[Hallicrafters] Off topic - Matt Lane N7XAY, SK

[Radio Randy]

Hi gang,

I know you don't hear much from me but, I couldn't keep quiet over this.

After losing my mother to cancer, four days following last Mother's day, I
didn't think things could get much worse... I was wrong... Last Friday, a
plane involved in a Search and Rescue mission went down, killing the two
occupants. One of them was my friend, Matt Lane, N7XAY. Matt was the
Undersheriff of Ferry County, WA. and he leaves a wife and two young
children.

Matt and I became acquainted, shortly after he received his new Ham ticket,
since I was a radio technician and he was trying to put up a new repeater.
He developed an avid interest in radio and became the County's
communications "expert" while still a Deputy Sheriff. During his tenure with
the Sheriff's Department, he was instrumental in many of the major
improvements in the County's aging and inadequate radio network.

Matt and his wife were no strangers to his brushes with death. Just a few
years ago, while responding to a domestic dispute, he was shot in the face
with a high powered rifle. The bullet, miraculously, deflected along the
outside of the jaw, exited his neck, below the jaw and reentered near the
shoulder. I tell you, it doesn't get much closer than that...

Anyway, I had to let this out. I hope you all understand and can forgive my
"abuse" of the reflector, just this once.

P.S. The subject of the Search and Rescue returned on her own, safe and
sound.

73, Radio Randy N7CKJ