The Original Famous Hams and ex-Hams List
by N2GJ and W2SG
To our
readers:
We make no claims as to the absolute accuracy of this information,
gleaned from many sources, including lots of apocryphal hearsay! However,
we have made every effort, through exhaustive research and direct communication
with many of the people on this list and their relatives and associates, to
maintain as accurate a list as possible.
I've received a
great deal of help from my old college friend, Steven Glazer, W2SG. We
were both in the Rutgers Amateur Radio Club (WA2NPP) together. Steve and
I believe that a worthwhile goal for the site is not only to highlight those
folks with amateur radio licenses who have found some interesting thing that
distinguishes them from the pack, but also to try to verify each entry,
adding links that support the inclusion of that person, along with links to
pictures, QSL cards, memorable stories, etc. We hope to continue to make
this list the pre-eminent Famous Radio Amateur Operator/Notable Hams list in
the world!
Stan Horzepa, WA1LOU, a pretty famous author in ham radio circles and a
contributing editor whose "Surfin'" column appears each week on the ARRL web site, chose our site
for his July 4th, 2003, feature! We are delighted for the mention,
located at the following link: " You Are
in Good Company."
How YOU can help us to improve this site: we are looking for either QSL cards or pictures for each of the entries on our list. We would like to get pictures in standard formats (bmp's, jpg's, gif's, etc.) or, if you don't have a scanner, the actual item, which we will be happy to scan for you and return (an SASE would be very helpful). Send me an email describing what you've got....thanks!
Popular belief says
Donnie Osmond (the entertainer) and others are currently amateur radio
operators. For years, I harbored the same misconception. Check out
our "Rumors and Mistaken Identities" listings at this URL.
So you may know,
I've been building my list since the early 1980's, starting on a New Jersey
Bulletin Board System -- later on Prodigy and GEnie ham/hobby boards. The
HTML version here dates back to the early 90's. I've added a section
at the bottom for sites that appear to contain similar info, including
inaccurate info we've long ago corrected! Do not hesitate to link to our
site if you'd like. It's free, and, like ham radio itself, we derive no
pecuniary interest from this site.
Helpful notes: for those unfamiliar with amateur radio jargon, the acronym "SK" means "Silent Key" - a a time-honored radio euphemism for "deceased." Wherever possible, we've tried to determine the age at death, which follows the date in parentheses. An "Elmer" is a person who helps another become a ham by offering encouragement, training, and, sometimes even radio equipment to get started in the hobby. A "SWL" is a Short Wave Listener. A "YL" is a female operator (Young Lady of any age). An "XYL" is a male ham's spouse. "MARS" is the Military Affiliate Radio System which has historically relayed messages among active service men and women and their families. The "QCWA" is the Quarter Century Wireless Association, comprised of radio amateurs who have been active for at least 25 years. "ARRL" is the national association for amateur radio. "OOTC" is the Old Old Timers Club.
Please send additions, clarifications, amplifications and corrections to me, Gerry Jurrens, N2GJ:
[Click HERE to send me email]
For general info on
ham radio (amateur radio) click on: How Ham
Radio Works or visit ARRL,
the national association for amateur radio. A new website is now online: http://helloradio.org/
Last updated: 22-Dec-2007
See also the "CQ Magazine Amateur Radio Hall of Fame" at: CQ Hall of Fame. (It is not my intention to duplicate entries for people on that list, unless they are likely to be known by the general public.)
If you are thinking about getting a vanity callsign, check my list before you visit N4MC's Vanity Callsign HQ, lest you wind up with the callsign of someone whose history may not be one you'd like to be reminded of....
Tom Roscoe, K8CX, has built a wonderful site full of ham radio QSL cards, many of which relate to people honored here. Please check out his web site at: www.hamgallery.com/qsl/.
IMDB is the Internet Movie Data Base. Their URL is at: www.imdb.com.
QRZ! is the pre-eminent source of ham radio information, including
free access to the FCC's amateur radio data base. Their URL is at: www.qrz.com. Donations are
graciously accepted there.
|
U.S. Callsigns |
Name |
Claim to Fame |
Notes &
Sources |
|
(US & Foreign) |
Various |
****Astronaut and Cosmonaut hams **** ==============================================> |
see astronaut hams |
|
K1AC |
Keith
Henney |
Author
of many classic electronics texts. (ex-K2BH); K1AC call re-issued to
"Low Band DX Club" in Arizona; first licensed as 8ZD in Marion, OH
in 1915; he was also an editor of "ELECTRONICS" magazine and
of technical books at McGraw-Hill; article
w/pix; wrote New Hampshire history books after his retirement; 11 of his
technical books listed here. |
(SK)
(died in 1990 at age 94); W2AAB; links & updates W2SG |
|
K1ADJ |
Peter
Guber |
One
of the most successful and powerful producers and executives in Hollywood;
see bio |
K1VR
|
|
K1AKE |
James
M. Moran |
Dr.
