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Author Topic: Astabula Bill (W8VYZ) SK  (Read 92199 times)
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w3jn
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« Reply #75 on: September 30, 2011, 03:32:43 PM »

Bill's daughter sent me an email asking for the audio here of W8VYZ so they can play it at the funeral.

Thanks to all who have posted W8VYZ clips.  If you have any more, please send them to admin at amfone.net and I'll forward on to the family.
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FCC:  "The record is devoid of a demonstrated nexus between Morse code proficiency and on-the-air conduct."
WA3VJB
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« Reply #76 on: September 30, 2011, 06:28:28 PM »

Bill's daughter (or son?) sent me an email asking for the audio here of W8VYZ so they can play it at the funeral.

Thanks to all who have posted W8VYZ clips.  If you have any more, please send them to admin@amfone.net and I'll forward on to the family.

Nice effort, John, and those who've already posted sound files.  I wish there were time before tomorrow's funeral to root around the archives for more that I know I have as well.
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w4bfs
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« Reply #77 on: October 01, 2011, 08:44:53 AM »

talked to Bill several times on 7290 .... big signal here .... I believe he had a phased array and noticed that his signal decreased about 10 db after an ice storm took it down in 2009, as I remember ....he was still loud here .... thanks for your service to our country and I hope you find my dad KA4UVR (sk) who was also a B24 pilot during ww2 ... very 73 ...John Wb4bfs
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Beefus

O would some power the gift give us
to see ourselves as others see us.
It would from many blunders free us.         Robert Burns
k4kyv
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Don
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« Reply #78 on: October 01, 2011, 11:53:08 AM »

At one time Bill had a windmill on top of one of his towers, which he said generated a substantial amount of electricity.  He may have had it tied in with the electric power grid, so that it pushed the meter backwards when it was supplying more power than he was consuming.  I vaguely recall a story that he had an ongoing feud with the power company over that issue. His wife might be able to fill in the details, something it sounds like she might be glad to do.

I'm not sure if the ice storm took it down, the generator crapped out, or if he simply had it taken down because he was becoming physically too frail to climb the tower to maintain it, but he discontinued using it probably 10 years ago.
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Don, K4KYV                                       AMI#5
Licensed since 1959 and not happy to be back on AM...    Never got off AM in the first place.

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This message was typed using the DVORAK keyboard layout.
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KB2WIG
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« Reply #79 on: October 02, 2011, 06:04:48 PM »

Posted on AmRadio by w5omr

"  Forwarded from W6PSS..
 
This has got to be a first!  Below just in from W8VYZ's XYL Sylvia.
 
    From: sylviad@windstrea...
    To: W6PSS@ao...
    Sent: 10/1/2011 10:01:01 P.M. Central Daylight Time
    Subj: W8VYZ into the Wild Blue Yonder
     
    It's late and the end of a long day, but have to take the time to tell you
that Bill's last send off was great! His ashes rest inside 2 833's mounted on a
transmitter tuning unit. He would love it! He had full military honors and his
grandson showed a video of the  song with old Army Air Corps words of Wild Blue
Yonder with pics of thundering planes bombs etc etc. A nice turnout with lots of
remembering quite a few hams and lots of family. I think we did him proud. Have
pics for you to see when have more time to send them Rapidly running out of
steam so heading for bed Luv Sylvia
 
- - - - -
We await these photo's with great expectations.  The two jugs were a stroke of
genius!  Thanks Sylvia!   "

     
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W1GFH
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« Reply #80 on: October 02, 2011, 09:03:06 PM »

I had the pleasure of chatting with him on 20 meters many times in the 1990s and early 2000s, he was a true gentleman and I will always treasure his QSL card. RIP Bill.
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w3jn
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« Reply #81 on: October 02, 2011, 11:12:14 PM »

I just received this nice note from Bill's daughter Marion, regarding the audio clips.  Sounds like one hell of a funeral!

