Subject: Re: Valpo Tech - Bill Harris
From: Steve Schrock, W4PLV
Date: Sat, 11 Apr 2009 15:41:22 EDT
To: Stan Vandiver, W4SV

Hi Stan-
 
Thank you for the opportunity to pay a final tribute to a dear old friend.
 
William C. "Bill" Harris was born in Ashtabula, Ohio, in 1924, the youngest of three sons of
Sam and Margaret Harris. Sam Harris was the co-founder of the Ashtabula Fork and Hoe, which
later became the True-Temper Corp.
 
Bill was born with several health problems, primarily a cleft pallet, which left him with a
speech impediment that he was able to minimize over time.
 
Bill was licensed before WW II, (don't know the date) and operated as W8WWK.  Since his family
wintered in Miami, Fl, he was also issued W4HQS.
 
He graduated from Ashtabula High School in 1942, and attended Muskingum College in Ohio, but
I don't think he graduated.
 
Bill became mentor (I guess the modern word is "Elmer") to me and my best friend, Doug Richards,
during WW II.  Since no ham radio was allowed during the war, we played around with Carrier Current
communications, with the tramsmitter and receiver being coupled into the AC power lines, operating
around 175 KC.
 
After the war, Bill operated on 10 Meters with a Hammarlund HQ-129X Rcvr, a pair of 813's xmtr
into a 8JK antenna.
 
Doug was issued W8BFM in 1947, and I got W8DQH in 1948.
 
I don't recall the exact date Bill entered Valpo Tech, Doug and I were in the Army and college at
that time. I think it was Bill's intention to remain at Valpo after graduation as an instructor. 
 
However, major health problems forced Bill to return to Ashtabula.  He bought new Collins Gear,
75A1 and 32V1 rcvr and xmtr.  His health continued to decline, and after a series of strokes,
he passed away in 1954.  Doug and I were pallbearers.
 
It was his wish that his Collins Equipment be donated to the Ham Club at Valpo Tech.
 
It would have been enlightening to have additional inputs from Doug Richards, but he is in a
nursing home suffering from severe dementia.
 
I hope this brief memo will be of some help to you.  I you have any questions, please don't hesitate
to contact me.

 
Best 73's-  Steve Schrock, W4PLV