Moran is the "Donald H. Menzel [W1JEX] Professor of Astrophysics"
at Harvard, a leading researcher in the field of astronomical masers and
black holes. Received "2003 Fellow of the IEEE" award. Links. |
W2SG
|
|
1ANB |
Phillip
H. Smith |
inventor
of "Smith Chart" used to calculate transmission-line
impedance. See bio. See also IEEE oral history. |
W2SG
|
|
W1AST |
Harold
Dorschug |
Also
W8AST; was Chief Engineer for WTIC AM FM TV3, then VP of Engineering Research
and Development; Dorschug was one of the two engineers on duty in Master
Control the night of Orson Welles' famous 1938 broadcast
of "The War of the Worlds." See obit with
picture: here. |
W2SG
|
|
W1AW |
Hiram
Percy Maxim |
Inventor, radio pioneer, early aviation pioneer; ARRL Founder also known as "The Old Man." Full biography; short bio; a picture of Maxim's 1915 Station (1ZM); his card; picture of his invention, the firearms silencer (for which he may be more famous than ham radio); Burial site. |
(SK)
17-FEB-1936 (66); N8EE; updates & links W2SG |
|
K1AYA |
Walter
"Pee Wee" Hunt |
musician,
band leader and recording star; bio; MARA Newsletter article
and another;
ham radio mention; some albums; other recordings; |
(SK)
22-JUN-1979 (72) ; W8SU; update W2SG |
|
K1BFG |
Robert
A. Payne |
Retired
Air Force Brig General, WW II B-17 pilot, POW. See ARRL article; |
W2SG |
|
W1BKR |
William
F. Baker |
President
of flagship public television station WNET,
Channel 13 in New York City; see also QRZ!
profile; he previously served a dual role as President of Westinghouse
Television, Inc. (from 1979) and Chairman of Group W Satellite Communications
(from 1981). |
W2SG
|
|
W1CCN |
Maj.
Gen. Elmer P. Yates (Ret.) |
Nuclear
power pioneer in U.S. Army. See article. |
W2SG
|
|
KA1FZQ |
Lawrence
S. Bacow |
President
of Tufts University. See "Tufts Online Magazine" article. |
W2SG
|
|
WB1GCE |
Arthur
B. Beal |
At
the age of 18 became Naval aviation ordnance chief, one of the youngest to
ever achieve this rank. He served on the "USS Ranger"
(CV-4), a unique World War II aircraft carrier and infamous "ghost
ship" that sank five German ships after Axis U-Boat commander Otto von
Bulow believed he had "sunk" her in 1943. Links. |
(SK)
04-July-2004 (80); W2SG |
|
W1JEX |
Dr.
Donald H. Menzel |
Leading
Harvard astrophysicist, author, and Director of the Harvard College
Observatory for many years. Links. |
(SK)
14-DEC-1976 (75); W2SG |
|
K1JT |
Dr.
Joseph H. "Joe" Taylor |
Ph.
D. in Physics; co-winner with (Russell Alan Hulse, ex-WB2LAV, KN2ITQ) of 1993
Nobel Prize in Physics for discovery of binary pulsars. Scientist/Princeton
University Dean of Faculty (1997-2003)/James S. McDonnell Distinguished
University Professor of Physics; see Nobel Autobiography; Author of "WSJT" and
"JT44" weak signal mode software; Bill, KP3O, recently retired from
the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico, designed the filter bank and receiver
that Joe used in his research. Link
to JARL newsletter with summary of 1993 “QST” piece about Joe. Prior callsigns: KN2ITP (Novice) and W1HFV. |
KP3O;
W2SG |
|
N1JZS |
Monroe
Y. Mann, Jr. |
Author
and actor who has appeared in TV series "Third Watch" and
"100 Centre Street" ; official web site. |
W2SG
|
|
W1KFG |
David
W. Borst |
Founder
of student-run college radio and the Intercollegiate Broadcasting System
(IBS), at Brown Univ. (WBRU);
IEEE Fellow in the field of power semi- conductor devices. (ex-W2IAU); article w/picture; granddaughter's eulogy; Brown University Alumni Magazine Online obituary. |
(SK)
08-DEC-2000 (82); W2SG |
|
W1KOO |
Paul
E. Hope |
Radioman
of the "USS Dorchester," WW2 casualty of the famous Four
Chaplains who gave their life jackets to other servicemen. Interesting
links and story about the US postage stamp here. |
W8SU
and KK8W |
|
K1OKI |
Dr.
