Introduction

Writing this club history has been an enjoyable endeavor as most of it can be recalled in one way or another. However, I did consult with many of our charter members for their recollections. We have no doubt erred here and there, so perhaps a sequel should be written someday when the feedback is in.

The very early history of a group or a science to me is most interesting and, by the way, the most difficult to document. For example our first several newsletters (that we still have) were undated.

According to information I received from charter members, and also from those few early documents, I will say our club was first formed under Dr. Norman Frigerio, K9HHJ, sometime in 1958. The club history since 1960 is written in a year-by-year event sequence. We hope you can relate to some of these events and to our club roots.

A special tnx to Dale, AG9H, for word processing all this and keeping it in memory, as I proceeded through the 25 years.

Bill, W9AVE

1958/1959

GENESIS

In the beginning, sometime in 1958, our club was formed in a somewhat rag tag manner under our first president, Dr. Norman Frigerio, K9HHJ. We have no written record or pictures of this almost prehistoric era, but we did have Field Days and occasional meetings.

Dr. Frigerio was a most unusual individual - brilliant, unconventional, very conservative in his politics, friendly, enthusiastic, and was always ready to talk with you. In the years preceding his death he taught in the American University in Beirut, Lebanon, and even became a Greek Orthodox priest. Back home again, his unconventionalism may have hastened his passing. We heard from a reliable source that he would parade up and down his hospital corridor, IVs in hand, in spite of instructions to stay in bed. It was never "hello", "goodbye", or "73" with Norm. It was always, "goo"!

As far as can be determined, he had no fellow club officers; and there are no records of Field Day scores for ’58 and ’59.

1960

As many would consider this the true beginning of our club the following "charters" should be added to those listed before:

1960 was a most important year in our history as a complete reorganization took place under Emil Martinec, K9REM, and Glenn Mack, W9QVE. For the first time we have a few newsletters (undated) written by Glenn, W9QVE, called Argonne Radio Club News and an Argonne News write-up on Field Day 1960.

Credit must be given to Emil, K9REM, for fighting thru much red tape to:

1. legally have a club station on project.
2. affiliate us with the ARRL.
3. obtain our first club call, WA9BRE. (He tried hard to get W9ANL or W9ARC.)

No one has written more letters on our behalf than Emil. Rich, WA6CFM, may be second. Emil’s influence only lasted a few years, but his accomplishments secured the foundations of our club as we now know it. Emil is still around and works in Chem. Eng. Bldg 205.

The July 1960 Argonne News wrote up this early Field Day saying weworked 92 stations resulting in 344 points. Most points were scored by members operating a W.W.II radioteletype setup (but used mostly on CW) located in the area just east of building 5. They operated 7 hours when the generator ran out of gas at 2 am Sunday. A picture accompanying the article showed Andy, W9BVM, Roland, W9MUJ, and Emil, K9REM, outside the AN/GRC-26 (always called the "angry 26").

It was late in 1960 that our Idaho ANL contingent started with some familiar names, Clem Scheibelhut, K7KBV (now W9KJA, in building 208), Roger Gehrman, KA7AAV, (Roger is now our top club officer at Idaho - AARC/7), Frank, K7KBY, & Jean Prina, K7KBZ. Jean was our first associate member (Jean was killed in an auto accident, May 1983 in Pennsylvania).

1961

An early undated newsletter tells us that 41 hams had been located at Argonne and the ham of the month was Wes Podradsky, W9BYD. The clubs first net formed on 145.8 with the club buying many 8.1mc xtals for its members - -We used AM with horizontal antennas. Bill, W9AVE, was its net control that first night with Wes Ruther, W9BOD, in Skokie (our DX), Glenn, W9QVE, in Elmhurst, and John Renken, K9HPW, in Orland Park. Our FIRST dated Newsletter appeared in Sep 1961 -- Hurrah!!!! It told of a club 160 meter net planned by Dan, W9GQY. We closed out 1961 with ARRL’s Phil Haller, W9HPG, as our guest speaker.

F.D. 1961: 4 transmitters, 1719 points; Rollin, W9MUJ, was in charge at a Tinley Park location. W9BVM was used as the club call.

