FOR RELEASE: NOV. 17, 2005

Contact: Steve Herman, 7J1AIL

tiara@bosai.org

KB5AVY Named Winner of 3^rd Annual Lynch Award

(TOKYO) _ Roberto Dabdoub, M.D., KB5AVY, today was named the recipient of the W. Sandy Lynch Memorial Award, given annually by the Tokyo International Amateur Radio Association (TIARA).

For 20 years, Dr. Dabdoub, a General Class ham struggled to keep four reporters on the air in the New Orleans area with little assistance from other users.

The Honduran native, who moved to the United States 45 years ago, saw his two decades of toiling pay off when one of his repeaters became the only machine to remain working in the metro area following Hurricane Katrina. His system was the only link, for a critical period, among the Baton Rouge emergency center, and other relief and emergency centers involved in critical rescue work. Roberto's repeater did not lose power because its QTH at the Ochsner Clinic Foundation had its own auxiliary power plant.

Dr. Dabdoub lost his home in the disaster and did not have flood insurance. He was informed by FEMA that because his home was not insurable he does not qualify for federal help.

“There were many ham radio operators and stations, both on HF and VHF, involved in the response to the Katrina disaster. We want this year's award to symbolize what a single ham and our so-called old fashioned communications systems can do for the public when disaster strikes,” said TIARA President Steven Herman, K7USJ & 7J1AIL in announcing the winner of the award today at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan.

Dr. Dabdoub has published articles in CQ magazine, as well as in professional journals in such diverse fields as AIDS and poetry. In all, he has written or been the subject of more than 300 articles on the subject of Art in Science in popular scientific and photography magazines.

The W. Sandy Memorial Lynch Award, named after the late W7BX/7J1ABV, has been awarded each December since 2003 to one licensed amateur radio operator in the world whom TIARA, founded in 1972, deems to exemplify Sandy's dedication to the hobby and his personality. These traits that Sandy exhibited include enthusiastic participation in a radio club, bridging international cultures, activity in education or "Elmering", being active on-air, enthusiasm for new technology and fraternity.

Last year's award also went to an amateur radio operator involved in disaster communications, Bharati Prasad, VU2RBI, who was on Andaman island when the killer South Asian earthquake and resulting tsunami struck.

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