W9OMT (Old Man Taylor), and subsequently W9JO

I first met Joe Taylor at West High School, in Green Bay.
It was around 1954 (when I first got my license).
I was a Sophomore, and Joe, a Senior.

Joe was a very outgoing guy.
Having heard that I was already a ham,
he introduced himself. At age 15,
I became an Elmer for the first time.

Joe was an accomplished violinist in the West High Orchestra.
He was farmed out to the Band (in which I played cornet)
to perform a violin solo in one of our concerts.

Once he got his license, I, being a tree climber, helped put up his antenna.
I also repaired his first transmitter, a Viking I (bad final screen resistor).
Also helped him install a Heathkit AT-1 and plate modulator in his car (75 meter AM).

Joe had part ownership in a small private plane.
Can't remember the make or model, but it had a front and back seat.
He taught me how to fly it, let me do several takeoffs and landings.

I'll never forget the time Joe wanted to check his coverage around town.
He sets up his tape machine to supply a continuous voice ID on 3950 kc
(the local and state calling and working frequency).
Suddenly the voice ID portion ends, and some previously-recorded music comes on!
We're way across town at the time. Joe panics--heading back home
at break-neck speeds well above the posted limits.

Saw him some time in the late 60's or early 70's, when
he bought a Johnson Desktop Kw from Amateur Electronics
(where I worked at the time).

Not sure what happened to Joe, he seems to have dropped off the radar.
His last known employment was Chief Engineer at a Minneapolis TV station.
When I checked, no one there had seen him in about 20 years.

Last time I saw Joe, it was at a Broadcast Engineering seminar in the early 80's.
Or was it that chance noontime meeting at a downtown Green Bay restaurant?
Some really good (but maybe not too chronologically accurate) memories.

 

My Condolences in the loss of your Friend.

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/tw...eph-a-taylor&pid=653744&fhid=2821#fbLoggedOut

Taylor, Joseph A. - Ret. Chief Engineer KSTP TV 1937-2002 Age 65, of St. Paul, on December 12, 2002. Survived by wife Roberta; children Christopher (Debbie), Laurie (Scott) Nelson, Karl (Bonnie); step-children Ted Gamron, Cynthia (Thomas) Skinner; grandchildren Amy, Mr. Max, Cassandra, Sean. Memorial service at MUELLER-BIES FUNERAL HOME-ROSEVILLE, 2130 N. Dale @ Cty. Rd. B on Sunday December 15 at 7PM. Visitation from 6PM Sunday until time of service. In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to the American Heart Assoc. Joseph worked for 20 yrs. as Chief Engineer at WBAY TV, Green Bay, and 10 yrs. as Chief Engineer for KSTP TV. As Joe would say, 'Let's get the troops out of the hot sun.' MUELLER-BIES 651-487-2550. -

Published in Pioneer Press from December 14 to December 15, 2002 -

Former W9JO Joseph Taylor SK

73 K2HAT Lee Hatfield Jr

 

Thank you, Lee.

And may God Bless you and your family.

73,

Jim