THE MERIDEN AMATEUR RADIO CLUB, INC. Press Release

W1FD celebrates 70 years

WALLINGFORD – February 2003

He has enough log books to warrant a wing in the Library of Congress. He has seen and operated more modes than many of us have heard of. He has enough QSL cards and operating awards to wallpaper the Sistine Chapel. He is an advocate of QRP, non-commercial power, emergency preparedness, and above all, proper operating techniques. MARC recognized Frank Darmofalski W1FD for his 70 years continuous amateur radio service at the February 2003 meeting.

Frank is one of the few remaining founding members of MARC and is very active throughout its fifty-eight year history. He can be found on the air several times a week contacting new and old friends around the US and the world almost anywhere in the HF spectrum. After a cake cutting ceremony, Frank fielded several questions from the assemblage. He recalled the license test for either of the amateur classes – only two classes available in those early years - required drawing various radio schematics from memory. At the same time Frank has a positive outlook in the future of amateur radio with new modes, changing regulatory and competitive communication inroads. When questioned on his thoughts on the future of CW by this newbee, Frank replied “Did photography put the artist out of business?”  Congratulations Frank!       

 (Photo: W1DMM)