SB SPCL @ ARL $ARLX011 ARLX011 Amateur Radio and ARRL Devotee Ellen White, W1YL (SK) ZCZC AX11 QST de W1AW Special Bulletin 11 ARLX011 From ARRL Headquarters Newington CT November 8, 2022 To all radio amateurs SB SPCL ARL ARLX011 ARLX011 Amateur Radio and ARRL Devotee Ellen White, W1YL (SK) Ellen White, W1YL, of Brandon, Florida, passed away on Sunday, November 6, 2022. She was 95. White became a radio amateur in 1946 and devoted over 75 years of her life to ham radio, including more than 25 years on the headquarters staff for ARRL, The National Association for Amateur Radio. She retired in 1978 as Deputy Communications Manager and became the editor of the column "How's DX?" for ARRL's membership journal, QST. White was an ARRL Life Member and donor. At its meeting in January 1978, the ARRL Board of Directors adopted a resolution recognizing White and her husband Robert (Bob) L. White, W1CW (SK), after having "completed a quarter-century of faithful service to the American Radio Relay League." The resolution cites that Ellen White had "built a reputation for thoroughness and objectivity on a mountain of contest logs," and celebrated her "intelligent and creative work as Deputy Communications Manager." White was admired by the worldwide amateur radio community. In 2019, she was the sole US radio amateur to be awarded the Russian E.T. Krenkel Medal, a prestigious award granted to individuals and organizations for outstanding global contributions to amateur radio. Director of ARRL's Publications and Editorial Department Becky Schoenfeld, W1BXY, reflected on the news of White's passing. "Ellen was a trailblazing woman in amateur radio. She and I corresponded over the years [before] finally meeting up at Orlando HamCation in 2020. Ellen often marveled at how much farther women had come in the ham radio hobby, service, and community since she got her start. Every time I talked to her, I thanked her for paving the way," said Schoenfeld. Remembrances for White began arriving at ARRL Headquarters early Monday morning. First Class CW Operators' Club (FOC) Membership Secretary Tyler Barnett, N4TY, sent a message to all club members. "Ellen joined FOC in May 1966, and was active in retirement from her Florida contest station, and most recently remote via the W7RN Comstock Memorial station. This is a very sad day. She will be missed on the air, and at the Florida dinners." Barnett said White was FOC member #875. White was also referred to as the "founding grandmother" of the Florida Contest Group (FCG). President Chris Plumblee, W4WF, added, "It is fitting, in a few ways, that Ellen passed away during SS [ARRL Sweepstakes] CW, a contest that she administered for years while she worked at the ARRL." White had already learned Morse code in high school, and only rarely operated any other mode. "Ellen loved CW, contesting, and DXing," said Rosalie White, K1STO (no relation), former ARRL Field And Educational Services Manager, who was hired by Ellen White to work for ARRL in 1973. "Ellen and I got a lot of hams asking, 'Are you Ellen's daughter?' or 'Are you Rosalie's mother?'" said Rosalie White. "We always replied, 'No, but that would've been cool.'" Rosalie White is now an ARISS-International US Delegate representing ARRL. Rosalie White recounted that in the 1940s, Ellen and Bob White earned First Class Radiotelephone and Second Class Radiotelegraph commercial licenses. "She [Ellen White], being a maverick, also took the Class B FCC Amateur Radio test to become W2RBU, and promptly joined ARRL. Radio broadcast station KPOA based in Oahu, Hawaii, hired her (then KH6QI) as station engineer in the day when it was unheard of for a woman. She and Bob then headed to San Diego, California, where she took another radio broadcast engineer job, and also ran for and became ARRL San Diego Section Communications Manager (now called Section Manager). This was prior to their applying for jobs (at ARRL) in Newington in 1947." The article "A Conversation with Ellen White, W1YL," by Rosalie White appeared in the May/June 2015 issue of NCJ, published by ARRL. That article can be found at, https://ncjweb.com/features/mayjun15feat.pdf . Eric Guth, 4Z1UG, of the QSO Today Amateur Radio Podcast, introduced Ellen White as the "Grande Dame" of amateur radio in an interview recorded on April 27, 2016. The interview can be found at, https://www.qsotoday.com/podcasts/w1yl . Ellen White was preceded in death by her husband Bob in 2003, and her son Jim White, K4OJ (SK), in 2004. NNNN /EX
Ellen White was a remarkable lady, liked by everyone, gracious with hams of all ages, smart, friendly, just wonderful. Irreplacable. 73 Chip W1YW
I was so grateful to have known Ellen and interview her for the QSO Today Podcast. May her memory be for a blessing.
I had a CW contact with her from Korea, a few years ago. One of my furthest CW contacts (if not the furthest). We exchanged an email afterwards, because I almost couldn't believe it was that far. RIP. Kind lady. From her page:
She had the nicest sounding CW signal. I last worked her Dec 28 2021. I had just purchased a Yaesu FT818 and was only using ONE Watt...to my Vertical. She came right back and we had a nice QSO.. So sad that she is gone. I hope she is in Spirit with her Husband and Son and Content... What an amazing life.. I hope I am still around doing CW at THAT age... Inspiring
I was working her at 8wpm on my straight key. She slowed for me and said I did a good job, after ai verified it was her by email. She was working with a remote station. If memory serves, the station was in Oregon or Washington, but she was on the East coast. Hard to remember.
I believe that W1YL operated (over the last few years) remotely , with the remote station in Arizona. 73 Chip W1YW