[ADXA] A Lady named Kay

[Jay Bromley]

Hi QJ,

I have met Kay and her husband Carter many times at various Hamfest.  Super nice couple!  Carter loves to build and operate little QRP rigs, but Kay is a DX Operator that I think also likes to contest.  I use to laugh at Carter he would be so excited over a piece of gear and he would share his excitement with Kay.  With his back turned Kay would roll her eyes and I got a big kick out of that.  When it came to ham radio he was like a kid in a candy store.  Loved seeing them both!  They seem to love traveling and meeting folks.  I use to see them every year, mainly at the Huntsville Hamfest.

 

Back to Kay.  If I remember right Kathy was president during the ARRL Centennial and I think that was back around 2014.  There was a Centennial Challenge that was very popular operating event for the ARRL.  The ARRL staff members were worth extra points, most around 30 points.  Lifers around 2 points, but the president was worth 300 extra points!  I am sure Dave Norris can comment more on this as he was worth extra points as well and I chased him to up my score as well.  

 

Anyway Kay has always had huge pileups, but during the Centennial Challenge they were super huge!  It was a year long contest and I started late in the month of June.  Still getting her and many other ARRL dignitaries I was able to catch up to the home town folks within a month.  It got real competitive and there was a web site complete with a leader board.  Guys would check it a lot during the week and compare.  

 

I think K5UR was on a few times and also had huge crowd as well.  Anyway it was fun event and got many folks on the air on all modes!  

 

I have Certificates signed by Joel, Kay, and Rick.  Very cool, my latest VUCC certificate has Rick’s signature and callsign on it.  Great memories when I see them displayed.  

 

Great fun!  73 de w5jay/jay..

 

From: adxa-bounces at mailman.qth.net <adxa-bounces at mailman.qth.net> On Behalf Of J. Setcer
Sent: Thursday, August 18, 2022 6:39 AM
To: ADXA <adxa at mailman.qth.net>
Subject: [ADXA] A Lady named Kay

 

Just an old story. Old men like to tell old stories. It's Not even DX.

Ok, here's my story

My first DXCC Cert. was signed by Kay Craigie, N3KN. She was ARRL President at that time. I didn't know her. Maybe she was right after Joel? -- Anyway, One evening I was spinning the dial & stumbled upon a HUGE PILEUP. I could not figure out what was special about some lady named Kay in Virginia. It wasn't even DX. I worked her anyway. It Had to be something special if hundreds of guys were in the pile up. Then I called my Elmer & asked " What the heck was that about?"

 RZ explained it to me.

https://www.qrz.com/db/N3KN

 

Just something that came to mind this morning.

- QJ



 

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