I met Chris back in 1979. He was friends with my wife’s parents, who were in to CB radio along with his wife, Dolly. The were talking about “skip” on the CB bands and me not knowing anything about radios, CB or Ham radio popped up and stated there was no such radio that could reach around the world. Well not only did he prove me wrong on CB but the next day he prove me wrong about Ham Radio. I instantly got hooked. I was over Chris house operating the radio SSB on a daily basis and was so intent on becoming a license operator that I moved into a house down the block from Chris where I could operate HIS gear, since I did not have any of my own. About 3 months of me coming over every day and night to “play” radio I guess he had had enough. One day I went over to his house to play and when we opened up the shack there were no radios. I looked at him and my heart sank! With a huge grin on his face he told me if I wanted to operate his gear again, I would have to get my Ticket. Was I ever heart broken!
Over the next month he help me learn what I needed to know to earn my ticket, which I did. He even located a good HF Radio for me, which I still own to this day and is in good operating condition, almost 20 years later.
Chris was 45; when he suffered a massive heart attack just a short time after coming home from work. In fact he was operating CW and Packet and was talking to several friends when he fell ill and sent his daughter out of the house to bring home his wife from work. His wife came rushing back home, but was too late. Chris had walked from his shack into his front room, sat down in his favorite rocking chair and became a Silent Key, much too young.
Chris left a wife, three daughters, 4 grandchildren, and lots of good friends, every one of them who considered Chris their best friend. Amateur Radio in the Monroe, Michigan area has never the same. 144.41 has never been the same.
I miss you bud! --… …-- and rest well.
Randy Davis
N8ELQ