The AM Forum
March 28, 2024, 05:33:33 AM *
Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length
 
   Home   Help Calendar Links Staff List Gallery Login Register  
Pages: 1 [2] 3 4   Go Down
  Print  
Author Topic: Astabula Bill (W8VYZ) SK  (Read 87003 times)
0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.
Pete, WA2CWA
Moderator
Member

Offline Offline

Posts: 8154


CQ CQ CONTEST


WWW
« Reply #25 on: September 26, 2011, 05:31:19 PM »

Loved the video, and successfully downloaded a copy. An AM classic if ever there was one. That's the first and only picture of Rick, K8MLV (SK) I have seen. I talked with Rick on the air many, many times but, as with Bill, I never met him in person either. His death was tragic, but that's a whole other story. Dave is still on the air, now from Kansas City, close enough that I can usually hear him on 75 without any problem.

After Rick left 8-land, his signal was piss weak whenever I worked him from my station in Houston or from here, but he always said he would get the Johnson KW on the air "in the near future".  That near future never came. I understand he lived in a tiny mobile home in a trailer park and had limited antenna space, RFI issues, etc, which may explain why he never got round to firing up the KW.

Rick was famous for his "I hate slopbuckets" tee-shirts.  I still have mine. I recall Bill telling me once of his plan to attend a hamfest somewhere in northern Ohio, wearing that tee-shirt under his jacket, and "flashing" certain people with it at the hamfest.  Grin


According to the Electric Radio Index:
Photograph(s) of K8MLV:
July 93, page 24
Aug. 2000, page 3
Jan. 2001, page 32, 33
Feb. 2001, page 16
I think might have been on the E.R. cover too.
Logged

Pete, WA2CWA - "A Cluttered Desk is a Sign of Genius"
W1RC
Contributing
Member
*
Offline Offline

Posts: 539


« Reply #26 on: September 26, 2011, 10:16:37 PM »

I'm not quite sure why the other thread on Bill thread was locked down but here is some new and relevant information that was forwarded to me by Ed, VA3ES:

From: wb3fau@att.net
Sent: September 26, 2011 7:36 PM
To: boatanchors@theporch.com
Subject: [BoatAnchors] status of Ashtabula Bill- W8VYZ

To those of  you who know him, Bill was admitted to the VA hospital in Erie, PA,  over the weekend.  He  is having  difficulty  breathing and eating, as  his esophagus is  damaged.

I  visited  with him  on Sunday.

Operating is not an option as he is too weak.  They are  not sure  how long he will survive.  He  was sent home today, as he did not  wish to stay  in the hospital.  I talked to  his  wife,  she said to  please send get well cards to him.  Bill has  been an inspiration and  help to  many hams over the  years.   His address is  

3092 Plymouth Ridge Rd.
Ashtabula, OH. 44004.

73,

MrMike, W1RC
Logged

"It is a good thing we don't get the government we pay for."  Will Rogers.
Pete, WA2CWA
Moderator
Member

Offline Offline

Posts: 8154


CQ CQ CONTEST


WWW
« Reply #27 on: September 26, 2011, 11:22:02 PM »

Sorry folks. My fault. I had accidentally locked the thread. Too many windows open at the same time when I was posting a response to Don.
Logged

Pete, WA2CWA - "A Cluttered Desk is a Sign of Genius"
W1DAN
Contributing
Member
*
Offline Offline

Posts: 899



« Reply #28 on: September 27, 2011, 02:27:41 PM »

Folks:

This is very sad news.

I will miss hearing Bill on the air.

Dan

Logged
WA4JK
Member

Offline Offline

Posts: 245


« Reply #29 on: September 27, 2011, 05:04:18 PM »

Just received an email that Bill is SK.. Talked to him many times on 14286 over the years.. Another of the pillers of the old AM community has move on to his reward. 73's Bill
Logged
Les Locklear
Member

Offline Offline

Posts: 55



WWW
« Reply #30 on: September 27, 2011, 05:48:16 PM »

Just received an email that Bill is SK.. Talked to him many times on 14286 over the years.. Another of the pillers of the old AM community has move on to his reward. 73's Bill

Another legend goes away. I've heard him on the air so many times, but other than the pictures in ER Magazine, I never saw pictures of his shack. I just finished watching the video that was posted above. Man, a BC-348 with an outboard Q5'er..............He was definitely a dedicated AM'er.