1962

Little did we know that our new treasurer John Armstrong, W9UHO, would hold that office for 16 years. The April newsletter made the claim that we were the largest non-athletic club Argonne and still growing! We had amember named Ed, K9TVE, who sent up a rocket with a transmitter and a mouse aboard. It went up almost 2 miles with the mouse named Glenn. Dan, W9GQY, got a certificate for receiving Oscar I.

F.D. 1962: First time a club call was used, WA9BRE, (Bright Red Elephant). 5 transmitters, 2,515 points. Dick, K9YHF, in charge at an ’ole farm south of Downers Grove. Mobiles ran up a score of 1,228 points.

1963

Our one and only fox hunt was held in August 1963 with 2 hidden foxes; a vertically polarized fox on 160M manned by George, K9PAW, and a horizontally polarized fox on 2M manned by Bill, W9AVE. The winners were Bill, K9YHH, on 2M while Dan, W9GQY, and Dick, W9SKD, were first to find the 160 meter fox. For some reason no more hunts were held.

Bill, W9AVE, became newsletter editor that was to last many years, shared at times with Glenn Mack, W9QVE, Wes Ruther, W9BOD, Charlie Bremigan, W9WJL, and Frank Prina, K7KBY. Gary, K9CZB, took over in 1981.

F.D. 1963: 4 transmitters, 2828 ½ points, Ralph, W9YRN, was in charge at the farm south of Downers Grove (8300 South).

1964

We held our 1^st meeting in the new park clubhouse and were the only club to be given a room to ourselves. 1964 was the year of the big Alaska earthquake with several of our members helping such as John, W9UHO, on Army MARS, Joe, W9RCJ, on for the FAA, Frank, K7KBY, the Red Cross, and John, K9IEI, on for Navy MARS. Charlie, W9WJL, became Ham of the Year and the now famous Wheaton Hamfest started up not by the Wheaton Ham Club but by four individuals, 3 from Naperville and 1 from Wheaton. ($1.00 per.) Bill, W9AVE, first became club secretary, which was to last for 12 years. Clem, K7KBV headed up the Idaho branch of our club while Frank, K7KBY, returned to Argonne East and edited our newsletter for a time. Dr. Frigerio, K9HHJ, became the father of a boy named Elijah. 1964 saw the first ham commemorative stamp (5 cents) issued. 1964 also was the year the term Hertz became official replacing Cycles Per Second. We still have the 1^st day cover from Anchorage, AL.

Our new club call, WA9BRE inspired the following from an unknown member -- he tried to cross the clubs Bald Red Elephant with a parrot in hopes of getting an elephant that would call CQ. All he got was a 3 ton bird that eats peanuts.

F.D. 1964: 4 transmitters, 4341 points, 87^th St. near Downers Grove. QST listing: none. John, K9HPW, and Wes, W9BYD, in charge.

1965

It was on July 28, 1965, that probably saw the first 2-meter repeater in the Chicago area. It was concocted by your club with 145.8Mhz in, and then retransmitted thru a halo on 144.64Mhz. It was rigged up at the QTH of Bill, W9AVE. I recall the receiver in one room and the transmitter in another and the transmit cable going up the fireplace chimney to the halo. The August 1965 newsletter said seven of us reported Q5 copy and that it would be tried again. The first of two road rallies took place with your club supplying communications for Argonnes "Independents". Dan, W9GQY, Dick, W9SKD, and Bill, W9AVE, organized the communications for rallies that numbered over 50 cars.

Our club logo first appeared late in ’65 after a contest of entries. Garry Hicks, W9DJR, and Bill, W9AVE, split the winners prize of $5 each. Sam Levystien, W9HHD, joined us as an associate member in 1965. Who is Sam? Sam was a member of C Batt. 202^nd Missile Btl. at the NIKE site. Little did we know a few years later our club would be using that site for our Field Days flag pole and all. In 1964 a newsletter asked, "are there no ham YL’s at Argonne? A couple at our meetings could make us behave a bit better." In 1965 Jeanne Pagels, WN9QXX, joined us. Yes, she is now Jeanne Blomquist, WD9AGR. Historical note from a 1965 newsletter: On this day in 1765 (200 yrs ago) French Guillotine operators went on strike for severance pay.

F.D. 1965: 4 transmitters, 3150 points, at Dick George’s farm in Plainfield. Mobile points, 3527. Dale, WA9KQD, and Garry, W9DJR, were in charge with Garry making Beer Pancakes Sunday morning. Andy, W9BVM operated a one man F.D. from the basement of Bldg 221 using the building steam generator for emergency power.

