Club News
KC8CNT, SK
We were all saddened at the passing of one of our oldest and
most faithful members this past month. Walter Hurd, KC8CNT,
passed leaving a void in not only the club, but the city of
Deleaware. His obituary details a life of service:
Mr. Hurd graduated from Linden McKinley High School,
Columbus, Ohio in 1947 and Ohio State University with B.S. in
Music Education in 1951 and an M.A. from Ohio State in 1954.
He taught instrumental and vocal music in Jeffersonville, Ohio,
was the First Band Director at Miami Trace, Washington C.H.,
Ohio and then became the first Assistant Principal at Delaware
Hayes High School, Delaware, Ohio and retired from there after
24 years. During his life he played Trombone and other
instruments for Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin and other big band
names of that era, along with the Delaware Community Band.
He proudly served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War on the
USS Eldorado (AGC-11), the USS LSMR 525 and the LST 516
remaining in the Naval Reserve for 40 years as Commanding
Officer of Naval Reserve Surface Division 4-97; Commanding
Officer of Naval Reserve Officers School; Naval Reserve Public
Affairs Co. 4-3 and Chief of Staff for Naval Reserve Group
Command 4-32. He retired in 1989 as a Commander with 42
years active and inactive service. He received the following
commendations: Enlisted Good Conduct medal; Naval Reserve
medal; Armed Forces Reserve medal; Korean Combat medal (3
Stars); United Nations medal; National defense medal; Korean
War Service medal; Croix du Bombattant Voluntaire; Medaille
Desoperations De L’Organization, and Des nations Unies
EnCoree.
After retirement he was a member of Gideon’s International, had
a Bible Study at the Delaware County Jail and they attended
Delaware Bible Church and then High Street Baptist Church. He
led Choirs, band ensembles and sang in Quartets. He was the
Chairman of EPU-God and Country Class. A member of TBDBITL
Alumni Club/ Ohio LST/AMPHIBS Ass’n/ McHale’s Navy Breakfast
Club/ Reserve Officer’s Ass’n/ Naval League of the United
States/Delaware Amateur Radio Ass’n/ Delaware Amateur Radio
Emergency Service/ Delaware County Retired Teacher’s Ass’n and
Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia (Music Honorary).
He loved to spend time with family and to Golf and Fish. His love
of the water remained all of his life whether on the boat or at the
beach with all his extended family. He and Betty travelled around
the world via Military Space A and visited many of the European
locations that his Father had been to during WW1. Trier Germany
was a favorite destination.
We will miss Walter’s regular checkin to the Monday Evening Net!
Daughter Susan posted this picture:
DELARA is:
An outstanding amateur radio club;
An amazing group of individuals;
An active club serving others and each other;
And one of, if not the finest, group of people I have been associated with.
It was almost eight years ago I found DELARA on the web and reached
out asking for help to put up a Delta Loop antenna. It was then I met
Stan N8BHL and Joe K8MP and the three of us managed to raise 268' of
wire in my backyard. And it was then I knew I had to be part of this
group, two guys helping a stranger get on the air. Things ramped up
from that day and I've never looked back wishing but looked forward to
the next meeting, event, ARES, Field Day and countless other activities.
But now it is time to move on to other places and times where we can
spend a lot more time with our son, his wonderful wife and three
awesome granddaughters. And find a new ham club and some guys to
help raise 268' of Delta Loop wire in our new backyard. One with lots of
natural towers (trees) to suspend the wire from and raise my 2 meter
vertical above the house. Before the sun shuts down 80 meters in the
morning I'll try to listen in on 3.815 to some very familiar voices and add
my two cents worth when I can. Maybe we can stay in touch on DMR if I
can reset my HT to the new groups and their repeaters.
To each of you I say "thank you" for letting me join in and be a part of
DELARA. We've had some great times, done a lot of great things and tried
lots of antennas, station configurations and made a very functional
station at the Red Cross building. And lots more for each other and the
club. I will miss all of you but am taking with me a lot of great memories.
Thank you DELARA, keep on doing what you're doing.
Donn K8AOK