[QCWA Hotlist] Jim Wise, W4PRO SK

[Vic Culver]

Dear Fellow QCWA Members,

It is my sad duty to report to you that our long-time Chapter 119 
member, Jim Wise, W4PRO, QCWA Life Member #13146, has become a Silent 
Key.Jim passed away Wednesday afternoon, New Year’s Eve.

As many of you may know, Jim has been a cornerstone of the ham radio 
community in Tidewater, Virginia. He was one of two remaining Charter 
members of Chapter 119, and was instrumental in holding the Chapter 
together during lean times. He was awarded the QCWA 50 Year Anniversary 
Award, QCWA 50 Year Continuously Licensed Award, and the following 
Anniversary Awards:55 Year, 60 Year and the 65 Year awards.In 2008 he 
was awarded the QCWA Century Club Award.There were several Chapter 119 
Merit Awards presented to Jim over the years.He contributed articles to 
the QCWA Chapter 119 Event Horizon publication (now dark) reviewing the 
(then) new K3 Transceiver operation during contests on 160M and 80M in a 
Multi-Multi Contest operation at NR4M.He wrote a more comprehensive 
article on the development of Amateur Radio receivers, and a short 
nostalgic piece on Field Days Past.

Jim was a long time contest operator, and from perhaps the third running 
of the ARRL 160M Contest event, he and our own Don Johnson, W4DJ; Terry 
Appleton, W4GSM, now a SK; and Bill Houghton, W4HBK, were high scoring 
entries in each of those events between the years 1973 through 
1982,.Subsequent to that time Jim constructed a well-appointed 
multi-operator station, with multiple towers, in Hampton, Virginia.Jim 
actively pursued his contesting and DXing activities until health issues 
arose in recent months.

A veteran of the United States Air Force, serving from 1946 to 1952, Jim 
entered civilian life with the National Aeronautical and Space 
Administration (NASA) where he worked until retiring in 1988.

Jim was licensed as an amateur radio operator in 1946, the same year he 
joined the Air Force.Originally W8YHV, Jim held the 
instantly-recognizable call sign W4PRO since 1949.

In addition to being a stalwart supporter of the USS Wisconsin Radio 
Club, Jim was also a member of the Virginia DX Century Club, the A1 
Operator Club, the Virginia Beach Amateur Radio Club, the Quarter 
Century Wireless Association (QCWA), QCWA Chapter 119 Inc., and the 
First-Class Operators Club (FOC).

Jim is perhaps best known for his participation in many DXpeditions 
including Easter Island as CE0/W4PRO (1981), from the Dodecanese Islands 
(Rhodes) as SV5/W4PRO (1992), and from Syria as YK9A (2001).He also 
operated as VP2MDX (1973), FG0CXV/FS (1976), VP5VEC (1991), 9N7PR and 
A52PRO (2004).

A Life Member of ARRL, Jim was Assistant Director of the Roanoke 
Division.His amateur radio interests included antennas, station design, 
DX (mostly CW), and, of course, contesting as a formidable competitor.He 
was on the DXCC Honor Roll, had 5BDXCC, and had WAS and DXCC on 160 meters.

Plans have not yet been finalized, but eventually there will be a burial 
at Arlington National Cemetery.Tentative plans have been made for a 
Celebration of Life Ceremony to honor Jim on Saturday, January 10, 2015 
at 11:00 a.m. at the Village Hall at West Neck in Virginia Beach.There 
will be confirmation of these details within the next few days.

For those who fondly remember Jim, W4PRO, please keep his family, and 
especially his wife Linda, W7PRO, in your prayers.

73, Jim.Rest in Peace.

Vic Culver, W4VIC

Secretary, QCWA Chapter 119, Inc.

Ron Young, W8RJL

President, USS Wisconsin Radio Club