http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/hattiesburgamerican/obituary.aspx?pid=185635619 Floyd was a very active DXer and managed the prestigious WAZ Award for CQ Magazine for many years 73 Paul K5RT
R Floyd Gerald, N5FG SK 10-10 Number: 08204 QCWA Number: 32275 Richard Floyd Gerald (January 29, 1944 - May 25, 2017) Richard Floyd Gerald always used his middle name, which caused problems sometimes. If the dry cleaners or the hotel front desk didn't seem to have him listed, he generally knew what the issue was - try "Gerald Floyd," he would gently suggest - knowing that they often reversed his name. Or "Richard Floyd," he would say - knowing that sometimes his surname would get dropped entirely. His favorite joke was that he had an aunt named "EllaFitz," which also served to explain the spelling of his last name. For a man with a complicated name, he also had another: N5FG, his Amateur Radio (or Ham) call sign that identified him as a member of that band of communicators. Long before email and texting, Ham Radio operators used Morse code and a dedicated band of radio waves to send messages in times of trouble or just to say hello. Floyd Gerald raised such communication to an art form, or at least a competitive sport - working with his buddies to talk to more people in more different countries of the world. He was so successful he won awards, started a club for other hams, and eventually they named an award after him. And they got his name right on the plaque. Whew. Roberto Clemente was the first Latin American player to make it into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY, and they messed up his name on his plaque. Puerto Ricans use both their mother's and father's last name - so his full name is Roberto Clemente Walker - but the Hall of Fame initially used a plaque that listed him as Roberto Walker Clemente. They corrected this, but kept the incorrect plaque on display to teach a lesson. This is the kind of story you learn if you were friends of Floyd Gerald. For as much as he loved being a Ham Radio operator, he loved baseball even more. Floyd Gerald was born January 29, 1944, and was a little boy during one of the golden ages of professional baseball. His first hero was Stan "The Man" Musial, who played for the Cardinals from 1941-1963, with a one-year gap in 1945 when he served the US Navy in World War 2. Floyd listened to Cardinal games from his home in Hattiesburg, where only KMOX in St Louis was strong enough to be heard from his little transistor radio. There were Cardinal fans all over the Deep South for this reason, and Floyd Gerald was one of them. He played Little League baseball as a kid in Hattiesburg, but gave up when he realized his near-sightedness meant he was never going to be able to hit a curveball. Floyd Gerald was the second son of Carter and Rose Gerald, who were both a part of the growing hospitality industry in Southern Mississippi; Carter owned a travel agency while Rose managed various hotel properties. Floyd grew up going to work with his mom and eventually launched his own career in hospitality. He worked at the Broadwater Beach Hotel at one point, and he loved to tell stories about his famous guests - when the actor Paul Newman stayed at the Broadwater, for instance, Floyd asked him for ID before cashing his check, and they both had a good laugh. Floyd married Sherry Sims, also from Hattiesburg, in 1966, and the young couple started their family in Gulfport just before Hurricane Camille hit the Gulf Coast. Floyd was working the front desk at the Broadwater and he had guests who wouldn't (or couldn't) evacuate, so he moved all of them to the back of the property, and they all made it safely through the storm munching on snacks from the Golf Pro Shop where they huddled to escape the storm. After the launch of the WTBS Superstation in Atlanta, Floyd became a Braves fan, since he could watch all their games. The team was terrible for a very long time, but Floyd was a devoted fan. He loved rooting for an underdog - his favorite movies were all about the little guy triumphing through a combination of smarts, hard work, and a little luck. He loved The Sting and The Hustler for just that reason. Visitation will be from 9:30am to 10:45am Tuesday, May 30, 2017 at Moore Funeral Home in Wiggins with a graveside service to follow at 11:00am Tuesday, May 30, 2017 at Crossroads Cemetery in Wiggins. Published in the Hattiesburg American on May 28, 2017 - See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/ha...pid=185635619&fhid=21454#sthash.TCUi7ebt.dpuf