1966

Twelve in our club participated in Sweepstakes with Joe, W9RCJ, way out in front with 93,802 points! Charlie, W9WJL, also set a record with 2 ½ points. Our first newsletter in color appeared in May of ’66 (it was also our last). Club patches were available at $1.00 each. Our Pres., Dick, W9SKD, got married and as the June newsletter put it -- "For richer or poorer, for better or worse, in sickness & health, until band opening do you part -- something old - last years callbook, something new - Hz, something borrowed - a couple of 40 meter rocks, something blue - tube filaments. Clem, K7KBV, now W9KJA left our Idaho division for Argonne East. 1966 was a big year for RTTY with the club receiving 2 Western Union Machines and the forming of a club RTTY net on 3810KHz with John, K9IEI, as net control.

F.D. 1966: 7169 points, John Renken, W0NWG, in charge. Ranked 23/225 in the nation in the 3-transmitter class. We came in 2^nd in the nation with 12,791 points on the aggregate (QST listed) mobile score. (See QST clipping.)

1967

Our club stations monopoles first appeared near bldg. 212 (Paid for by the then AEC). Our newsletter referenced to them as unique base fed verticals with a very low angle of radiation and when so designed could cover all frequencies from 80M thru 20M with a VSWR of less than 2.5 to 1. The AEC used them for RTTY communication around the country.

In Feb of ’67, John, K9HPW, and Wes, W9BYD, ran a 2M test on "What Price Cross Polarization" -- the bottom line was a loss of 3 S units or about 18db.

April saw the clubs "Tribute to the Iron Horse" a program well attended by Lab employees in the Bldg. 212 conference room. Charlie, W9WJL, showed movies on the subject and there were exhibits of model steam engines most constructed by ANL people. The Argonne News gave us a nice write-up.

In July our club participated in the annual ANL picnic with a RTTY demonstration (among other things). Unfortunately (virtually?) the only thing we could copy was Spanish news reports. However several of our Spanish-speaking employees enjoyed translating it back to English for the crowd.

Our first President, Norm Frigerio, W9HHJ, told of working into the USSR on a regular schedule with only 400 milliwatts using an old AC-DC chassis set-up with 35Z5 and a 12SJ7 oscillator into a couple of 50L6’s in the final. A rhombic 3 feet off the ground aimed at the Soviet Union also helped.

F.D. 1967: 3,437 QST points, 4 transmitters at the Silo - S.W. corner of Lab. Prep, K9YHH, operated RTTY - results unknown. Bob, W9QVK, in charge.

1968

Glenn Mack, W9QVE, received his Amateur Extra and Marie DeForest, widow of world famous Dr. Lee DeForest, received her novice class license, WN6ZJR. Long time member Joe Tanney, WA9DLL, (Bldg. 310) became a Silent Key. Joe presumably drowned in September while on a fishing trip in Canada. His body was never found.

Not much news in 1968 but some newsletter humor made up for it. Here is one -- We know of a ham who lived in a penthouse. He had to ground his rig in a window box.

F.D. 1968: 2,125 points, 2 transmitters at the Ol’ Silo on south Kearney Road. Clubs Mobile score was 4,114 points. Dale Hutchinson, WA9KQD, and Harvey Sowers, W9KFZ, were in charge.

1969

1969 saw our first club sponsored QSL cards complete with your name and QTH. It had the picture of Bldg. 330 (CP-5) and they cost $1.50 per hundred. At least 2,000 were sold and many are still around.

Junes newsletter told of a Jeanne Pagels, WN9QXX, who will marry "some-one" in Bldg. 205 in July. We know her as Jeanne Blomquist, WD9AGR!

F.D. 1969: 2,469 points, 2 transmitters class at 91^st St. east of Cass Ave. Dale Hutchinson, WA9KWD, was in charge.

1970

A bad-funding recession hit the Lab and the club starting in March. We lost our newsletter editor and past President Charlie, W9WJL. Past Pres. Wes Podradsky left the Lab for Memphis and Glenn Mack went to the hospital for surgery. We also lost many other of our good club supporters because of the budget cuts. Then to make bad matters worse the FCC proposed and then charged $9.00 for a Ham ticket, $19 for CBers and up to $50,000 for TV stations. Several of the newsletters ended with "The future of the club depends on you -- Help!" No meetings were held from June to October. The year ended out with a newsletter poem:

Budgets are red,
Employees are blue,
Be nice to your bosses,
’Cause lightning could strike you.

