted disposition towards the Amateur Radio Community and waited for the right time to commit the crime. It's probably going to take a fluke opportunity for the criminal to make a Stupid mistake for the Amateur Radio Community and Public Safety Personnel to arrest the individual(s) that did this hiatus crime.

Rest In Peace Henry

Dan
WA9WVX

 

Rockford was really turning into a crime infested town when I moved out of there 20+ years ago. Bad schools, high taxes, what a mess that once nice area had become. RIP Henry.

 

Very sad news prayers go out to his family.

 

Certainly sad in every way because of the tragic circumstances... worse because he was a great guy and community friend who served his country proudly. Sorry for anyone who misses him. -73- John K2JBC

 

How very sad, my thoughts are with his family & loved ones!

 

Very Sad News May Henry Rest In Peace.

 

It sounds like we've lost a good ham. I hope his killers are found and brought to justice.

 

This is sad news especially for the ham community around Rockford. I did not know Henry as I don't live around there. But, I can say that like a lot of good hams and people who have become silent keys, it does seem the really good ones are the ones we don't hear about. I believe that is because they don't enjoy this hobby for the 'fame' and certainly no fortune but, it is the simple love of the hobby that is their means of doing good, helping others and paying it forward. Henry seems like one of those people to me and much like several I was privileged enough to know in my area. They are certainly missed, some gone much too soon. Remember your friends when you go to meetings, field day or events where hams gather and enjoy the great social aspect of the hobby as it may be the last time we see them.... Rest in peace and may your family have comfort in this time of grief.