[SEDXC] FWD: Well Known Contester Falls From Tower

[Dr. John Harden]

Dear Fellow DX-ers,

When climbing a tower one should obviously use a climbing belt. But, you need
at least two safety lanyards to use when going around guy wires and other
obstacles. There should never be a time that you are NOT connected.

This is a tragic loss, and it is certainly hard to determine what may have
happened...

73,

John, W4NU
Atlanta
(K4JAG 1959 to 1998)

Ed Tanton wrote:

> I urge everyone to be careful.
>
> ==>WELL-KNOWN CONTESTER, DXer DIES IN FALL FROM TOWER
>
> Well-known contester and DXer Steve Miller, N8SM (ex-WD8IXE), of Prosper,
> Texas, died June 15 as a result of a fall while working on his Amateur
> Radio tower. He was 38. An ARRL member, Miller had extensive experience in
> tower work and antenna installation. With the assistance of several other
> hams, Miller had erected a 136-foot tower on his property and installed
> several antennas as part of his overall effort to build a competitive
> contesting station.
>
> Details of the mishap that claimed Miller's life are not available.
> According to unofficial accounts, Miller had been working on his tower the
> morning of June 15, and, after a lunch break, told his wife, Radhicar, that
> he had another hour's work left. Later, she heard a noise from the yard and
> found her husband lying on the ground. Miller's wife called 911, but the
> rescue squad was unable to revive him.
>
> ARRL antenna guru Dean Straw, N6BV--who had corresponded with Miller on
> several topics--was among those expressing shock and sadness at his death.
> "Steve was always most responsive, and he always had the most intelligent
> comments and questions concerning whatever technical topic we were
> discussing," said Straw. "I will miss his innate, contagious enthusiasm."
>
> First licensed as WD8IXE in 1977 at the age of 12, Miller--an Ohio
> native--enjoyed contesting and DXing. He was routinely active during the CW
> weekends of the CQ World Wide, ARRL International DX and ARRL November
> Sweepstakes events. He also operated as J68AG from St Lucia in the
> Caribbean and participated in a few DXpeditions, including several stints
> as a member of the J6DX team in the 1980s and 1990s. He was an ARRL DXCC
> Honor Roll member, with 332 entities confirmed (mixed).
>
> In addition to ARRL, Miller belonged to the North Texas Contest Club
> <http://www.qsl.net/ntcc/> and 10-10 International
> <http://www.ten-ten.org/. Besides ham radio, he enjoyed playing jazz
> saxophone. An Ohio State graduate, Miller worked for Texas Instruments as
> part of its broadband wireless access group in Dallas. Survivors include
> his wife and their young daughter. A memorial service was held June 19.
>
> 73 Ed Tanton N4XY <n4xy at earthlink.net>
>
> Ed Tanton N4XY
> 189 Pioneer Trail
> Marietta, GA 30068-3466
>
> website: http://www.n4xy.com
>
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