Subj : Newsline Part 4
To : All
From : Daryl Stout
Date : Fri Jan 20 2017 07:03 pm
REMEMBERING HUNTSVILLE HAMFEST'S CHARLIE EMERSON N4OKL, SK
JIM/ANCHOR: This special third segment of our report is devoted to
remembering Charlie Emerson, N4OKL, a prime mover behind the Huntsville
Hamfest. We hear from Amateur Radio Newsline's Don Wilbanks, AE5DW, and
Neil Rapp, WB9VPG. First, Neil:
NEIL: The Board members of Huntsville Hamfest Association have announced
that Charlie Emerson, N4OKL, became a silent key on January 14, 2017, due
to an apparent heart attack. Charlie was the current President of
Huntsville Hamfest Association, a position he had held for many years.
Under Charlie's leadership, the Huntsville Hamfest maintained its growth
and position in the Amateur Radio industry, as one of the top hamfest
organizations in the nation. Charlie was the face of the Huntsville
Hamfest among amateur radio equipment manufacturers, dealers, and
attending ham operators. Charlie will be remembered as always laughing,
telling jokes, and acting as peacemaker whenever necessary... all part of
making the hamfest known as the World's Friendliest Hamfest.
Huntsville Hamfest was Charlie's pride and joy, and he never missed an
opportunity to promote the show or ham radio as a hobby. He was always
anxious to support organizations in the development of young hams in
areas of science and technology through ham radio, such as our Bill
Pasternak Amateur Radio Newsline Young Ham of the Year award.
Huntsville Hamfest Association board member Art Davis, N4UC, recalls how
Charlie started volunteering as a relatively new ham, which soon led to
organizing the event, and how he handled a long standing group of
engineers and scientists that made up the team.
ART: A hamfest this size is a pretty big job. Charlie just took to it,
took it by the horns, and we've done well. You know, we were fortunate to
have him when he came on board.
NEIL: One of the frequent vendors at the hamfest, Scott Cole, KB9AMM,
from Tower Electronics, saw Charlie's leadership potential from the
beginning.
SCOTT: I wasn't surprised when he ended up taking over the chairmanship,
because he has the right hootspa to do exactly that. He was great in
organizing things. He was great in figuring out problems, and overcoming
things. And, he wasn't afraid to go head over heels into something right
off the bat.
NEIL: And, Scott also remembers Charlie going the extra mile.
SCOTT: I remember another time, a year or so ago, when we got to
Huntsville, and we had brake problems with one of our vehicles, and were
kind of stranded. And, we thought... let's give Charlie a try once. So,
we had gotten a hold of him, and he showed up, and was able to get us
back to where our motor home was sitting, so we weren't stranded. He was
just that kind of guy. Great in ham radio... real knowledgeable... very,
very pleasureable... and a great lover of blues music.
NEIL: Charlie Emerson, N4OKL, was 71. Reporting for Amateur Radio
Newsline, I'm Neil Rapp, WB9VPG. Now, with continuing coverage of this
story, here is Don Wilbanks, AE5DW.
DON: Thanks Neil. The Huntsville Hamfest and Amateur Radio Newsline
share a long history. Since the early '90s, it has been the home of our
Young Ham Of the Year award presentation. There was no bigger cheerleader
for that than Charlie Emerson. He was a tireless promoter of amateur radio
in general, and the Huntsville Hamfest in particular. If you knew Charlie,
you had a friend for life.
Ted Randall, WB8PUM, has been bringing his QSO Radio Show, and WTWW
shortwave to the Huntsville Hamfest for years, and, as Ted says here
from Tuesday nights QSO Show broadcast, it's all because of Charlie
Emerson.
[Ted Randall audio. 4:41]
Despite this great loss, the Huntsville Hamfest board remains dedicated
to continuing the tradition of service to the amateur radio community,
by opening its doors as usual on the third weekend of August. They look
forward to honoring Charlie's memory at the 2017 Huntsville Hamfest, and
we look forward to sharing our memories and love for Charlie with them.
With Neil Rapp, WB9VPG, I'm Don Wilbanks, AE5DW.
**
NEWSCAST CLOSE: With thanks to Alan Labs; the ARRL; CQ Magazine; Essex
RAYNET; Hap Holly and the Rain Report; the Huntsville Hamfest
Association; Joe Moell K0OV; John Melfi W2HCB; K2BSA Amateur Radio
Association; Ohio-Penn DX Bulletin; the Port Elizabeth Amateur Radio
Society; QRZ.COM; Southgate Amateur Radio News; Ted Randall's QSO Radio
Show; Tonto Amateur Radio Association; the Wireless Institute of
Australia; Workboat.com; WTWW Shortwave; and you our listeners, that's
all from the Amateur Radio Newsline. Please send emails to our address
at
[email protected]. More information is available at Amateur
Radio Newsline's only official website located at www.arnewsline.org.
For now, with Caryn Eve Murray, KD2GUT, at the news desk in New York,
and our news team worldwide, I'm Jim Damron, N8TMW, in Charleston, West
Virginia, saying 73, and as always, we thank you for listening.
Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) is Copyright 2017. All rights reserved.
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