[NCC] Drew, W8GFG SK 03/01/11

Tim Duffy K3LR k3lr at k3lr.com
Wed Mar 2 08:47:39 PST 2011


Several NCC members have operated Field Day from the hill top on Rutledge
Road in Transfer, PA under the callsigns W8GFG/3, W3VK and then K3LR. Guys
like K8CX, N3RA, K8MR, AF3P, K8AZ, K3LA, K8NZ, N8AA, K3LA, K3MMM, AC8E,
K8CC, WA3WIK, WA3BBJ (W3JL), K8CCV, WB3EUB, K3UA, W3YQ (KL7WV) and even a 16
year hot shot CW op who drove to WPA from Missouri, Jeff, N0AQK - the same
guy that went on to win three WRTC gold medals (and holds the CQWW single op
WORLD records on both modes) - known today as N5TJ.  

 

1972 was my first Field Day and my first ever contest. W8GFG was a radio
rock star to this 12 year old skinny Novice. I (WN3SZX) was honored to be
operating in the same farm shed while Drew did 75 meters right beside me.
Many of Drew's friends would say that he was monoband 75 - at all times.

So many things happened to me on that hill top - that Drew encouraged me to
be a part of. My love for contesting - dating the blonde farmer's daughter
across the street (love and great QTH's go together!) - being at the top of
a 40 ft tower when it fell (I was 16) which could have ended really bad if
not for WA3WIK saving my life that day (and 5 days in the hospital). 30 days
later - stitches were out - I was up on a 350 ft tower with Glen, WA3BBJ.

 

Drew loved Amateur Radio - but he was "in love" with 75. You know it when
you see it. Drew was the first guy to teach me about contesting, even
letting me stumble through working a few guys with his HeathKit HW-12 on 75
SSB - that magic weekend in June of 72'.

 

Drew was the first guy to take me to Dayton when I was 14. All of you know
how I feel about Dayton - a place where all of our friends are and will
always be.

 

Tom, K8CX knew Drew very well and they operated contests together many years
before I was licensed. 

Tom brought Drew over to see a K3LR multi multi contest operation in action
a few years ago - I told him "Look what you started" - as I always thought
that multi multi was just a W8GFG Field Day with amplifiers. Drew told me
how proud he was of the "fire" he lit in 1972. 

We hugged - I cried then and again now - that he is gone. K8CX and I were on
the phone last night for over an hour - with the awesome W8GFG memories,

 

This weekend's DX contest at K3LR is dedicated to the memory of Drew, W8GFG.


Seems very appropriate that I'll be on 75 meters - I know he'll be there -
hope you think of Drew this weekend too

 

RIP W8GFG SK

  



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