[RTTY] Welcome Back Ray WF1B

[Don AA5AU]

I received email yesterday from Ray Ortgiesen, WF1B, letting me know he is back on the air again! Anyone involved in RTTY in the 1990's will already be familiar with Ray. For those who don't know Ray, he is the father of "modern" computer-based RTTY contesting software. His DOS-based "RTTY by WF1B" program was first introduced to the world in the October 1991 edition of the RTTY Digital Journal in an article written by Jay, WS7I. Even though Jay and Hal (WA7EGA) had been using their own SCOTCHLG RTTY contesting program for years, it was RTTY by WF1B that took the RTTY contesting world by storm at the 1972 Dayton HAMVENTION.
For nearly ten years RTTY by WF1B was the choice program of RTTY contesters around the world. His program helped launch the wild popularity RTTY and RTTY contesting experienced at the start of the 21st century. Many of the features we find in WriteLog and N1MM first started in RTTY by WF1B.
In additions to giving us RTTY by WF1B, Ray was also instrumental in the creation of the Amateur Data Interchange Format (ADIF) that we all use today. Ray is also a top RTTY contester and one of the nicest guys I've ever met.
Please join me in welcoming Ray back. I can't wait to see his call scroll across my screen again. We missed you Ray!
73, Don AA5AU