Silent Keys

Of the Healing Springs Mountain VHF Society
and other local Hams

Rev. Donald E. Rollins, AE4JB (former N4KVH, July 15, 1928 - February 18, 2006

Rev Rollins was a member of the Western NC Conference of the United Methodist Church. He served pastorates for 40 years, including Charlotte: Harrison, Marvin, St. John's, Monroe: Memorial, Benton Heights, Wadesboro: New Hope, Bethel, Long Pine, and Hanna's Chapel, Norwood: First, Concord: Kerr St, Salisbury: Gay's Chapel, Shelby: Sulfur Springs, Lincolnton: Pisgah.

Norman Kent Byrd, W4NKB, February 23, 1942 - September 16, 2014

Kent Byrd was born in Guilford County, NC in 1942. A member of the sharp shooter squad in his Army national Guard unit, Kent was a mechanic and supervisor for Ryder Trucks.

Ken Hedrick, AK4KH
November 2, 1952-April 25, 2015

Ken was born in Davison County, NC and was a long-time employee of Lucent Technologies. He held the Extra Class license AK4KH and was an active member of the Healing Springs Mountain VHF Society, serving on the Board of Directors. Ken was particularly active on VHF and 20 and 40 meter HF SSB.

George Lee Clifton, WD4DVS
1925-2016

George graduated in 1942 from Lexington High School and served in the U.S. Navy from 1942 – 1965, stationed all over the world. George was a Flight Engineer and Instructor and served during World War II, Korea and Vietnam. He flew with the Hurricane Hunters, charting at least 13 hurricanes. After retiring from the service, George returned to Lexington in 1966, and retired from Owens Illinois after 11 years in 1987. George then operated his own electrical business, Clifton Electric until 2015.

Among George’s amateur radio activities he was an operator for Army/MARS.

George held General Class license WD4DVS.

Billy "Bill" Reeves Bullard, KA4LHU
1936 - 2016

Licensed as KA4LHU and member of the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), Billy enjoyed using his radios to talk to people all over the world; to provide clear communication channels to help first responders during Governor-declared State of Emergencies as hurricanes battered North Carolina's southeastern shoreline; and, proudly served his country by connecting homesick service men and women at sea to their state side loved ones. Billy was a long-time member of the Healing Springs Mountain VHF Society and our resident expert on scanners and scanning.

Bill held Amateur Extra Class license KA4LHU.

Charles Edward Forshee, W4UWG, 1924 - 2017

A lifelong resident of Davidson County, Charlie Forshee served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and was a member of Amvets, VFW Post 3074 and Woodman of the World. He was a retired supervisor from Burlington Industries.

Licensed as W4UWG, he was among the most senior members of the Healing Springs Mountain VHF Society. As his health declined he was less able to join us at meetings and Field Day events, but his spirit was always present.

Charles held General Class License W4UWG.

Larry O'Neal Hanes, WB4EMG, December 28, 1940 - July 18, 2017

Larry Hanes was a lifelong resident of Davidson County. Retired after a career at Smurfit Stone Container, Larry wasn't one to take it easy. In addition to his interest in amateur radio, Larry doted on his grandchildren, gardened extensively, framed artwork, was a wine maker and coached youth sports. He was an accomplished fisherman, found anywhere from North Carolina's Outer Banks to the Southern Chesapeake Bay. He will be greatly missed by all those who knew and loved him.

Larry held Advanced Class license WB4EMG.

Robert Bailey "Bob" Farrington, NC4BB, June 4, 1936 - July 17, 2018

Bob Farrington was a 30 year TV reporter who worked in several large markets, a helicopter pilot, a charter aircraft pilot, a flight instructor and, as he put it in his self-written obituary, "And, later in life my hobby of the Ham radio."

Bob was an highly talented and accomplished individual, and will be missed by his family and all who knew him.

Bob held Amateur Extra license NC4BB.

Lawrence “Lou” Williams, WA4CXR, August 21, 1935 - January 24, 2019

Lou Williams was a local pharmacist until he and his wife purchased Centerclair Nursing Home in Davidson County, which they owned and operated for 27 years. He was a huge sports fan and a long-time member of the UNC-CH Rams Club.

Lou held General Class license WA4CXR.

