SAMMIE HOWARD (K5TAH)

I HAD THE GOOD FORTUNE OF KNOWING SAMMIE HOWARD OF CRYSTAL SPRINGS, MS. HE TAUGHT ME, ALONG WITH MANY OTHERS, THE CODE AND ALL THAT WAS NECESSARY TO GET STARTED IN "HAM RADIO. HIS PASSING IS NOTED IN "QST", SEPTEMBER, 1999 ISSUE. I HAVE FOND MEMORIES OF GOING TO HIS HOUSE AND "LEARNING THE CODE". THIS WAS AROUND 1959. I WAS ABOUT 15 YEARS OLD AT THE TIME. I REMEMBER ONE TIME, AFTER I HAD GOTTEN MY "CONDITIONAL" TICKET, AND WAS ON AM, SAMMIE CALLED ME ON THE LANDLINE, AND TOLD ME THAT MY OPERATING PROCEDURES WERE NOT PROPER. SAID HE HAD BEEN "READING THE MAIL" ON MY QSO. I WAS CLOWNING AROUND ON THE AIR. HE DID THIS IN HIS QUITE, AND MILD-MANNERED WAY. HE HELPED ME SET UP MY FIRST STATION - A GLOBE CHIEF 90 AND ANSWERED ANY QUESTIONS THAT I HAD. HE WAS A GOOD FRIEND, A GOOD MAN, AND A GOOD "HAM".

Contributed by: K5FSP (K5FSP)

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