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

[Richard (Rick) Karlquist]

40 years ago when I was a newly minted General class
still too young to drive, I worked ZD8J, which seemed
like serious DX at the time.  All I had was a 14AVQ
trap vertical and a Ranger with a 6146 running 65
watts DC input (probably about 40 watts out).
I was thrilled to get a QSL from him.  I can still
remember the orange card with the call ZD8J in big
letters.  I felt like I had arrived.

Rick N6RK

Ken Anderson wrote:
>>From today's DailyDX
> 
>                              Silent Key
> ______________________________________________________________________
> 
> 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)
> 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Mldxcc mailing list
> Mldxcc at contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/mldxcc
> 
>