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KL7Y dies in motorcycle accident
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by KH7U on November 5, 2002
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Dan was vacationing in Hawaii. He loved to come here, participate in a
contest from KH7R (in shorts and no shirt - no less, something he certainly
couldn't do at home) and spend some time on the other beautiful islands.
This time was no exception. After a great effort at KH7R, contesting stories
in the off hours and several meals off the "barbee", Dan traveled to the Big
Island of Hawaii to visit others and relax. As he worked for Raytheon, he
decided to visit one of their sites located there. He told his boss on the
phone that he was going to rent a motorcycle and see the crew. Apparently,
he was on the way back over the winding S-curves of the upper highway
between Waimea and Kona. I presume Dan may have been traveling in the clouds
or possibly patches of rain at those heights. I can only conclude that
unfamiliarity with the equipment, road and conditions added up to a
disastrous combination. He was not wearing a helmet.
We who knew him and enjoyed this last opportunity to radio contest with him
are still in shock. Surely it couldn't happen to him! Dan was always the
friendly and helpful guy. With great knowledge of running a Multi-Multi
effort from his own station in relatively rare Zone 1. We all benefited from
his presence and contributions. I had the opportunity to visit him and stay
at his house / station on a hill in Wasilla, Alaska. His station showed the
typical simplicity and ingenuity that amateur's show when "home-brewing" a
large station without spending a fortune. I loved his concept of mowing the tall
grass around his towers...flatten them with his pickup when he turns around.
Hey, it worked. From his inverted Rubbermaid tub to cover some switching
arrangements to his old mobile van outside the house (the one with more
growing in it than in his driveway), Dan's cedar home 'spoke' ALASKA the
last frontier of our country.
With his white hair and mustache he always looked the part of his well-loved
demeanor, the friendly and kind gentleman. I am sure that the many people
who knew him, had the opportunity to work him and operate with him will
agree. Though I never envied him working on his towers (brrrrr - cold)
compared to the weather at KH7R, I wish I had been able to spend more time
getting to know him better in his element.
Dan, whatever station you're going to operate from up there...I hope it has
the beauty of the Northern Lights, the balmy weather of Hawaii, the
propagation of the Caribbean or HC8 (that we both long for) and all the
'rate' you can handle. We will all miss you for you left us far too soon.
Don't forget to talk to us on 80 and 160 when it seems only KL7Y and KH7R
are on in the Pacific in the middle of the night (we need to keep each other
awake). Safe journey.
Aloha, 73 Kimo Chun, KH7U (one of the gang at KH7R)
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KL7Y dies in motorcycle accident
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by VU2PTT on November 5, 2002
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Dan,
We will miss you. I always remember looking for KL7Y for Zone 1 over the years and we will truly miss you. RIP and God Speed.
Prasad VU2PTT.
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KL7Y dies in motorcycle accident
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by g4vgo on November 5, 2002
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I heard of the accident and chekced my logs from the 1980's. Sure enough, KL7Y was my 160 DXCC credit for Alaska back in 1985. Another log search and KL7Y was my Alaska QSO for 160 DXCC from EI7IU in 1998.
Looked up both cards, and both had a long and personal message, not forms and RST's.
Like K1MEM and KV4AA, a real ham's ham and proudly on my list of Top Band DXCC credits.
RIP, 73
Bob G4VGO
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KL7Y dies in motorcycle accident
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by AA6DX on November 6, 2002
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Absolutely stunned . .. Danno was one of my "nemesis" Amateur Radio operators, someone, through many years, I tried to emulate, in both operating and equipment expertise. CW -- wish I could do that mode NEARLY as well as he.. AND .. KL7Y was a "beacon", along with KL7AF (SK), to where the band was going when I was contesting from California, etc.... and, when I was doing it from Alaska, hoped the "Yankee" openings on the band(s) would be showing in the Fairbanks area soon. 73, OM .. es .. 599 03 ...
Maybe we shall meet on "top band" -- SK Mark -- AA6DX (op, KL7RA, 2 years /KL7)
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KL7Y dies in motorcycle accident
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by ux0ll on November 6, 2002
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Dan was a great person and famouse contester.
We regularly worked Kilo Lima Seven Yankee and always nice to get a new mult during the contests.We'll miss you.My condolences to the Dan's family.
599-16 and 73 Dan
PIR,OM
Alex/UX0LL and UT7L contest team
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KL7Y dies in motorcycle accident
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by dl3naa on November 6, 2002
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Very sad news! He was always very good listening also for QRP-stations and it was a pleasure to have hin in the log during many contests.
My big sympathy to all his family and his friends all over the world.
Peter DL3NAA
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KL7Y dies in motorcycle accident
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by s53r on November 7, 2002
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It had been way back in the mid-seventies when I worked KL7Y as my first Zone 1 / KL7 (Camp Lonely, Alaska). Rest in peace Dan ......
Robert, S53R
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KL7Y dies in motorcycle accident
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by EA9LZ on November 7, 2002
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Good DX,s in the heaven, will miss a good friend.
para mi es mejor expresarme en espa�ol, descanse en paz gran amigo, best 73,s.
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KL7Y dies in motorcycle accident
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by kh7r on November 9, 2002
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Those of us fortunate enough to have known Dan personally over the years will never be the same. I am still in a state of shock over this. When I look out the KH7R station window I see the guy wire he helped tension. When I look up the tower I see the antenna he helped raise. When I look at the 20m position I see him there trying to pull out contacts from a EU opening where no one can hear us. When I look at the plaques on the wall I see his call. Next to his own station he loved Hawaii and operating at KH7R. He loved working on everything from software, networking, tower and antenna work. He loved working with the crew and the crew loved working with him. Dan was a big part of the station always trying to improve its operation. He resolved a long standing problem with it a day before the contest. What I never had the opportunity to tell him was that he was the most important factor in my decision to resurrect the station and to build it to what it is today. We contested together in 1994 from Kwajalein as V7X in CQWW that year. The inspiration he gave me from that one event alone was enough start the ball rolling. In many ways I think he knew but I will never know and regret not having the chance to tell him. Those of us at KH7R will treat Dan as always being with us in the contests. He�ll be the one to tell us when to QSY, to look for mults or to change bands. He�ll continue to be the guiding light not only for us but for many others around the world.
R.I.P. Dan
Ken KH7R
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