Michael P. "Mickey" Schulhof |
Former
Chairman and CEO of Sony America now runs a private investment firm in New York
according to ARRL article; Ph.D. in Physics; commercialized CD
music; interesting "Red Herring" article;
"Business Week" article
on his ouster from Sony; |
updates
NE2Q and W2SG |
|
KA1SA |
Richard
S. Lindzen |
Alfred
P. Sloan Professor of Meteorology at MIT; "a leading expert in the
physical processes of the atmosphere"; widely published and written
about for his contrarian views on global warming and related issues (see,
e.g., The New York Times (6/18/96), Newsweek (7/23/01)); elected to both the
National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences at
age 37. Links. |
W2SG
|
|
W1UHI |
Ernest
Wheatley |
Was
once known as the "oldest living US ham," died at age 106 in
1993; see "Amateur Radio Newsline" article.
|
(SK)
1993 (106); W2SG |
|
1XS |
Reginald
Aubrey Fessenden |
Scientist;
prolific inventor; wireless pioneer; licensed in 1928 for 20 meter station in
Newton, MA ; made first radio broadcast of human voice and music on Christmas
Eve 1906 from Brant Rock on Massachusetts coast; spent final days in Bermuda.
Articles and pictures: here, here, here, here,
here, here, and here;
See VP9F below. |
(SK)
22-JULY-1932 (65); W2AAB; update & links W2SG |
|
W1ZE |
Irving
Vermilya |
"the
first licensed radio amateur in the U.S.A." See "Boston
Radio Archives" article;
co-founder of OOTC and its
first President in 1948; operator at old "CC", original
Marconi wireless station on Cape Cod at South Wellfleet, MA; "Worldradio"
article; his original spark call was "VN";
Another interesting link: "Amateur Number One," by
"VN" from February 1917 QST. |
(SK)
JAN-1964 (73); links W2SG |
|
N1ZSU |
Ted
Ts'o |
Linux
kernel developer; personal web site |
VE7RJT |
|
KA1ZY |
Dr.
Gary B. Ruvkun |
Professor
of Genetics at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital;
widely reported groundbreaking researcher in the field of genetics and aging
using C. elegans worm, the first live creature to be completely
gene-sequenced; Ruvkun Lab web site,
including CV /w pix; personal home page; description
of research at Massachusetts General Hospital; "Harvard University
Gazette" article; |
WA2NGB;
links W2SG |
|
W2AFX |
Donald
G. Fink |
Former
President of IRE; first General Manager and Executive Director of IEEE;
prolific author and editor of electrical engineering books. bio; obit; |
(SK)
03-MAY-1996 (84); W2SG |
|
K2AGZ |
David
A. Mann |
Composer,
born David Freedman; wrote hundreds of songs, his most popular perhaps was
"There I've Said It Again" -- "was the last #1
hit in the USA before The British Invasion. It was knocked out of 1st place
by The Beatles' hit 'I Want to Hold Your Hand.')" according to
his "Composers/Lyricists database entry;" "NY Times" obituary requires registration. |
(SK)
01-MAR-2002 (85); W8SU; update W2SG |
|
W2ALS |
Frank
Gunther |
Established
first mobile two-way police communications system in 1932, opening up VHF
mobile spectrum; FM pioneer with Armstrong. See ARRL article. |
(SK)
31-MAY-1999 (91); W2SG |
|
K2AMH |
Robert
A. "Bob" Moog |
Founder
and President of RAMCO (1953), builder of theremins, as well as many other
electronic wonders. His "Moog Synthesizer" became the ad-hoc
standard for composers in the electronic media for many years. The
landmark album, "Switched on Bach," was composed/performed on his
device. See fascinating company archives site. Links. |
(SK)
21-AUG-2005 (71); via N1ND; KC5EXU; updates W2SG, Jeff Winner
(raymondscott.com) |
|
WB2AQC |
George
Pataki |
No,
not THAT George Pataki! This prolific traveler/writer ham is
responsible for lobbying Senator Barry Goldwater to sponsor the
legislation that eliminated the rule that limited licensing to US citizens
only. He also helped supply information that led to the publishing of
the first callbook (American Flying Horse) of Soviet radio amateur
callsigns. This encouraged other Eastern European radio clubs to send
their lists to the CallBook and the secrecy and prohibition was ended!
official web site; refer to my Rumors page for more information. |
WB2AQC |
|
W2ATW |
George
W. Rogers |
Famous
(infamous) as the chief radio operator on the ill-fated S.S. Morro
Castle. First hailed as a hero, he later came under suspicion for
starting the fire. See Thomas Gallagher's highly-detailed account,
"Fire at Sea." Later convicted of a double murder, Rogers
died in prison in 1958. See article. |
(SK)
10-JAN-1958 (61); W2AAB; link W2SG |
|
W2BML |
Dr.