F.D. 1970: 1,300 points, 2-transmitter class at 91^st St. east of Cass Ave. Dale Hutchinson, WA9KWD, was in charge.

1971

Things picked up in ’71 with past President Charlie, W9WJL, being called back to Plant Engineering. 1971s VHF SS saw our club station on the air from the clubhouse with about 7 operators. Our clubs first President Dr. Frigerio, W9HHJ, became a priest in the Greek Orthodox Church and spent much of his time in a monastery in Lebanon. John Renken, K9HPW, of Bldg. 212 was Ham of the year and the club reimbursed the $9 FCC fee to the first club member who either got a license or upgraded. He was Paul Nicole, W9DRB, of Bldg. 203. No meetings were held from November thru February ’72.

F.D. 1971: Our 91^st near Cass FD site was threatened when both the FAA and the U of C wanted to install high power radar that would have had an effective peak power of 15 gigawatts! (2 volts/meter at 1 nautical mile). 412 points were claimed. 2-transmitter class at 91^st St. east of Cass Ave. Dale Hutchinson, WA9KQD, was in charge.

1972

1972 was a very slow year with few meetings and more members leaving because of the poor ANL budget. During this year almost all of our dues were spent for ham publications and test equipment for our membership. There were only 24 members in May.

This was also the year the Indians moved into our Radar Field Day site. They really took over! I remember it well. Argonne and the AEC wrung their hands and when they finally did get them out; tower ladders were sawed off and tower doors were welded shut.

F.D. 1972: Argonne was afraid that if we held our FD at the 91^st St. site and had our gate open the Indians would return. We therefore held our FD at the clubhouse with Dale, WA9KQD, in charge. We can find no record of FD results for 1972!

1973

Club call trustee for WA9BRE is once again Glenn Mack, W9QVE. It was renewed for 5 years. In September our President Dale, WA9KQD, left the Lab for another job after about 2 years as our President and we finished out the year without a V.P.

A $9 reimbursement was offered in ’73 but there were no takers. Our first President Norm Frigerio wrote us from Beirut Lebanon that the war has had little effect on his new QTH. In fact, he says "Things are more peaceful here than in Chicago, hi" (he should be around now!). Glenn, W9QVE, came home from the hospital but had one more operation coming up in mid December.

F.D. 1973: None held.

1974

The clubs March meeting saw us on tour of the AECs Emergency Radio Center in Bldg. 212. AECs George Karpin, K9VJV, was our host. It was the first time most of us got to see what is now our very familiar club station area. The $9 FCC reimbursement fee was extended thru ’74 and Gerry McGinnis, WB9IXC, was first with an upgrade from Novice to Advanced! Tnx to the efforts of George, K9VJV, our club station WA9BRE was moved from the clubhouse to the EOC area in Bldg. 212.

Glenn, W9QVE, went back in the hospital with secondary problems and he passed away on September 10, 1974. Perhaps our most important charter member was gone. Rollin Tremont, W9MUJ, became our new station trustee in November for the new memorial club call W9QVE.

The last ’74 newsletter ended with a suggestion to write up a club history as a result of several requests.

F.D. 1974: None held.

1975

After over 12 years WA9BRE was no more and we became Memorial Station W9QVE. The January newsletter went on to say that this well could be the last memorial call issued, as this type of call will soon terminate. The first contact using Glenn’s old call was made by John, W9UHO, with K5MVW/4 operating mobile in Virginia.

Lew Garrison, WB9PGO, was a visitor at our January meeting and Charlie Bremigan, W9WJL, updated the clubs old constitution, which was called "somewhat unrealistic". Dick George, W9SKD, was on a 2-meter moon bounce setup.

F.D. 1975: 1276 points with many bonus points for emergency power, natural power, satellite, and QRP. It was held at the frontage Rd. NIKE site near I55. Dick Konecny, K9IB, in charge.

