Operating from Pat’s place in Maine was one of the most enjoyable
experiences I’ve had in contesting. It wasn’t the on air time that stuck
with me, but what happened before and after the contests that made both
trips so memorable.
Pat did what nearly every one of us from the Midwest has dreamed about our
entire lives. He built his own contest station on the east coast in the
tiny town of Lubec, Maine. Lubec was significant because it is the most
eastern city in the United States. Europe was always loud at Pat’s QTH and
he was always sure to get the first wave of the European opening. Pat
erected what he referred to as a modest contest station which featured a
full size vertical for 160 meters, phased verticals for 80 meters, a two
element 40 meter beam and monoband Yagis for the high bands. His station
was potent into Europe, particularly on 20 meters, where his single antenna
routinely beat out other station’s big stacks.
Pat had an incredible enthusiasm for contesting. His signature phonetics
of, “*Willy Five Willy Mike United” *could be heard in nearly every SSB
contest and his three letter suffix had a unique ability of smashing its
way through any CW pileup. It didn’t seem to matter if it was the smallest
state QSO party or the largest worldwide DX contest, W5WMU or W1WMU was
going to be in many logs.
Pat’s Maine QTH was truly magical. The front porch overlooked the Bay of
Fundy with the Canadian hills in the background. Fresh Maine lobsters with
a Cajun twist were the norm for pre and post contest dinners, prepared by
his wonderful wife Alice. Age tried to slow Pat down, but he didn’t know
the word surrender. He continued to climb the steep set of stairs to the
W1WMU shack. Despite his physical condition, he would ride his four
wheeler into the tower field to check a coax connection or put the
finishing touches on his latest antenna.
Pat’s sense of empathy was truly unique. He had an innate ability of
feeling what others felt, and he could easily demonstrate this with a
knowing look or simple expression. I spoke to him many times before the
start of a big contest and he always seemed to know just what to say to put
my mind at ease. No matter the circumstance, Pat had a unique way of
making others feel better.
73 Pat. Thanks for the great times.
Kevin, N5DX
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