W5QKN, Richard “R.J.” Bozeman (1935-2019)
Through our years in ham radio, we meet some pretty amazing people. About 10 years ago, I joined in with a group of hams on 40 meters. They were kidding each other & having a good time like many of roundtables you hear on the ham bands. In this group, there was a cowboy preacher, a former county sheriff, an independent insurance salesman, a former Texas Dept of Public Safety officer, a Collins Radio employee, a school teacher, a WWII vet, a broadcast engineer, and several NASA engineers. They called themselves, “The Bubbas.”
Most amazing was Dick, W5QKN. He seemed like the rest of us. Down to earth & friendly to all but as time went by, I begin to learn more about Dick from the others. While at NASA, Dick had been a section head over the rocket test facility. He held numerous patents related to his work. In 1988, Dick was loaned out with a team of NASA engineers to work with Dr. Michael DeBakey on the heart assist pump or left ventricular assist device – LVAD. Dick used some of the design concepts of liquid rocket engines in helping design the LVAD. In 1999, Dick was inducted into the NASA Space and Technology Hall of Fame, and in 2002 along with other team members, he became a recepient of the National Commercial Invention of the Year Award for the LVAD, heart pump.
Dick was diagnosed with hairy cell leukemia about 15 years ago, and he received chemotherapy every 18 to 24 months to control the disease. When I was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma in 2013, Dick encouraged me as I went through the various stages of treatment with bone marrow biopsies, CT scans, blood work, medical exams & consultations. The very first IV medication I received was a drug that Dick had also received numerous times.
Dick was born in 1935 in Minden, LA, and by the age of 13, he had become fascinated with electronics & ham radio. His early ham station was comprised of military transmitters & receivers left over from WWII, and he modified them to work on the ham bands. His transmitter in those early years was an ARC-5 Command Set. He was a high-speed CW operator, and when he became unable to send code comfortably during his later years, he still would listen to CW on the low-end of 40 meters in the evenings.
So there I was, one afternoon tuning around on 40 meters about 10 years ago, and I came across this group of characters carrying on. I began tune in to their regular skeds, once or twice a day on 40 meters. Then, we would bring our RVs to Belton and enjoy a fish fry together and checking out the goodies at the hamfest. When Shirley & I made our regular trips to M. D. Anderson, we would meet Dick & Joyce, his XYL, and other hams at Cotton Patch or Cracker Barrel in Bryan, TX. One of our last gatherings was a camping trip to Schulenburg where we brought our guitars and enjoyed playing music together one evening.
All because of ham radio, I met a most interesting group of hams. Several have become silent keys during the last 10 years but the most remarkable of all was Richard “R.J.” Bozeman, W5QKN. A brilliant engineer & friend who treated us like we were family.
About 5 days before Dick passed, his daughter Linda was sitting by his side holding his hand. Dick could no longer talk and was semi-comatose. As Linda held his hand visiting with other family members, she realized that her dad was squeezing her hand in an unusual manner. He was sending Morse code to her - “I love you.”
Finally, when I or others would tell Dick that we were praying for him, he would always thanks us. Rest in peace good friend; you're home now, and we're not far behind! 73 Lynn, K5AVJ
===============
Here’s a video of Mr. Bozeman being interviewed on the Sam Houston State University campus by Dr. Pam Zelbst regarding innovation & technology.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JumtUFr1UE
I am greatly saddened to hear of Dick's passing. I only worked him once on the air but we had many enjoyable email exchanges about our common interest in biomedical engineering. We also shared a nostalgic longing for the days of maritime radio. He was a fine engineer and a good man. VY TNX FER BEING A FRIEND.
de W3UEC (Steve Dubin)
Dick Bozeman, W5QKN, is a name I will
remember until I pass on. I first met Dick
at his home in Marshall, TX in late 1950's.
At the first visit, he made a effort to
show me his radio equipment and made
suggestions on purchasing such equipment.
He was always helpful. Through out the
years we talked on the radio or via
telephone. One call he told me of a
Technical Writer's position at NASA (but
that didn't work out). However, it was very
nice that he called. And that was his
personality, always helpful. And thus, WE
will miss him. de K5CPD