Harold H. Beverage |
Inventor
of the Wave antenna, more commonly known as the "Beverage
antenna." Consulting engineer for RCA for years. Philip
B. Peterson Article.
Oral History. |
W2AAB;
articles W2SG |
|
W2BWC |
Leslie
J. Fitzgibbon |
Longtime
tennis official and champion; won the National Father and Son Tennis
Tournament in 1967; inductee of the Eastern Tennis Assn. Hall of Fame. Links. |
(SK)
19-SEP-2003 (90);W2SG |
|
2CVJ |
Robert
Hart |
Ham
who received in his Hartsdale, New York, cellar first transatlantic TV signal
transmitted by its inventor, John Logie Baird, from amateur station 2KZ in
London on February 8, 1928; three days later, The New York Times compared the
feat to Marconi's first transatlantic transmission of the letter
"S" in 1901. Links. |
W2SG
|
|
K2FX
(1) |
Durwood
"Dee" Finch |
One
of the team of "Klavan and Finch", radio personalities on
NYC station WNEW. , W2AAB says "Dee was a super CW op, usually on
40 or 20 meters." (ex-W2SJH); "DCNY Radio" listing;
(K2FX call has been re-issued). |
(SK)
29-MAR-1983; W2AAB; W2SG sent this W2SJH QSL |
|
K2FX
(2) |
Capt.
Paul Kolacki |
Coincidence?
Paul currently works for the #1 rated Radio Station in Rochester, NY where
his show is also the top rated show on the station; Radio Station web site; nice personal web site; |
K2FX
|
|
K2GL |
Hazard
E. Reeves |
Invented
the stereophonic sound system used with Cinerama; avid radio contester; #1 on
"CQ Magazine Contest Hall of Fame." See biographical notes. |
(SK)
23-DEC-1986 (95); NN4X |
|
KB2GSD |
Walter
Cronkite |
Former
TV Journalist, long-time CBS correspondent, avid sailor. Has an asteroid named after him! ARRL CD-ROM
|
- |
|
K2HEP |
John
Sculley |
former
CEO of Apple Computer. (Callsign lapsed) |
- |
|
WA2HVM |
Ronald
A. Swoboda |
New
York Mets baseball player from long ago. (Callsign lapsed); picture
at site with those of many CBS retirees. |
from
Winter "Callbook" magazine 76-77; link W2SG |
|
W2IBO |
Robert
Miller |
former
Chief Engineer, RCA Astro Electronics; now retired. |
K2RCG |
|
KC2IJI |
Casey
W. Raskob III |
Attorney
specializing in traffic violations, featured in "The Learning Channel"
documentary "Speed Traps," official web site; "National
Motorists Association" web site.
("NY Times" article (28-MAR-2003) by Dana White requires
registration.) |
K2GW;
links W2SG |
|
K2JK |
Elmer
C. Easton |
former
Dean of the Rutgers College of Engineering when W2SG and I went to school
there; elected Fellow of ASEE
in 1983; received ASEE Centennial Medal
in 1993; |
W2SG |
|
WA2JXX |
Gerson
Strassberg |
Inventor
of the plastic pocket protector. Newsday mini-bio. |
W2SG |
|
W2KFB |
Julian
D. Hirsch |
Longtime
audio and stereo equipment journalist and engineer, whose consumer reviews
often appeared in "Popular Electronics," "Stereo Review"
and "Sound & Vision." Links. |
N3IJW;
W2SG |
|
KC2KNU |
Daniel
J. Peng |
Princeton
University Class of 2005 student who ran afoul of the Recording Industry
Association of America and settled with them to the tune of US$15,000; if you
would like to help, Dan has put a link online;
"Trenton Times" article; picture and article from "Daily Princetonian."
