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HISTORY OF QUARTER CENTURY WIRELESS
ASSOCIATION, INC
Late in the year 1947, a group of radio amateurs got together in mid-town New
York City to discuss the establishment of an organization dedicated to fostering
and developing friendship and co-operation among amateur radio operators of more
than twenty-five years standing, making use of the reservoir of knowledge and
experience represented within the membership for the benefit of all radio
amateurs, and for the furtherance of the public welfare through amateur radio
communication. Under the name "Quarter Century Wireless Amateur Club",
the new organization, at its meeting on December 5, 1947, elected John DiBlasi,
W2FX, as its president, John A. Stobbe, W2WZ, as vice-president, Leon A. Hanson,
W2FIT, secretary, and David Talley, W2PF, treasurer. Some thirty-four members
were present at the organizational meeting and they, together with another
twenty area amateurs who joined before December 31, 1947, were designated
charter members of the fledgling club.
In 1949, the club was established as a non-profit membership corporation of the
State of New York, -- Quarter Century Wireless Association,, Inc. -- and began
attracting interest, first on a national scale, and then internationally. The
familiar logo of a bearded, pipe-smoking Old Timer working a key was adapted by
Otto Eppers, W2EA, from a cartoon in QST. As membership grew, chapters were
established beginning in 1951, and a quarterly bulletin, QCWA News, began
circulation to carry news of Association activities to members. In 1950, annual
QCWA QSO parties were inaugurated.
By the end of 1973, active membership in QCWA exceeded 6,000 and 68 chapters had
been chartered, including one in Sydney , Australia, the first to be chartered
outside the United States of America. As of June 30th, 1997 there were 196
Chapters world-wide that had joined the organization.
Membership certificates are serial numbered,
and the current new members are receiving numbers over 33,000.
QCWA,
Inc Presidents
1947 - 1964
John DiBlasi W2FX
1965 - 1968 Earl Thomas W2MM
1969 - 1971 Clarence Seid W2KW
1972 - 1973 Barry Goldwater K7UGA
1974 - 1977 Frank Gunther W2ALS
1978 - 1981 Harry Gartsman W6ATC
1982 - 1985 Stuart Meyer W2GHK
1986 - 1989 Leland Smith W5KL
1989 - 1994 Harry Dannals W2HD
1994 - 1996 Lew McCoy W1ICP
1996 - 1998 John Kelleher
W4ZC
1998 - 2002 Gary Harrison K0BC
2002 - 2004 Croft Taylor VE3CT
2005 - 2008 John Johnston W3BE
2009 - now Bob Roske N0UF
For more information on QCWA click on "External
Links" and select QCWA, Inc |
