In Rememberance of Prentice Liller, NNN0HAF (1932 - 2009)
Prentice D. Wayne Liller passed away the morning of July 20, 2009 at his home in Davis, West Virginia. He was born December 11, 1932 in Thomas, West Virginia. Prentice joined the West Virginia Military Affiliate Radio Service (MARS) on November 2, 1989. Throughout his nearly 20 years of MARS service, one of the activities he participated in was the operation of a High Frequency (HF) Regional Messege Board using AMTOR/PACTOR. This important board was the a place where State Traffic Representatives (known as traffic reps) went to pick-up MARS messege traffic for distribution. In the 1990s, Prentice also assisted MARS State Director McDowell in setting up a WV statewide AMTOR/PACTOR Digital Network. He was a US ARMY Veteran of the Korean Conflict and was 76 years old at the time of his passing. He was also an active Amateur Radio Operator with the callsign K8CXD. (Credit NNN0LLL, Bob)
In Rememberance of Dewey McPherson, NNN0PEA (1923-2009)
On March 19, 2009, Dewey Wiant McPherson, 85, passed away in Raleigh, North Carolina with his family by his side. He was born on Dec. 8, 1923 in Burnsville, WV. Early on, Dewey learned the value of a hard days work, and he never lost that work ethic throughout his life. Dedication, compassion, a keen wit, and a hearty sense of humor defined him. Dewey served in the Navy during World War II. He spent his career working for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the Ohio River District. He served as Lockmaster of New Cumberland Locks and Dam. In addition to Dewey's distinguished career working on the river, he was very active in the West Virginia Navy Military Affiliate Radio System where he received numerous honors for his service. (Credit, NNN0LLL, Bob)
In Rememberance of Jim McEwuen, NNN0TNS (1925 - 2007)
James McEwuen , NNN0TNS / W8GUL
Jim passed on Feb 9, 2007 after a short illness. Jim was 82.
In his own words, Jim remembers the "radio days" of his life.
"I was first licensed in 1951, but my interest in ham radio began much earlier. By tuning my old Radiola III to the top of the broadcast band, I could listen to a couple of local hams in Weston, WV on 160 meters. I finally found.
I finally got up nerve enough to go to Fes Greathouse's (W8PZT), and knock on the door and intro myself. He had a kilowatt rig, all open construction, and I was fascinated by it. We talked in a "roundtable" to a station in the mid west, and to Alaska and maybe a couple others on 160 meters, and I was hooked. He started teaching me code until he had to leave to go to Ohio to work in a defense plant. After three years of service in the Army in World War II, I began working toward my General Class Class license - that's when I became W8GUL.
I working at WHAW in Weston (West Virginia) as an engineer at the transmitter site, Six Meters was becoming popular, so I built a 6 meter rig open breadboard style. I took it to work with and was talking to a ham across town when the boss called to say he was hearing voices in the radio. I knew in an instant I was modulating the broadcast transmitter since my 6 meter rig was sitting on a table right next to me.
In 1963 I joined Navy MARS, an organization of hams who provide auxiliary communication for Navy personnel. During my time with Navy MARS, I served as Emergency Communications Officer, State Director and District EmergencyCommunications Officer for the Fourth MARS District, which included eight states and the District of Columbia. I am still an active member of Navy MARS now in my forty-third year as NNN0TNS.
In 1966 I was offered a job with the Navy Department which specified in the job description that the applicant be an am radio operator. As a civilian employee I was treated as an officer, so I had the "best of both worlds." I retired from the Navy after twenty years.
The Monongalia Wireless Association named me "Amateur of the Year" in 1981 and I was chosen as West Virginia Amateur of the year in 1988.
As a member of of “Partners of the Americas”, a private international organization, I worked with West Virginia University personnel in an effort to build good will and cooperation between the states in North and South America. West Virginia's partner was the was the State of Espirito Santo in Brazil. My contact was "Pat" Fitzpatrick (PP1BG), and we communicated on a regular schedule. In 1991 the Partners organization sent me to Brazil to share mutually beneficial information about flood mitigation.
After fifty-five years, I am still active in ARES,
providing communications in emergency situations. "
All Inquiries should go to NNN0VLG, Rob - WV State MARS Webmaster...and my thanks go out to NNN0LLL, Bob, for his assistance in compliling these pieces...Thanks Chief...