1976

1976 was a big year - things began to pick up. Roland Armani and Charlie Cohn were first licensed in April, WN9TRJ and WN9SKX respectively, then in August Fred Propper became WN9VUT. Tnx to Fred Brandeberry, WB9MNT, for teaching our classes that year.

After almost 16 years as our treasurer John Armstrong bid us farewell and took off for the southwest. We had our first dinner party - for him and he was written up as our Ham of the Year. Dick George, W9$KD, became our new treasurer. Our September newsletter noted where the Argonne Bicycle Club had asked the Wheaton Radio Club to furnish them with communications for their bike hike! It was Charlie Cohn, KB9XV, that arranged for our 1976 Bicentennial Club QSL cards. Remember them?

F.D. 1976: 1690 points, 5-transmitter class. Clem, W9KJA, came thru with beautiful PR in ’76 with many newspaper stories, an interview with Dick, K9IB, on a local FM station, and Channel 7 film crew came out to visit us. We were on the 10pm news and the "Good Morning America" show the following morning. Dick Konecny, K9IB, was in charge at the Cass and Frontage Road NIKE site. Item of interest: some baby birds in the CW shack were grateful to Cliff Toovey, WN9VGM, for the beer soaked bread when their mother didn’t show up!

1977

Several members took part in a 160M contest from the club station. In a 27-hour period they worked 53 sections resulting in 23,956 points. After many years with our own room in the picnic grounds Club House we moved to our new location in Bldg. 212. Argonne’s CB Club took it over.

Rich Doering, WA6CFM, became a new member of the club along with Bonnie McFarland (Applied Math) who joined us in May to be our 100^th member. We claimed to be the largest non-athletic club at Argonne. Charter member Andy Kazz, W9BVM, retired after 30 years with ANL.

The FCC stopped testing for CW sending skills -- their examiners were not qualified to receive!

F.D. 1977: 2062 points, 5-transmitter class. Was held at the NIKE site near I55. Dick Konecny, K9IB, was in charge. Item of interest: Dan Damrow, W9GQY, brought out his pet monkey Sue, who turned out to be a real high-speed operator.

1978

In April ex club president Dick Fergus, W9DTW, using videotape gave us a very good program on "Tornado Monitoring". Dick got some media attention earlier when he picked up a Houston, Texas severe weather condition that predicted the touchdown of a twister seven hours prior to the event.

Our clubs first president, Dr. Norman Frigerio, K9HHJ, became a silent key in November of 1978.

F.D. 1978: 1342 points, 4-transmitter class, held at the NIKE site near I55. Dick, K9IB, and Fred, WB9VUT, were in charge. Items of interest: All bands 2 thru 160 meters were operated. Tom, K9IKI, and Fred, WB9MNT, tried for a 160M balloon ascension - they broke five balloons but the 6^th stayed up for a half hour. A University of Wisconsin laser beam experiment almost caused a denial to us of the FD site. Dan Damrow, W9GQY, and Tom Hardek, K9IKI, started up a Bluegrass symphony on that balmy night and were joined by Fred, WB9VUT, and one of the U. of WI laser group playing a 5 foot base fiddle. He was the most likely of the group with a beard and a Mt. hat.

Nearby in our old 91^st St. site, the University of Illinois (Champaign-Urbana) set up and operated Field Day. Ed Picha, N9EP, their club president, was also a member of our club, having worked for the summer in Bldg. 206. Ed then gave the program for our July meeting.

1979

1979 was a big farewell year for the club with a big party for George Karpin, K9VJV, (DOE) and Jim Bogard, WD9GTK, (Chem Eng) held at noon at the club station in March. In July it was a farewell party for Dan Damrow, W9GQY. Dan was our first club call trustee. Our treasurer for 16 years, John Armstrong, W9UHO, is on his way to Imperial Beach CA. Wally Shreffler, W9MTW, became a silent key in February.

In spite of many departures in ’79 there was humor in the newsletters such as: "The trouble with some people is they won’t admit their mistakes. I’d admit mine if I had any." Or bumper sticker of the month "Old Railroad buffs never die, they just lose track" and it has been said that "Nothing is certain except death and taxes -- but at least death doesn’t get worse every time congress meets".

F.D. 1979: 3 transmitters, 1200 points claimed, 300 bonus points, 15 operators, no QST listing, Dick, K9IB, in charge at our Cass/I55 site.

