[Boatanchors] Elmer - Newkirk

[bdm0221 at aol.com]

Regarding Rod's use of the term "Elmer."

It's pretty well known around the NW side of Chicago, where Rod Newkirk 
lived and worked most of his adult life, that he was quoted when asked at our 
local radio club, R.A.M.S., where he was a member, that the name Elmer came 
from his good friend and co-worker for decades in the Illinois State Police 
Communications Dept., Elmer (Bud) Frohardt - W9DY (ex-W9GFF).

Bud was a legend around Chicago for helping potential Hams obtain their 
licenses and bring them along in the hobby.

Both Rod and Bud were honored at the annual W9DXCC Convention (now in its 
61st year) many years ago for their efforts in bringing new Hams into the 
Hobby. Elmer - Bud is still around and was active until very recently having 
just moved into a Senior Facility west of Chicago.

Knowing W9DY for over 40 years, he is a true gentleman, a Ham's Ham, and 
has never thought of himself as the Saint he is.

==========================================

In a message dated 12/11/2012 7:31:27 PM Central Standard Time, 
1oldlens1 at ix.netcom.com writes:

>      Yes, as it happens I know what they are and how they
> came to be.  However, these are much better documented than
> the slang term "elmer".  What you give (with a sigh) is
> anecdotal and based on memory. The idea of research is to
> find a citeable reference to something.  The earliest
> reference for Elmer seems to be Rod Newkirk's article. It
> may well NOT be the origin but how are we to know.  If
> _enough_ people come forward and state they also
> remember the term being used previously to 1971 then we have
> something, otherwise not so.
>      It is always difficult to be precise about history;
> look at the number of controversies there are about WW-2,
> which is still within living memory, let alone trying to
> find the truth about Richard III or Cleopatra or Jesus or 
> who exactly fired the first shot of the American civil war.
> 
>      BTW, if you want to find lots of factual errors have a
> look at the "trivia"  questions on QRZ.
> 
> 
> --
> Richard Knoppow
> Los Angeles
> WB6KBL
> dickburk at ix.netcom.com
>