[NLRS] W0AIH Silent Key

[Lloyd - N9LB]

Very sad news.

 

W0AIH, Reverend Paul E. Bittner, died yesterday after falling off a tower.
He was born in 1933. Paul was working on one of his many towers getting
ready for the ARRL Sweepstakes CW Contest when he fell from 60 feet. 

 

Many will recognize the W0AIH call as one of the big multi-multi contest
stations from the Upper Midwest. "The Farm" was located on 120 acres with
his nearest neighbor over a half a mile away. Reverend Paul was a retired
Lutheran Minister. He was a member of the CQ Contest Hall of Fame. He was
mostly known as a contester but he had deep roots in the DX world having
340/390 (current/total) confirmed on his ARRL DXCC Mixed award.

 

Over the years Paul officiated multiple ham marriages with either the OM or
the YL being an Amateur Radio operator. On June 2nd he did the honors
between WB9Z, Jerry, and NV9L, Val, the first couple to both be hams. Paul
"was a true gentleman, and an inspiration to all those who met him or had
the opportunity to operate from his World renowned Station", recalls Jerry.
Paul is survived by his wife WB0PXM, Mary, and son-in-law W0UC, Paul. Our
condolences to the entire Bittner family.