Nov 12

Okay, it’s time to unveil the full length, 140 minutes, runners video that we took at Mile Marker #4 on Camden Street.   It has minimal editing, mostly to add titles at the front / back, and a running date / location stamp during the video.  All sound is original once the video portion begins.  (The video file itself was more than 2gb in size, and it was only 640×480 screen size.)

I’ll be posting more info about the race itself, who the volunteers were from AARO and other ham volunteers, etc., in another post.

This post is just for the runners.    This is the view from Mile Marker #4 on November 11, 2012, starting around 7:45am, after all the bicycle riders are gone.  You can see the approaching lead vehicles, watch the guy and my son, David KD5MTJ, relocate the mile marker and clock closer to the curb, and hear all the spectator comments (uncensored) in the background.  The video with the bicycle riders is found here http://sanantoniohams.org/blog/?p=6394

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Nov 12

When I got home late this evening I had a message on my answering machine that Doris Patti N5QEL passed away this morning.  Those who knew Doris will surely miss her.  Those who knew her will remember her generosity such as serving as editor for our KARS Newsletter for so many years.  There will be no service, however, I believe her church will accept flowers/donations on her behalf.  The Kendall Amateur Radio Society will certainly donate where appropriate.

73s

-Mark Rosier, President
Kendall Amateur Radio Society

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Nov 12

Joseph Richard Funk, AF5D, 83, of Robinson, Texas passed away, Thursday, September 27, 2012 at his home. Joseph was born January 16, 1929 in Ironton, Missouri to Oscar and Jewell Funk. He graduated from Esther High School in 1947 and received a teaching certificate from Flat River Junior College.

He served as a Corporal radio relay operator in the US Army during the Korean War during which he received the Korean Service Medal with two bronze service stars and the United Nations Service Medal. Upon returning from the service he continued his education in electronics and communication equipment in Port Arthur, Texas. On May 25, 1957 he married Ruby Gene Culpepper in San Antonio, Texas. He was employed by Missouri Pacific Railroad later known as Union Pacific Railroad as a communications maintainer.

He enjoyed his hobby of being an Amateur Radio Operator for over 60 years under the call letters of AF5D. He shared his knowledge and love of radio operations by helping many young and old to pass their tests to become amateur radio operators, including his wife, sister in-law and sons. He had a fascination with radios, electronics and computers that helped him form many friendships that spanned out across the world. He enjoyed traveling back to visit with his friends and family in his birthplace known as Funk Branch as often as was possible for their reunions.

He is survived by his wife of 55 years, his three children; Kathryn Funk-Baxter (Steve) of Corpus Christi, Texas, Keith Richard Funk (Kim) of San Antonio and Karl Matthew Funk (Crystal) of Robinson, Texas; six grandchildren and one great granddaughter. He is proceeding in death by his parents and only brother Carl Franklin Funk.

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Nov 12

Louis B. Turner, K5LT,  age 75, passed away on Sunday, November 4, 2012 in San Antonio.  Louis was an extra class ham.

He was born May 2, 1937 in Kemp, Oklahoma to Andrew and Inez Turner. He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Thomas; his daughter Barbara; and his wife, Betty. Louis is survived by his sons, Les Turner and his wife, Laura and Lyle Turner KB5BSU and his wife, Mandi; and grandchildren, Brooke and Luke Turner.

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Nov 12
George Francis Munsch, W5VPQ,  age 77, died on Wednesday, October 31, 2012. He was born in Refugio, Texas and attended Saint Mary’s University in San Antonio.
 
He worked at Southwest Research Institute for 31 years, retiring as a Principal Scientist. While there he was the go-to person for the hard problems. Even if he didn’t know the answer, he had the insight and perspective on how to solve it. And in addition to his brilliance, he was also a mentor, always willing to share his knowledge and lifting the expertise of everyone around him.
 
Even in retirement, he was very active as a consultant, and recognized as an expert in radio noise mitigation. He co-authored the leading text on the subject, and made many trips around the world solving problems for clients. Ham radio was a major thread running through his life. Through it he met his wife Ella, and they enjoyed 52 devoted years together. She and their two sons, Randy and David, were the joy of his life.
 
Ham radio was also the source of a large number of good friends, many of which consider him a ham’s ham. He was a pioneer in one of its technologies and served on an advisory committee setting up national standards. But his relationships with people were even more important than technology, and he will be missed by many people worldwide. He is survived by a son Randy, a grandson Randall, and two great grandchildren.
 
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Nov 12

 

George Alexander Ferguson, a proud Texan with Canadian roots and amateur radio operator K5HVM, was born in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, on October 20, 1922, and died in San Antonio, TX, on November 9, 2012 at the age of 90. He is survived by his loving wife of 36 years, Joyce (Mikeska) Ferguson; his son Dean and wife Valerie and grandsons Sawyers and Nathan; his stepdaughters Linda Smith (and husband Don) and Teri Montross (and husband Arthur); and numerous nephews and nieces in Canada.

George was predeceased by his parents Cecil George Ferguson and Ethel Theodora (Dyer) Ferguson; his sister Ella and husband Don Valentine; sister Marjorie and husband Norman Beith; and brothers Frank and John. He also was preceded in death by his first wife Velma Margaret (Campbell) Ferguson and their son Paul.

 
SERVICES
A Celebration of Life will be held Tuesday, November 13, 2012 at 11:00 AM in the chapel at Mission Burial Park Dominion North, 20900 I.H. 10 West with interment to follow.

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Nov 12

The following video was shot at Mile Marker #4 along the route of the 2012 San Antonio Rock and Roll Marathon, and is for the Bike Tour part of the event only, no runners in this clip.   The Bike Tour, with about 1,000 riders, started at 6:45am, before the 7:30am main start for the Marathon.

Ham Radio Operators from the Alamo Area Radio Organization (AARO) and other volunteers, staffed every mile marker along the routes to ensure the timing clocks were started accurately at 7:30am when the net control (Dave W5QS) gave the count down over the radio.  This year’s event started without a hitch, other than some timing clocks had dead batteries or other malfunctions, but the operational end of from the ham radio operator perspective went fairly smoothly this year.

We’ll be posting more videos and photos later this week, as we find more “free time” to do the editing. This was the short one, so be warned!

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