Life is short. I sure do miss John. He was a good friend and is directly responsible for many of us being active despite the adversities. John, an American who happened to be black, served as the focal point for other black ham radio operators in New Orleans. As a new ham, attending University, I could not afford expensive radios, so my first transceiver was an ICOM-2AT. Hostle comments against blacks were made regularly on 2m, and as a new Ham I was all but ready to pack it in, when I met John. John heard me on two meters and asked me to give him a phone call. John stressed that ignorance was no defense against ignorance, and thus began a lifetime friendship. As the years passed, I moved away from New Orleans. I had the opportunity to work John from South America in the late eighties, and I always at the very least would give him a call when I was in New Orleans. He gave me a HF radio when I was in college (Drake TR4Cw) which I still have to this day. I'll never forget the time we were together on his tower, and as my knees were shaking he said, "so you want to be a ham - huh?" :) To a good American, Family man, ham, friend - miss ya John.
Gone, but never forgotten... K A 5 K J G
N5HG/Harold