Manager


Manager - VE3ROO
Manager Notes

Friends Detail

Friend : Carl Blevins (W4CBB)

Carl was my uncle, my first amateur radio mentor and - above all - my friend. He didn’t start a family until somewhat late in life, so when I was a little kid he would take me around with him, showing his first nephew off to everyone that he knew. From that time on, we were “Buds”.

He got me interested in amateur radio when I was less than 10 years old. Eventually, I was able to save up enough money to buy an old Heathkit HR-10 receiver. Soon after Carl found out that I had a radio, a very heavy box with his return address on it arrived at our house. Inside was a well-used but operable Globe CW/DSB transmitter. When I called to thank him, he said that he had bought me the xmtr to encourage me to get my ticket. Being a Drake man, he also insisted that I upgrade to a 2B rcvr when I got my license.

As often happens, childish interests got in the way, although I would occasionally fire up the old Heathkit and listen around. More than once I even heard my uncle in a QSO. His call at the time was WA8MTQ. His QSL card had a black-and-white picture of his all-Drake station, with which he loved to operate 20 meter phone.

In time, he and his family moved to Mississippi where he changed his call to KB5ZI. By that time I had my General. For years, we had at least one regular QSO per week.

After a time they moved again, this time to Alabama. He kept his 5-Land call for a long time, but not too long ago he got his final call sign, W4CBB (C.B.B. were his initials).

Early this morning (September 25, 2006), I got the phone call that I had dreaded for years. W4CBB had become a Silent Key in his sleep.

Carl was a loving husband and father - and a fabulous uncle and friend!

Submitted by Steve Blevins KA5BHU

Contributed by : Steven W. Blevins (KA5BHU)

Friend : Carl Blevins (W4CBB)

I remember Carl WA8MTQ and Ms. Evelyn in the 60's as a neighbor in Springfield Oh. and when I was 7 years old as he erected a 50 ft. guyed american tower tower with fellow ham W8FSU now SK John Leigh ex ATT/OH.BT lineman did tower work for him as he worked previously on 69 KV pole lines with Ohio Edison in the 40's 50 feet up with a 3 element beam 20-15-10 w/ rotar. I think he had a 2 meter rig with a beam later and perhaps a short term 6 meter rig as he QRM our channel 2 TV completly out on tx.

When my folks visted next door he showed off his drake and worked 20M to england on ssb and I was hooked. My dad listened to a tunable 9v radio to police calls 159.090 and taxi base 152.375 semi duplex and such and I was hooked to radio in the late 70's to 80's on listening got my ticket in 92 as extra a year later.

Carl had either a 10//11 meter radio in his car with a 10' whip as I can remeber also.

They were great neighbors needless to say and called him later in life and he had cancer got the best of him and great memories other than a fellow ham but great people to be neighbors with. At least I told him before he passed He was got my interest in ham radio besides W8FSU.

I work with the local club Clark County Amatuer Radio Assn. (Carl, former memeber as Western Ohio repeater Assn. in the 60's)and K8WQE Jim Bennet (in his late 80's)remember Carl as well that helps out with our VEC here.

Contributed by : terry mefford (N8WEL)

Add your comment for this Friend

Use the form below to enter your Friends Remembered entry. If you have any questions, problems, or comments with this application, please write the Friends Remembered Manager.

Friend's CallsignW4CBB
Friend's NameCarl Blevins
Date DeceasedSeptember 25, 2006
Notes

ImageChoose an image to appear next to your Friend.
Your Callsign
Your Email

Your submission will require approval before it becomes visible to the general public.