1980

In November after over 2 months of red tape a small change provision was made in the club constitution.

In May, Dick, W9$KD, & Dale, AG9H, exchanged ASCII on 146.7mhz. It was perhaps the first in the area.

Three hams on Mt. St. Helens perished while serving their community. Paul Lottes became a Novice & was KA9IAT. Today (what do you mean by today Bill????) Paul is our club secretary & is KD9CM. A farewell party was held for Art Froehlick, K9ALR, and Tom Hardek, K9IKI.

History was made when ANL-W (Idaho) club station first made contact with ANL-E club station on August 20 on 20 meters SSB. Your club first supplied communications for the 1980 Atomic Bike Hike tnx to Gary, K9CZB. The Wheaton Radio Club had done this before.

F.D. 1980: Points from QST: 1670 in the 3-transmitter class. Bill, W9HBI, & Rollin, W9RP, led the scoring on 40 meter CW. Balloon supported verticals were tried by Tom, K9IKI, and were lit up at night with John Biceks ESADA vehicle. Dick, K9IB, & Fred, WB9VUT, were in charge at the Cass Ave and Frontage Rd (near I55) location.

1981

Club secretary Richard Doering, WA6CFM, told us of his intention to leave Argonne for a new job in California, and a farewell dinner party was held in March. One month later Rich changed his mind and decided to stay - so we had a party anyway!

We lost many active members in ’81 - V.P. Jeanne Blomquist, WD9AGR, ex-Pres. John Bicek, K9IEI, board member Ned Moeller, N9APV, (now N4FVU), John Wiesemes, K9EFC, and Bob Bannon, KB9IZ. Farewell dinner parties were held and Frank, KA9HRO, became our new V.P.

The club’s new repeater came into operation and was used during the Atomic Bike Hike on 145.21 Mhz.

Once again Rich Doering, WA6CFM, decided to leave us for "6" land, so we lost another member, but -- we had another party!

The year ended with a super Christmas party at Pres. Gary Myers’ QTH. Although we lost a few, the rest of us got well acquainted because of all the parties.

F.D. 1981: QST listing: 3500 points, 3-transmitter class, 500 bonus points. Jeanne, WD9AGR, in charge at the I55 and Cass Ave. location.

1982

With 1982 came our new repeater. It had operated on 145.21Mhz for a time in September, but we had to move as an attorney in a northern suburb claimed rights to that frequency, though we found it wasn’t used for weeks at a time. This repeater did more to unify and promote growth for the club than anything I can think of! It was Jim, W9GBL, Fred, WB9VUT, Rich, WA6CFM, Dale, AG9H, and others that made our repeater possible. In April we joined the Skywarn program, which soon came under the leadership of Gary, K9CZB. In May your club put on an Amateur Radio demonstration for the Hinsdale South High School. We operated 10 & 15M CW, 40M SSB, and 2M RTTY; the latter routed thru the club repeater with pictures from Dale, AG9H, in Lockport. There was also a poster and DX QSL display. 14 of us took part.

The first reference to a 50-cent time out on the repeater was in June by Dale, AG9H!

A farewell dinner was held for charter, Bill Karraker, W9AVE, who retired in October. He said he would remain active with the club.

W9QVE became a Special Event Station in both October and December of 1982 commemorating the 40^th anniversary of the first controlled nuclear chain reaction. The October operation was in response to our publication advertising while the December operation was because of the University of Chicago and ANL changed their mind in favor of a December operation. The first contact was made by George, K9VJV, with G3RR in England and the last was by Jim, W9GBL, with WA4MMD, in Florida. The Special Event was Jim’s idea from the start.

1175 contacts were made with 36 of us contributing to the effort. Special credit must go to Joe, W9RCJ, for much hard work and the leader of the event. 1982 ended with associate member Larry VanLoon, W9YRZ/T32AK, DXing and marine researching in the Fanning Island area. 1982 was an eventful year!

F.D. 1982: 4028 points, 3 transmitters plus 600 bonus points. Frank Bellinger, KA9HRO, was in charge at the I55 NIKE site.

1983

For the "Ham of the Year", it was Joe Blahunka, W9RCJ, - voted the one who made the most contributions to our club in 1982!