My condolences to his family and may his soul rest in peace.
Logged

Les Locklear
Gulfport, Ms.
fg5fc
Member

Offline Offline

Posts: 42


« Reply #31 on: September 27, 2011, 06:31:25 PM »

I am very sad to learn that Bill is SK, we have made many QSO on 14286, I loved Bill, which was very kind .... My sincere condolences to his family
Logged
steve_qix
Contributing
Member
*
Offline Offline

Posts: 2599


Bap!


WWW
« Reply #32 on: September 27, 2011, 07:00:59 PM »

He was definitely one of the mainstays.  Peace, Bill
Logged

High Power, Broadcast Audio and Low Cost?  Check out the class E web site at: http://www.classeradio.org
flintstone mop
Contributing
Member
*
Offline Offline

Posts: 5055


« Reply #33 on: September 27, 2011, 07:49:57 PM »

I am very sorry to read this......That was a fast exit geeesh. I thought there night be a few months left.

Fred
Logged

Fred KC4MOP
KA2DZT
Member

Offline Offline

Posts: 2192


« Reply #34 on: September 27, 2011, 07:54:35 PM »

I worked Bill a few times either on 40M or 75M, can't remember.  Listen to him many times.

Sorry to hear of his passing, he'll be missed.

73's and RIP Bill

Fred  KA2DZT
Logged
W2PFY
Contributing
Member
*
Offline Offline

Posts: 13312



« Reply #35 on: September 27, 2011, 08:00:05 PM »

I think I heard him earlier this year and I probably talked with him last year. His wish was to come home where apparently passed away.

If seemed like he just faded away and that is not a bad way to go.

RIP Bill.

 
Logged

The secrecy of my job prevents me from knowing what I am doing.
W1AEX
Un-smug-a-licious
Contributing
Member
*
Offline Offline

Posts: 1488


Apache Labs SDR


WWW
« Reply #36 on: September 27, 2011, 08:00:56 PM »

Very sorry to hear that Bill has passed on. I enjoyed many chats with him on the top end of 40 meters. He was always a good man to pass some time with on the air.

R.I.P. Bill...

Rob W1AEX
Logged

One thing I'm certain of is that there is too much certainty in the world.
W3GMS
Contributing
Member
*
Offline Offline

Posts: 3063



« Reply #37 on: September 27, 2011, 08:04:02 PM »

I have watched to many good friends die to slowly.   When its time, its time and I am glad the magic carpet ride took him away quickly.   Thoughts go out to all of his friends and family as they mourn his passing.  It was obvious that he enjoyed life and lived it fully.  

I will get a sympathy card and send it to his family.  

I sure will miss all those great QSO's I had with Bill on 40 meters.  Those great memories will be with me.   He to me was a great OT'er right along with George, W1GAC (sk).  

Another Ham that is very ill is Dee, W4PNT.   Dee was best know to many AM'ers for all the Johnson cabinet paint and silkscreen work he had done.   Please keep Dee in your thoughts.    

Joe, W3GMS
Logged

Simplicity is the Elegance of Design---W3GMS
Ed/KB1HYS
Contributing
Member
*
Offline Offline

Posts: 1852



« Reply #38 on: September 27, 2011, 08:05:16 PM »

Such sad news.  It seems that so many good men have gone, and who is there to take their place?
Logged

73 de Ed/KB1HYS
Happiness is Hot Tubes, Cold 807's, and warm room filling AM Sound.
 "I've spent three quarters of my life trying to figure out how to do a $50 job for $.50, the rest I spent trying to come up with the $0.50" - D. Gingery
W8EJO
Member

Offline Offline

Posts: 546



« Reply #39 on: September 27, 2011, 08:08:16 PM »

Talked to him many times on 7290.

He was a fellow Lake Erie fisherman.

