A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE KEY WEST AMATEUR RADIO CLUB

Compiled by Steve Godwin – KD1Z

The Key West Amateur Radio Club (KWARC) was founded in 1943 during World War II. Amateurs were not allowed on the air during the war, but a group of local radio enthusiasts formed the club and held meeting in anticipation of the time they would be permitted to resume operation on the Ham bands. The locations of only two of the founding members are known. These two are Joe Singleton, W4OPZ, of Titusville, Florida and Robert C. Wohosky, K6AAG, of Hesperia, California.

Charter members included the following.

Leonard B. Warren SK Severino E. Perez SK Charles W. Blanc

Charles B. Myers SK Lloyd A. Carver Bernard A Biaza SK

Benita D. Biaza SK A. Don Cobb Lila Jean Myers

J. Lancelot Lester, Sr. SK Hermenia R. Lester SK Sarah M. Blanc

Ernestine S. McMaster SK Harry W. Dreyer SK Robert F. Sanders SK

Angel A. Seoane Robert D. Perez P.A. McMaster SK

Dr. Delio Cobo SK Mrs. Ann Cobo SK Robert Feinberg

Durward G. Small Robert C. Wohosky * Dr. A. Castillo SK

John J. Brake

*Mr. Wohosky, K6AAG, presently resides in Hesperia, California with his son, Fred Wohosky, KB6AJ, where he continues to be active in Ham Radio and community service. At the time of his membership in KWARC he held the call sign W4YFW. He received recognition from the Florida Skip Magazine for service he rendered during Hurricane Donna in 1960. Mr. Wohosky continues at age 86 to provide service to his community, particularly through his involvement with the California Highway Patrol. He is well known in the High Desert community of Hesperia as an expert amateur weatherman. He has also been recognized many times by various government and civic agencies for his on-going contributions to public service.

The KWARC maintains a coordinated state of the art open repeater that operates on 146.34/94 MHz. The repeater is linked to other repeaters up the Keys. The repeater call sign was formerly WR4AOV before the FCC stopped issuing special repeater call signs. The repeater is located atop the Lower Keys Medical Center building on Stock Island. The club hosts a weekly emergency practice net on Sunday evenings. This net will swing into action in case of an emergency or at the request of local law enforcement or health and welfare officials.

The Club has maintained its call sign, W4LLO, for many years. The present trustee is Tom Clements, K1TC. Previous trustees have included Mel Gossard, K3ML. Carlo Marsano, K4EI, Sherod Newlan, Cory McDonald, N1WON, and Father Jerry Turner, K9CCZ

The ARRL honored the KWARC in May of 1997 by presenting a plaque commemorating 50 years of ARRL affiliation. The club became affiliated May 2, 1947. At the club’s request on June 15, 1995, Mayor Dennis Wardlow issued a proclamation declaring the weekend of June 24-25 as Amateur Radio Weekend in Key West. The proclamation was issued in memory of Mayor Wardlow’s father, Charles S. Wardlow, WA4CGQ, S.K. On June 17, 1996, Monroe County Mayor, Dr. Shirley Freeman issued a proclamation declaring the weekend of June 22-23 as Amateur Radio weekend in Monroe

County. The proclamation was read at the Commissioner’s meeting and recorded in the official minutes.

The club received a National Certificate of Merit from the ARRL in November of 1977 in recognition of outstanding achievements in serving the public interest of the community

The club sponsored and coordinated the Cayo Hueso “Conchfest” in May of 1978. This activity was a mini-hamfest that was attended by an estimated 200 amateur radio operators from around the state.