Posted on 06/07/2004 8:53:48 PM PDT by Denver Ditdat
Oldest Amateur in US--Byrl "Tex" Burdick, W5BQU, SK
"Tex" Burdick, W5BQU. He sometimes used the phonetics "Big, Quick and Ugly."
NEWINGTON, CT, Jun 2, 2004--The man believed to be the oldest Amateur Radio operator in the US--Byrl "Tex" Burdick, W5BQU, of El Paso, Texas--died May 30. He was 103. Admired as much for his courteous and kind personality as for his longevity and youthful appearance, Burdick was licensed for nearly three-quarters of a century. During his many years on the air, he took pleasure in meeting new friends and was a regular QSLer. When Burdick, an ARRL member, turned 103 last September, ARRL President and fellow Texan Jim Haynie, W5JBP, extended congratulations and best wishes on behalf of the League.
"A landmark and an icon to our great hobby" is how Kenneth Kuhblank Jr, K5KWK (ex-W6KWK), of El Paso described his friend in the article "A Voice from the Ether--B. H. "Tex" Burdick, W5BQU," by Steve Barreres, K2CX, in the December 2003 issue of QST. "You will not meet a more courteous operator." In the QST article, Barreres tells how a passing motorist talking on his mobile ham radio setup piqued Burdick's initial interest in ham radio. Soon, he passed the examination and had a ticket of his own.
Burdick said he started out with a homemade transmitter and receiver--each one fitted with a single 201A tube. He later expanded the transmitter into a two-tuber. Burdick was a charter member of the El Paso Amateur Radio Club, and he donated a windmill tower for the new clubhouse to use as an antenna support. A similar structure holding a triband Yagi graces his own residence.
Born in San Angelo, Texas, Burdick attended the University of Minnesota. Returning to Texas in the late 1920s, he established a well-drilling, windmill and water supply firm, Burdick & Burdick, which remains in the family. To expedite his business travels throughout the Southwestern US and northern Mexico, Burdick became a licensed pilot in the 1940s and occasionally operated aeronautical mobile on the amateur bands. According to his obituary in the El Paso Times, he also was known to deliver newspapers to his customers via air drop and to provide transportation for disabled youngsters on behalf of the Lions Club.
Burdick retired in 1979. His recollections and photographs documenting the early days of his career were the focus of a 1992 book, Blades in the Sky, Windmilling through the Eyes of B. H. "Tex" Burdick, by T. Lindsay Baker. After retirement, he and his wife, Juanita, traveled the world. In addition to ham radio and an early interest in photography, Burdick also enjoyed hunting and fishing and spending his summers in Alaska and Colorado.
In addition to his wife of 54 years, survivors include his son, Byrl Jr, as well as grandchildren and great grandchildren. A memorial service will be held Thursday, June 3, 10 AM, at Martin Funeral Home Central, 3839 Montana Ave, El Paso. The family invites memorial donation to Hospice of El Paso, 1750 Curie Dr, El Paso, TX 79902, or to St Clements Episcopal Church, 600 Montana, El Paso, TX 79902.
BTTT
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LLS
Too bad Broadband over Power Lines will mess up the hobby.
What's the allure? How much shoud I expect to pay as a beginner to get involved in the hobby?
Just curious - Thanks
BPL sure has the potential to ruin HF if it goes into widespread use. I'd miss good old traditional DXing and ragchewing, but VHF and up should be fine. I've been intrigued by the various hamsats for years but never really done much about getting active there. BPL might change that.
I've got so much gear I was willed when my Dad died, I've often thought of firing it up. But I just can't seem to do it. Dad would kill me if he knew I was fooling around with it.
LOL
I don't know when the water well outfits got rotary rigs, but that looks like his pedigree includes 20 or 30 years of wrassling cable drilling rigs and making it pay. A Real American, salt of the earth, had a fine ride and earned every day of it. I need three or four more of these to get that Parcells post out of my mind.
I'm with you...that seems like something I would like to do. I guess the licensing thing makes me hesitate.
Don't worry about it, it's actually pretty easy. My son got his technician license when he just turned nine, and got his Extra license at 13. You don't really have to understand all of the stuff, just enough to pass the test. There are computer programs that make it pretty easy....easy enough that I could earn my General license anyway.
Thanks for the information...like I've said before, I've always been interested in trying it. I've been told that I have a voice made for radio, and I've been toying with the idea of possibly applying to a local radio station (I know I can do it).
So I guess this could be an alternative?
Defintely! I use to work with an amateur radio operator who later got a job at a local radio station.
All the info you need to study for the tests is available online. I used both the online matterial and some of the books available. I paid $6 to take the test. There are also a number of excellent computer programs for learning code that make it fun. If you have a club in your area, you can contact them and get an "Elmer" which is an experienced Ham who'll help you. Best wishes!
KH7ZD
What an incredible life. May he rest in peace!
Solemn, silent key bump.
I did a Google search and found Q Codes that worked like 10-Codes. Is that basically what you're talking about?
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