Interesting trivia/note: N2GJ was on the Volunteer Examiner team when
Dan passed his ham license! |
google search |
|
WB2LAV |
Russell
Alan Hulse |
co-winner
with K1JT of 1993 Nobel Prize in Physics for discovery of binary pulsars; See
Nobel Autobiography. See also note on web site
of Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory. (Callsign lapsed) |
W2SG |
|
KB2LHI |
Joe
Walsh |
"Guinness
Book of World Records" lists him as the "World's Fastest
Shooter." See ARRL article. |
(SK)
28-FEB-2000 (60) |
|
W2LX |
Stuart
Dubois Cowan |
Co-authored
numerous antenna books with Bill Orr (W6SAI); during WWII, following
graduation from Princeton, bunked with motion-picture star Robert Montgomery
while serving as communications officer aboard flagship destroyer USS
Barton (DD-722) on 06-JUN-1944 (D-Day) screening for invasion fleet
at Normandy and supporting troops ashore at Omaha Beach using 80 meter
amateur band. Princeton University Class of 1939 obit/memorial; books; article
by Cowan regarding his USN service; |
(SK)
18-NOV-1999 (82); W2SG |
|
K2LYS |
Mark
Rudd |
Self-styled
revolutionary, Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) leader and
member of the "Weather Underground" in the late '60's and early
'70's. Documentary nominated for 2003 Academy Award.
(Callsign lapsed) Links. |
W2SG |
|
W2MEZ |
Raymond
Scott |
Prolific
composer/electronic-music pioneer/inventor (patented a |
(SK)
08-FEB-1994 (85); W2AAB; links and email from Jeff Winner to W2SG |
|
W2MFW |
Jerome
H. "Jerry" Schatz |
Child
actor who played the "spoiled rich kid" in the "Our
Gang" comedies (credited as Jerry Tucker); see Hiram's Hams
Amateur Radio Society web site;
survived injuries sustained on 14-APR-1945 while serving aboard USS Sigsbee
(DD-502) when struck during a Kamikaze attack off Okinawa; see bio; pix;
XYL is Myra, WA2FIW; recent picture. |
K2TV;
links W2SG |
|
W2MGE |
Martin
Block |
Radio
personality known for "Make Believe Ballroom" in New York
(various listings have it on WABC, WOR, WNEW); "Radio Hall of Fame"
bio;
a book
entitled "The Hits Just Keep on Coming" by Ben Fong-Torres
contains stories, interviews and photos of Block and others from the
"Golden Age of Radio." In phone conversation, son Gene told
me his father used to identify himself by saying "Wasting 2 Much Good
Energy!" |
(SK)
18-SEP-1967 (~64); W8SU |
|
WA2MKI |
Lazarus Louis "Larry" Ferrari |
Musician/TV
personality; bio; posthumously inducted into the "Hall of
Fame of the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia" on 16-NOV-2000. |
(SK)
20-NOV-1997 (65); W2SG |
|
K2MLT |
Walter
Steven Taylor |
Vintner/artist/inventor/aviator/poet/auto
racing enthusiast and distant relative of P.T. Barnum; interesting "Vineyard
& Winery" article; obit;
official web site;
court decision barring his use of "Taylor" wine trademark here; stories behind the lawsuit here and here; Greyton H. Taylor Wine Museum web site. |
(SK)
20-APR-2001 (70); links W2SG |
|
WA2NGB |
Paul
H. Ginsparg |
Professor
of Physics and Computer and Informational Science at Cornell University; 2002
fellow of MacArthur Foundation ("Genius Award"); creator of on-line
system for distributing scientific research results, widely known as " arXiv.org"; as a
theoretical physicist, he has made substantial contributions in quantum field
theory, string theory, conformal field theory and quantum gravity.
Pictures: link1,
link2;
MacArthur Fellowship ("Genius Award") article; "Physics Today" article.
(Callsign lapsed). |
May
2003 " Scientific American"; links W2SG |
|
W2OJW |
F.
Gerald "Jerry" Powell |
New
Jersey Ham who is the subject of a book published in April 2003 called "Hello
World: A Life in Ham Radio," by Danny Gregory (KC2KGT) and
Paul Sahre (KC2KHN); the project grew out of the authors' purchase of
his QSL collection at a flea market in Manhattan, after more than 70 years of
operation; OOTC # 2964. Book reviews here, here
and here; we
recently received PDF versions of the "New Yorker" review,
the "New York Times" review,
"QST" review. Links.
|
(SK)
27-FEB-2001 (92); W2SG; click here
for my own mini- review |
|
KC2ONX |
Dr.
Gregory H. Olsen |
Space
Tourist and entrepreneur, Dr. Olsen has a Ph.D. in materials science from the
University of Virginia. He founded Sensors Unlimited in 1991 and sold it five
years ago for $700 million. Photo
|
see also: astronaut
hams |
|
KA2ORK/J3 |
Mark
Barettella |
Medical
student who was sole source of communication from Grenada during U.S.
invasion on October 25, 1983 (now licensed as N2MD). Links.
|
W2SG |
|
K2ORS |
Jean Shepherd |