Our repeater was first microprocessor controlled during February of 1983 by Dale, AG9H. The Great Sailplane Race was held in June with your club supplying the communications. Only one of many made the complete route. He won $1,000. We lost our club secretary early in the year, and then Paul Lottes, KA9IAT, was elected to take his place. Our club was again asked to supply communications for the 11^th Atomic Bike Hike. In September a club night patrol picnic was held in Argonne Park. An under-the-stars slide show was given in the back yard of Roger Adams, WA9PUE, on his African/Senegal trip. Good receptive crowd. We again participated in the Argonne Open House called "Future Fest". Our repeater DX went to Charlie, K9PQI, who, in his private plane, talked to Roland, WB9TRJ, from Dayton, Ohio. Long time member and friend of our club George Karpin, K9VJV, became a silent key in October. It was George who got the permission for us to use and help maintain the DOE antennas and equipment at our club station.

The year ended on a festive note as we all celebrated Christmas, New Years, and our clubs 25^th anniversary at Fred Proppers home.

F.D. 1983: QST listing: 959 contacts, plus many bonus points. We operated 40-15-10-20-2 meters. Also several 2-meter RTTY. After 9 years this was our last time at our Cass and I55 location. Lew Garrison, WB9PGO, in charge.

1984

Charter member Andy Kazz, W9BVM passed away Nov. 4^th 1984.

F.D. 1984: QST listing: 908 contacts, 3 Transmitter class (419 CW & 489 phone), at new site Argonne Park. Lightning storm caused a 2 hour shutdown. Tim Joseph, WB0MIS, in charge.

1985

Joe Blahunka, W9RCJ was named "Lifetime Distinguished Member" of the AARC at the retirement dinner for him, W9FNM, KB9XV, KA9BFZ, and WB9QBH. There was a popular club outing to tour the Braidwood nuclear facility. The club provided support for the Great Sailplane Race, which that year conflicted with Field Day. Support was also lent to the Atomic Bike Tour and the Joliet Triathlon. The club also operated the 75m SSB contest. In January the first Saturday Morning Club Breakfast was started. It was an immediate success.

FD 1985: Held at Argonne Park, 3802 Points - finished in the top 22% in class 3A!

1986

Jerry, WB9WOC, donated the colorful AARC banner now familiar at many club functions. The club operated a special event station celebrating the 40^th Anniversary of the National Laboratory Systems. This was on 20m SSB and 2m FM. Club members also helped with communications for "Hands Across America" and the Atomic Bike Hike. W9DTW’s house was struck by lightening and that produced a nice article on the subject in the club’s newsletter.

FD 1986: Held at Argonne Park, 8468 Points -

1987

W9RP retired this year. W9FNM received "Ham of the Year". The first "On The Air Limerick Contest" was run and KA9GQF won with this:

A Mexican ham from Cancun
Bounced signals off of the moon.
When asked why he did it
He said, "I’ll admit it
I was yakking with someone this noon."

Associate dues were raised to $8. The club again supported the Atomic Bike Hike. Discussions about moving the repeater transmitter continued through most of the year although the move never materialized.

FD 1987: The club combined Filed Day with support for the Acrobatic Competition. AARC’s filed day operation was set up at the competition site in Belvidere, Illinois and run all stations QRP. The group scored 2015 Points.

1988

W9KJA retired. Much activity this year centered around a club project - the Peanut Whistle. This was a club kit produced resulting in 25 kits sold to operate QRP 1.5w on 160 Meters. A Peanut Whistle Net also resulted. The club again supported the Great Sailplane Race. Fred Proper, WB9VUT, was named Ham of the Year for 1988.

FD 1988: Held at Argonne Park.

1989

The club provided communications for the Elmhurst Bicycle Club’s July 30 Metro Metric ride, the I&M Canal Cleanup and the Great Sailplane Race. Discussion was started on a W9QVE packet mailbox prompted by a request from Rich, KA9GQF. The first-ever AARC Canoe Trip was planned and scrubbed due to weather. Bill Parmley, KR8L, left the area for Argonne West. The club breakfast was drawing upwards of 40 people.

Lew Garrison, WB9PGO, was named "Ham of the Year, 1989."

FD 1989: Class 3A - 3872 points.

1990

Work progressed on the "Night Patrol Cookbook" with many recipes from various club members.

