George H. Floyd, Jr., aka 'Hashafisti Scratchi' WA4DGA (SK):
Created by CQ on 2008-11-25"Hashafisti Scratchi" a Silent Key
The man who wrote "Scratchi" for CQ magazine is a Silent Key. George H. Floyd, Jr., WA4DGA (ex-W2RYT), of Lynchburg, Virginia, entertained thousands ofhis fellow hams for more than two decades -- between 1947 and 1971 -- writing as a politically-incorrect (by today's standards) Japanese-American ham withfractured English and contorted spelling. He wrote from "Feenix, Ariz.," began each column with "Deer Hon. Ed.," and regularly skewered the pomposity and pooroperating practices he encountered on the air. He passed away November 22 at the age of 91.
In real life, George Floyd was an engineer and executive with General Electric, working in Schenectady and Syracuse, New York, before moving to Lynchburg,Virginia in the late 1950s. GE alumni will also remember George -- pseudonymously as well -- as "Lighthouse Larry" in GE employee publications.
Scratchi first appeared in CQ in June, 1947. The column became a regular feature between 1948 and 1960, then returned from 1966 to 1971. For many CQreaders in that time period, Scratchi was the first item they read when the magazine arrived each month. CQ Publisher Dick Ross, K2MGA, writing in themagazine's 50th anniversary issue in January, 1995, said: "For many years the name Hashafisti Scratchi has been almost synonymous with confusion andconsternation in amateur radio. It seems, too, that whenever the unusual or impossible is happening, Scratchi is there helping it happen."
Upon receiving news of George's passing, Ross noted, "As saddened as I am to learn of George's death, the mere mention of his name brings a smile to my face,knowing how his good humor and wonderfully creative imagination entertained so many of us for so many years."
Floyd was pre-deceased by his wife, Miriam; and is survived by two daughters, two granddaughters and six great-grandchildren. The family asks that thoseinterested in making donations in Floyd's memory contribute to the Nature Conservancy, the Sierra Club, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty toAnimals or the Humane Society of the United States.
| WA6NUT | 2008-12-02 | |
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| George H. Floyd, Jr., aka 'Hashafisti Scratchi' WA | ||
| I too remember, as a youngster, looking forward to reading the Scratchi column in CQ. If you'd like to browse Scratchi columns in back issues, they are found in the CQ Archives at: http://hamcall.net/cq Search for "Scratchi". If you're not a subscriber to the Archives, you can read only the first page of the column (it was generally printed near the front of the magazine). If you're a subscriber, you can read the remainder of the column (continued on later pages). 73, Rick, WA6NUT Buena Vista, Colorado | ||
| W6ZPC | 2008-11-29 | |
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| George H. Floyd, Jr., aka 'Hashafisti Scratchi' WA | ||
| When I was a youngster, I discovered a stack of CQ magazines that my dad (W6ZPC, SK) had collected over the years. I soon found Scratchi and I went through every one of my dad's CQs reading Scratchi's column. I haven't thought of Scratchi for many years until just recently when I became a ham myself and took my father's calls. I too would like to see all of Scratchi's columns compiled and made available to read again. | ||
| WD9FUM | 2008-11-25 | |
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| George H. Floyd, Jr., aka 'Hashafisti Scratchi' WA | ||
| I came across a stack of CQ magazines from the '50's. I think I read Scratchi until the pages wore out. Unfortunately, I lost those mags in a flood. I wonder if anyone will compile a 'Scratchi Anthology?' I'll be first in line to buy it. | ||
| K1KP | 2008-11-25 | |
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| George H. Floyd, Jr., aka 'Hashafisti Scratchi' WA | ||
| Deer Hon. Ed- You cannut beeeving how sorrified and saddenedly I am to heering this turrible noos. As a yung novice ham, I was regular reeding of Hon Scratchi. Always each month his colum was the first thing I turnning too. I speshully remembering episoad with mountain lion. Still laffing now. Too bad politcully currect establishment cause too much trubble for Scratchi. Rest in peice, Hon. Scratchi. Ewe were luffed by all. respectedly submitted, Tony K1KP (ex WN1IKP) | ||
