[Mldxcc] SK - W4AI,/ZD8J - John R. Beck

[Ken Anderson]

>From today's DailyDX

                             Silent Key
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W4AI, John R. Beck, passed away in a Sebring, FL nursing home on
February 11, 2008.  He was 89.  John was originally licensed as W6MHB
in San Francisco.  In 1955 he went on his first DXpedition to TI9MHB.
The following year he joined RCA on the Air Force Eastern Test Range.
During this assignment he held the calls VP7BT on Eleuthera Island,
VQ9J in the Seychelles, ZD8J on Ascension, and VP2A and VP2AAA on
Antigua.  After he left the Range he worked with RCA Alaskom in Alaska
where he held the call KL7AI.  When John retired from RCA he returned
to Florida where he was licensed as K4LIV then W4AI.  He was an avid
DXer and contester, and had worked all but two countries.  John is
best remembered in the contesting world for his two # 1 World
placements in the CQ WW CW DX Contests in 1966 and 1967 as ZD8J.  He
also had many outstanding scores in the ARRL CW DX Contests over the
years from his DX locations. (Thanks K4LQ for W4AI bio)