The BCARA have lost some dear friends and many of these folks were a big part in forming the BCARA. This page is to remember them and to remind the BCARA how we got our start. These were very
dear friends to many of us, they were active ham's in the area and many were the founding fathers of the BCARA.
Herman C. Huffman "KE9YZ"
1930 - 2011
Herman lived in Advance, Indiana and was an active ham radio operator here in Boone county, and a coordinator for MARS of Indianapolis. He was an active member
of the BCARA where he regularly attentended meetings and special events. He was a member of the BCARA Board of Directors. He was also
active in storm spotting from the Advance area. He was a great person to talk to on the radio. Herman was a member of F.&A.M. Mosonic Lodge and a lifetime
member of the American Legion. He had retired from the Indianapolis Fire Department after 20 years of service.
Ruth Hawkins "N9ZFW"
1951 - 2011
Ruth had lived in the Lebanon/Thorntown area her entire life. She was an active ham in the area. She was a self employed web page designer, she enjoyed fishing, gardening, playing the piano, and spending time with her family as she was a Mother of four children and Grandmother of nine children.
Robert Gillan "N9KPZ"
1916 - 2009
Robert helped form the first ham radio club in Boone county back in the 70's. He was a great elmer and really cared about the new hams and spent countless hours teaching people about amateur radio. He was also a retired teacher, a WWII Navy aviator, and a farmer.
Jimmie L. Giles Jr. "N9VXQ"
1955 - 2009
Jimmie was one of the BCARA's founding fathers, he was the net control operator for many years. He ran the weekly BCARA net on Thursday nights and also ran Skywarn nets. Outside of the BCARA, he ran the Redeye Net in Plymouth, Indiana on Saturday nights. He also started and maintained
the BCARA webpage. He was always there on the radio, you could pick up the mic and give a shout out to him and he would answer. He was a great elmer, DXer, teacher, and friend. It didn't matter what you
talked about on the radio, he was there to listen, give advise and he always had his back door open for a visit face to face. The airwaves
will not be the same with out him.
Frank C. Hurst. "N9JST"
1945 - 2004
Frank was one of the BCARA's founding fathers, he was very active on the radio locally and working DX. He helped run the nets and when he was ill, we would help with the skywarn nets
by keeping track of where the storm spotters were in the county. He was a great elmor, not only for his own family of hams, but also for people that were brand new to the hobby. Whenever there was a snow-covered road, an icy bridge, a severe thunderstorm rumbling through
the county, Frank was always there to lend a helping hand. Whenever a fellow amateur radio
operator advanced in the hobby, or even considered it Frank seemed to be always first in line to congradulate, and encourage them.
Carol D. Martin, JR "N9JSS"
1952 - 2004
J.R. was one of the BCARA's founding fathers, he was very active with seeing that the club suceeded, he sent out some of the first newsletters of the club and ran the first several
club meetings. He also opened up his home for the meetings when the club
didn't have a meeting place. Whenever there was a severe thunderstorm rumbling through the county Jr was always there to lend a helping hand. Most of the time he would be mobile out chasing
storms, but was also a very well versed net control operator. Whenever a fellow amateur radio operator advanced in the hobby, or even considered it. Jr seemed to be always
one of the first to congradulate, and encourage them.
