Ray Mullins, KD4RSL (SK), passed away on 14 November 2020.
Ray, KD4RSL, had almost three decades of amateur radio experience.
Originally licensed in
either late 1993 or early 1994 as a Technician with the
call sign KD4RSL. His call sign appeared up in the
Radio Amateur Call Book Winter 1994.
He upgraded to Technician Plus and then General class on 13 July 1994.
He upgraded to Technician Plus and then General class on 13 July 1994.
Ray was an enthusiastic member of the Sterling Park Amateur Radio Club.
He served as the Club
Treasurer since at least 1999. He is listed in the
SPARC Annual Report on file at the Virginia State
Corporation Commission.
He participated in most of the Club activities including Field Day, the Virginia QSO Party, Sterling Festival, and Herndon Festival.
He was the "R" letter manager for the ARRL 4th call area, 2-letter prefix incomimg QSO Bureau for several years.
He participated in most of the Club activities including Field Day, the Virginia QSO Party, Sterling Festival, and Herndon Festival.
He was the "R" letter manager for the ARRL 4th call area, 2-letter prefix incomimg QSO Bureau for several years.
2001. Sterling Festival. Ray is putting safety tape on the vertical antenna.
June 2006. Virginia QSO Party Awards Ceremony. Ray was the photographer for most of the awards ceremonies held in June at the Manassas hamfest.
June 2006. Ray at VHF station during 2006 Field Day, Ray would set up his VHF/UHF station in shade to protect himself from the bright June sun. Often under a canopy set low to the ground.
24 June 2007. Ray during Field Day,
June 2008. Virginia QSO Party Awards Ceremony. Ray is at the QSL Bureau table (on the right) with Jim, AF4MO.
27 June 2008. Field Day,
June 2008. Field Day,
31 May 2009. Herndon Festival 5K/10K race support. SPARC provided 10 or so operators with radios at the race mile markers to keep track of the progress of the races.
14 June 2009. Awards Ceremony for the Virginia QSO Party.
June 2009. Field Day, Pointing at a rope over a light pole. On the Friday before Field Day, SPARC would install ropes over the horizontal member of light poles to support the temporary wire antennas.
May 2010. Herndon Festival. Supporting the 5K/10K races with radios at mile markers.
June 2010. Ray accepting the award for "High Single Operator VHF Only" at the 2010 Virginia QSO Party Awards Ceremony.
October 2010. Sterling Festival. Ray in back, with Russ, W3RST, Dick, W2YE, and Duane, K4UW in front.
June 2010. Field Day. Putting up a UHF/VHF antenna for working a satellite.
June 2010. Field Day. At his UHV/VHF station.
June 2010. Field Day. Ray's famous battery. Charged via solar panel - it always got us extra points for scoring at Field Day..
June 2010. Field Day. Ray on right with Russ, W3RST, and Paul, K4PDF, on left.
5 June 2011 Herndon Festival. supporting the 5K/10K races with radio support.
June 2011. Virginia QSO Party Awards Ceremony.
June 2011. Field Day.
October 2011. Sterling Festival. Ray is carrying the power supply to the SPARC booth.
October 2012. Sterling Festival.
June 2012. Field Day. Ray in his VHF van. For two field days, Ray operated from his van instead of a canopy. During one field day, he mounted a house window air conditioner in the passenger window and ran it off of the club electrical generator. Worked very well at keeping the temperature in the van comfortable.
2013 Herndon festival. At the 5K/10K races with radios.
8 June 2014. Ray at the 2014 Virginia QSO Party Awards Ceremony.
22 June 2013. Field Day.
14 June 2015. Ray, the photographer, for the 2015 Virginia QSO Party Awards Ceremony.
26 June 2015. Field Day,
5 June 2016. Herndon Festival. Supporting the 5K/10K races with radio support.
14 June 2016. Virginia QSO Party Awards Ceremony.
24 June 2016. Ray on the right at 2016 Field Day,
25 June 2016. Field Day. Ray at his VHF/UHF station staying out of the sun. Notice the sleeves on his shirt are rolled down to protect his arms from the sun.
23 June 2017. Field Day.
June 2017. Herndon Festival. Team supporting the 5K/10K races with radio support. Ray is 3rd from right, standing tall.
June 2018. Field Day.
June 2019. Field Day. Ray at the VHF/UHF station. Staying out of the sun.
"I will miss seeing Ray each Field Day at his VHF/UHF position and flashing that great smile. RIP OM"
Jim, AF4MO
4 February 2020. A group phone taken at the SPARC monthly meeting. Ray, KD4RSL, is 7th from the left, standing tall in the back row.