In May the club put the W9QVE-3 Packet BBS on the air on 145.09 MHz using the old repeater site, antenna, and a KPC-4.A 6 meter rig was loaned by Rich, WD9GTI, to the packet node and a gateway was established.

On August 28 a tornado hit Plainfield Illinois, home of several club members. Many club members participated in the relief effort. The Salvation Army used the clubs repeater for at least two days, during which Paul, W9FNM, canceled the Night Patrol.

Gary Myers, K9CZB, was presented the first "Glen Mack Distinguished Service Award."

FD 1990: 4296 points. HF/CW/SSB/Novice VHF/FM/Packet.

1991

Skywarn coordinator Deni, W9DS, called a spotter net at 3:00 PM on March 22, 1991 warning of bad weather. In just a few minutes hail was present at Deni’s QTH. Many alarming reports of high winds and hail were being reported. At 3:50 the W9QVE/R repeater locked up. A tornado struck Lemont, less than a mile from the repeater taking it off the air. The repeater was again used during the relief effort and several club members assisted.

A computer and NOS software were added to the club’s packet node turning it from a mailbox to a BBS. The software was later switched to MSYS. A short-lived Monday night packet conference was started. A new 2-meter transceiver was purchased to replace the borrowed transceiver that was being used.

Rich, KA9GQF, organized the AARC Club Picnic. About 50 attended for a day of eyeball QSO’s, horseshoes and nice hot picnic food.

FD 1991: W9QVE operated from Argonne Park scoring 3792 points including 900 bonus points.

1992

The club ran several special event stations this year. February 5 was the 10^th Anniversary of the club’s voice repeater and the club commemorated this by operating a special event station on the repeater and those submitting a report of the contact were sent a special QSL card. 251 contacts were made during a 12-hour period.

May 6^th shortly followed as the 10^th Anniversary of the club’s most successful activity, the "Night Patrol". This net meets nightly on the clubs voice repeater at 10:30 PM. A special event station was run starting at noon and ending at 10:30 PM through the repeater. The Night Patrol then started and stations checking in also qualified for the special QSL card, which was designed and sent out.

December 2^nd marked the 50^th Anniversary of the "first self-sustaining controlled nuclear chained reaction" which took place under the West Stands of Stagg Field at the University of Chicago. This event led to the establishment of the Argonne National Laboratory, America’s first national lab. In commemoration the club ran a special event station on both HF and VHF and produced a (slightly flawed) certificate.

Deni, W9DS, established a Volunteer Examiner program.

F.D. 1992: 4224 Points We ran HF-SSB/CW, VHF-FM/Packet and a Novice station. We got all the bonus points and the California earthquake added some excitement with the first reports coming in over packet! Chuck Beck, WO9K in charge.

1993

Space was secured in Building 222 for a new club station. Club packet modem kits were produced to help fund expansion of the packet node. The first 30 kits quickly sold. Discussion was started on the possibility of a 440 MHz voice repeater.

The December newsletter showed 63 Argonne East full members, 18 at Argonne west along with 114 Associate, 14 Newsletter and 21 retired members.

FD 1993: Held at Argonne Park with a score of 3,168 points placing the club in the top 34% of it’s class 3A. Stan, KB9FGD, coordinating the effort.

Here’s a picture of some of the "Night Patrol" members at the Night Patrol Christmas Party held on December 18, 1993.

1994

The fruits of the club’s packet kits funded the purchase of a new 220 MHz radio and high speed TNC for the packet node. The club newsletter was full of articles and information on Packet Radio.

FD 1994: Held at Argonne Park, Bruce, KA9JXU, in charge. A score of 4,778 points was earned ranking the club 53^rd out of 348 entries in class 3A.

1995

FD 1995: Held at Argonne Park, Bruce KA9JXU in charge.

1996

On September 23, club trustee Dick Konecny, K9IB, applied for callsign W9ANL. His request was granted on November 27. A special event was held December 15 to help Argonne Labs celebrate it’s 50^th Anniversary. Operation was on 2m, 6m, packet, and various HF bands. This certificate was mailed out shortly afterwards.

FD 1996: To be held at Lewis University. Bruce, KA9JXU, in charge (was officially cancelled, although some members did show up and operate.).

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

Thanks to Dale, AG9H, for help in getting this web ready and again to Bill, W9AVE, for writing most of it!

Apr 4, 2007 (AG9H)