Quote
Hi John,

Thanks a lot John; I did get it figured out and got a cd together to play at
his funeral.  I got a lot of his favorite songs together like "Cigarettes
and Whiskey and Wild Wild Women", "Rye Whiskey", Beer Barrel Polka, etc and
have some snippets of his famous slop bucket quotes after every few songs
that I got from your website.  We had the funeral at the church and the
songs really stood out if you know what I mean - but they were right for
him.  A lot of my memories of him were listening to those songs, drinking
beer, and his voice on the air drowning out the radio or tv that my sister
and I would be trying to listen to!

I am his 2nd daughter and I am really happy to be able to read all the
wonderful memories that are on your website.  It has helped all of us and
wanted to thank you.  Please let everyone know.

W8BYZ has signed off but he's still standing by.

Regards,

Marion
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FCC:  "The record is devoid of a demonstrated nexus between Morse code proficiency and on-the-air conduct."
WA3VJB
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« Reply #82 on: October 03, 2011, 04:40:39 AM »

Quote
has signed off but he's still standing by

Nice line !
And I'm sure she's right.

And the daughter too !

Quote
His ashes rest inside 2 833's mounted on a
transmitter tuning unit. He would love it!

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W1RC
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« Reply #83 on: October 03, 2011, 06:17:27 AM »

Sure is sad reading about the loss of an AM mainstay. He's the last of his class.  They sure don't make 'em like that any more.  Aren't many WW-II vets left, sadly enough.

The guys who were born in the 1940s are the "Old Buzzards" now.  And we're no way even close to guys like Bill.  Never will be.

73,

MrMike
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Steve - K4HX
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« Reply #84 on: October 03, 2011, 01:31:20 PM »

Awesome. Good to see those recordigs were well used.

I consider myself fortunate to have talked to Bill on 160, 75, 40 and 10 meters over the years.

He will be greatly missed.


I just received this nice note from Bill's daughter Marion, regarding the audio clips.  Sounds like one hell of a funeral!

Quote
Hi John,

Thanks a lot John; I did get it figured out and got a cd together to play at
his funeral.  I got a lot of his favorite songs together like "Cigarettes
and Whiskey and Wild Wild Women", "Rye Whiskey", Beer Barrel Polka, etc and
have some snippets of his famous slop bucket quotes after every few songs
that I got from your website.  We had the funeral at the church and the
songs really stood out if you know what I mean - but they were right for
him.  A lot of my memories of him were listening to those songs, drinking
beer, and his voice on the air drowning out the radio or tv that my sister
and I would be trying to listen to!

I am his 2nd daughter and I am really happy to be able to read all the
wonderful memories that are on your website.  It has helped all of us and
wanted to thank you.  Please let everyone know.

W8BYZ has signed off but he's still standing by.

Regards,

Marion

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WA1GFZ
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« Reply #85 on: October 03, 2011, 04:54:10 PM »

Bill was a good guy!

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W2NBC
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« Reply #86 on: October 03, 2011, 05:19:53 PM »

Having listened to Bill at the whipper snapper age of 11 on my Drake 2C thundering through the air it was an iconic moment making a contact with him on 75.. I actually got nervous when he responded to my call.. What a great QSO! He was amused by the fact that he was one of the driving forces that hooked me (and many others) to AM.. He was always steady, genuine, and an inspirational mentor to most of us..

Hoist an 833.. Salute! and RIP

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N0WVA
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« Reply #87 on: October 03, 2011, 08:41:52 PM »

Best way to honor Bill is to build and get on the air!
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K2PG
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« Reply #88 on: October 04, 2011, 04:43:45 PM »

Bill's signal was unmistakable. I used to work him on 160 and 40. He often had the strongest signal on both of those bands and his voice was also distinctive...it reminded me of the guy who used to do the Pepperidge Farm commercials on the radio, particularly on WNEW 1130 in New York..."Pepperidge Farm...remembers!"

I am so sorry to read of his passing and I will miss that signal on the bands.

Phil K2PG
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