RIP Bill.
Logged

Terry, W8EJO

Freedom and liberty - extremist ideas since 1776.
K1JJ
Contributing
Member
*
Offline Offline

Posts: 8893


"Let's go kayaking, Tommy!" - Yaz


« Reply #40 on: September 27, 2011, 08:23:43 PM »

Astabula Bill was an AM classic.

I'll always remember,  "WWWWWWWWWW ba ya    - 8-     V-Y- Z "

Rest in peace, Bill.

T
Logged

Use an "AM Courtesy Filter" to limit transmit audio bandwidth  +-4.5 KHz, +-6.0 KHz or +-8.0 KHz when needed.  Easily done in DSP.

Wise Words : "I'm as old as I've ever been... and I'm as young as I'll ever be."

There's nothing like an old dog.
W9AD
Contributing
Member
*
Offline Offline

Posts: 41


WWW
« Reply #41 on: September 27, 2011, 08:41:56 PM »

So many enjoyable qso's with him. One a kind, he will be missed by so many of us. My sincere condolences to his wife Sylvia, his ham brothers John & Jim and the rest of the family.
Dave W9AD
Logged

Dave W9AD
Opcom
Patrick J. / KD5OEI
Contributing
Member
*
Offline Offline

Posts: 8308



WWW
« Reply #42 on: September 27, 2011, 08:59:28 PM »

After downloading the video and watching it, I'm even more impressed with Bill. I wish I'd had a chance to just spend an afternoon there talking with him. Got to love his open construction of everything in there. Pole pig in the open, variac on the floor. Bet he had no rats in that cellar. The quality is very good, was it Betamax or maybe Umatic?
Logged

Radio Candelstein - Flagship Station of the NRK Radio Network.
N5DWV
Guest
« Reply #43 on: September 27, 2011, 09:21:28 PM »

To my elmer and long time friend....we spend a many of hours in the basement working on stuff  !

I will miss our pipeline on 20 meters !

While in heaven, keep the slop buckets in check !

73's de Tim N5DWV
Logged
N7BDY
Member

Offline Offline

Posts: 24


« Reply #44 on: September 28, 2011, 03:47:15 AM »

R.I.P. Bill  ,  you were , and are , a true legend of amatuer radio .

N7BDY 

Logged
N2udf
Guest
« Reply #45 on: September 28, 2011, 08:13:19 AM »

Such a great loss.He has gone to that "Big Bomber" in the sky where the radio is tuned to 7290.He will be missed.....Lee
Logged
W3FJJ
Contributing
Member
*
Offline Offline

Posts: 159



« Reply #46 on: September 28, 2011, 08:27:05 AM »

Many found Memories SWLing  Bill on my Transoceanic, as teenager, back in early 70's.
He was influencial in my getting a ham ticket, and getting on AM..  He was running his
rhombic back then and it was true "not a slop bucket in north america could bother him"

RIP Bill, and condolences to his family..
Logged
K5UJ
Contributing
Member
*
Offline Offline

Posts: 2845



WWW
« Reply #47 on: September 28, 2011, 08:50:40 AM »

I wondered what he used for an antenna.  Very sad news.
Logged

"Not taking crap or giving it is a pretty good lifestyle."--Frank
The Slab Bacon
Member

Offline Offline

Posts: 3934



« Reply #48 on: September 28, 2011, 08:55:49 AM »

Very sad news, indeed!
It breaks your heart that you will never be able to QSO with him again.

Bill, keep that "outboard slicer" warmed up, and dont forget to take your Bugler machine with you.

A terrible loss to the AM community.

God Bless and Godspeed

Logged

"No is not an answer and failure is not an option!"
W7POW
Member

Offline Offline

Posts: 85



« Reply #49 on: September 28, 2011, 10:17:36 AM »

R.I.P. Ashtabula Bill. 
Logged
Pages: 1 [2] 3 4   Go Up
  Print  
 
Jump to:  

AMfone - Dedicated to Amplitude Modulation on the Amateur Radio Bands
 AMfone © 2001-2015
Powered by SMF 1.1.21 | SMF © 2015, Simple Machines
Page created in 0.089 seconds with 18 queries.