Alan Taylor Bagby, KD4OGB, January 7, 1946 - December 30, 2019

Alan had a long career focused on mechanical and industrial work. He was retired mechanic, owner of Bagby Services and a high school industrial arts teacher for the Lexington City Schools. Alan served in the US Air Force during the Vietnam War.

Devoted to helping others, he never came across an item he couldn’t fix and enjoyed repairing things for people, often without accepting any money. His passion was collecting things “you never know when you might need” and he could often be found looking for “bargains.”

Along with his love of helping others, Alan had a special place in his heart for animals. In his later years cats were his main passion. He routinely had several, often naming them by numbers or acronyms.

Alan held the General Class license KD4OGB.

Ernest Eugene Hedrick, WA4NSD, October 5, 1933 - May 18, 2020

Ernest was born in Davidson County and a retired employee of Western Electric/AT&T. He was also a firefighter with the Tyro, NC Volunteer Fire Department.

As an amateur radio operator he helped his wife, son, grandson and granddaughter obtain their amateur licenses.

Charles Theodore Conrad, former K4HSH, August 5, 1939 - September 16, 2020

Ted’s interest in electronics lead him to own an electronic repair shop and a career as Chief Engineer in at a number of Virginia TV stations, including WBUY, WTAR, WTVZ and WJCB. Among his interests were antique farm equipment, amateur radio, Corvair and 69 Firebird restorations and model railroading.

Ruby Carolyn Byrd, KF4NI, December 12, 1944 - December 30, 2020

Ruby was born in Davidson County, NC and was first licensed in 1973. A ragchewer and DXer, Ruby split her time between her home in Thomasville, NC and another home in sun City, AZ. Ruby was married to Kent Byrd, W4NKB, who became a silent key before her.

George Fisher “Woody” Rowland, K4GEU, September 16, 1943 - June 20, 2021

A native of Philadelphia, PA; Woody was the son of George Fisher Rowland Sr., and Juanita Griffen Rowland.

As a teenager. Woody developed an interest in electronics and communications. At age 17 he became a licensed amateur radio operator. He was a graduate of Williamsport High School (PA) and attended Lycoming College majoring in mathematics. He was a veteran of the United States Army serving in the Signal Corps stationed in Dominican Republic from 1963-66.

Always Known as “Woody” (or by his call sign K4GEU) to friends, family, and colleagues, he married his high school sweetheart Susan Kay Williamson on March 5, 1964. After his honorably discharge from the Army he was employed as an electrical engineer and technical writer for Brown Engineering in Huntsville AL. In 1969 he moved his family to Winston-Salem, NC where he was employed with Western Electric in the engineering division. In 1975 he started his own firm; Woody’s Electronics in Advance, NC specializing in service and repair of electronic equipment. In 1981 he was employed with Carolinas Medical Supply as a technical writer. He returned to the electrical engineering field in 1988 being employed with AT& T (later Lucent Technologies) until his retirement in 1997.

Charles Robert “Bob” Wood, K4TEE, December 24, 1938 - January 23, 2022

Bob was born in Randolph County, West Virginia to James Morgan and Mary Stifler Wood. Retired from Lexington Furniture Industries, he served in the National Guard, worked with the Boy Scouts, was a woodworker and held amateur radio Advanced Class callsign K4TEE.

Raeford Douglas Everhart, K4SWN, February, 1941 - April 5, 2022

Raeford was a life-long resident of Davidson County, NC and was retired from the Lexington, NC Police Department, where he worked as a telecommunicator. A senior member of the Healing Springs Mountain VHF Society, he was also a life member of the Quarter Century Wireless Association and a past Regional Section Manager of the ARRL’s North Carolina Section. Raeford held the Amateur Extra Class license K4SWN.

Raeford was the “institutional memory” of our club, and he’s sorely missed.

Ray Stewart Wilson, KI4ESB, April 23, 1932 - January 10, 2023

Born in Rowan County, Ray was the founder of Wilson Welding in Linwood, Inc. and a charter member of the Davidson County Rescue Squad. He was also a veteran of the United States Naval Reserve.

William Bruce Trexler, KK4ZIV, May 15, 1962 - February 24, 2023

Bruce was born June 15, 1962 in Davidson County, NC to Percy Allen Trexler and Hollis Doris Briggs Trexler. In addition to ham radio, he enjoyed horses, blacksmithing, fishing and firearms.

Bruce was a frequent participant in the HSMVHFS “Not a Net” ragchew.