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 Lemmie, W4QI, my first cousin, passed away in June 1997.
He was licensed in 1931 at age 20 and held the same call for his 66
years as an Amateur Radio operator. He was my inspiration to get my Amateur
Radio license.
Checking my radio log in the computer, I had 1,024 contacts with
Lemmie using W4YDY and my two second station calls, K4IWJ and K5NC. I talked
to him on the radio every year from 1953 to 1996 except for 1974 and 1975.
Also I talked to him from a number of other stations including K2USA in Ft.
Monmouth, NJ. Over five percent of my radio contacts until 1997 were with
Lemmie. I do miss his voice coming in on my speaker.
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His
wife, Mozel, K4VVA, passed away in August 1997. The picture
is Lemmie and Mozel on July 7, 1979 standing in their yard.
Thanks to William, WA4JMT, in Bristol, VA. for the first two
pictures.
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 This
is the J-38 Morse code key that belonged to Lemmie. It is probably the same
key that I used in 1952 when he had me studying the code for my Amateur Radio
license. I spent a couple of weeks in the summer with him and received my
license in October, 1952. Lemmie put the red tape on it and I will not
remove it.
The hand key was given to me from his estate. I use that key
and a paddle for my CW operations now.
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 Lemmie's radio shack in the
1930s. I can still remember when I was about four years old, we visited
Lemmie at his home in Siler City in 1939. That was the first time I can
remember seeing an Amateur Radio Station. With my chin just clearing the
desktop, I stood in awe looking at all that equipment. He said he could talk
far away with it! The bug had bit but it was about 13 years later that
I got the license.
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 The picture as left probably was Lemmie's first QSL card.
Someone told me that many QSL cards from the 1930s had pictures of the radio
shack and the operator in the corner.
The receiver is listed on the QSL card below as a Breting 12.
Although the transmitter in the rack is different in the two pictures, the
receiver is the same.
Click on the picture for larger version.
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 This was the QSL card that Lemmie used for years. On the
date blank, the year was printed as 194__. From that, you can be sure it was
printed in the 1940s.
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Allen, KF4FMX
5/1931 - 3/2021
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Another first cousin of ours, Allen, KF4FMX, received his license
in December 1995 and Lemmie was very happy that Allen finally joined the
Amateur Radio fraternity. Silent Key in Mach 2021.
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Susan, WA4AKB, W4YDY's
daughter & KF4FMX
Raleigh Hamfest 1997
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Allen and I both got interested in Amateur Raido in the late
1940s. I got my license in 1952 while he went in the Air Force and
later started raising a family. He never lost interest so he did make
it in 1995. He is in my log 58 times, first on 2 meter FM and later on
10, 40, 80 and 160 meters SSB. His QSL card below is for our first HF
contact. 
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 At the right is a QSL card
Lemmie sent to W4BYY in 1935. The cartoon is right funny. Found
the card surfing the Internet and obtained it from the W8JYZ collection.
Click on the picture for larger version.
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 On the left is the address
side of the card postmarked Siler City, August 1, 1935 at 11 AM.
Click on the picture for larger version.
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 This is a circa 1957 picture of W4YDY at Lemmie's station
in the den of his home. He had a National NC-240D receiver and a Heathkit
DX-100 AM transmitter. Lemmie took the picture and it is now faded out
and has many scratches as you can see!
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Holland Amateur Radio
Society
W4QI
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Several
of Lemmie's relatives and friends organized a club in his honor and named
it "Holland Amateur Radio Society". A station callsign was
applied for and KG4RWE was assigned on 2/28/02. On 4/13/02, KG4RWE
was cancelled and WW4QI vanity call was assigned. On 5/28/02, WW4QI was cancelled and
W4QI vanity call was assigned! Trustee is
W4YDY.
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