[QCWA Hotlist] 2016-021 - Tod Olson, K0TO - Silent Key

[ve6afo at telus.net]

November 15, 2016

 From QCWA Headquarters

<http://www.qcwa.org/>http://www.qcwa.org

QCWA Bulletin 2016-021 - Tod Olson, K0TO - Silent Key

It is with sadness we report the passing of QCWA 
Life Member # 17260, Tod Olson, K0TO (ex-W0IYP) 
of Idaho Falls, ID on November 12, 2016, at the 
age of 83. Olson also had a residence in Long Lake, MN.

An ARRL Life Member, Olson began his volunteer 
service to ARRL in 1974 as the Minnesota Section 
Communications Manager. He became Dakota Division 
Vice Director in 1976, and then Director in 1982. 
In 1986, the ARRL Board of Directors elected him 
as ARRL Vice President of International Affairs, 
a post he held until 1990. He again served as 
Dakota Division Director from 1994 until 1999. 
The ARRL Board of Directors named him an ARRL 
Director Emeritus in 2000 and an ARRL Honorary Vice President in 2003.

Olson held a BS from the University of Minnesota, 
and an MPH from the University of Michigan. He 
belonged to the Minnesota Wireless Association 
and the Eagle Rock Amateur Radio Club. An active 
contester, he was inducted last May into the CQ Contest Hall of Fame.

For young Tod Olson, 1952 was a life-altering 
year. He married the love of his life ­ and he 
became a radio amateur. For the next 64 years 
these two events set the course of Tod’s life. It 
is easy to imagine Tod’s hopes and dreams as he 
and Jackie began their life together, and to 
rejoice at how fully they were met: Five 
children, a successful and fulfilling career, and 
community service as the mayor of Long Lake, 
Minnesota. A lifelong interest in technology 
influenced Tod’s career as well as his choice of 
avocation; he retired in 1991 as Director of the 
Information Technology Department at General Mills.

As W0IYP, Tod soon began making his mark through 
local radio clubs and on-the-air activity. His 
passion for competitive operating, particularly 
in the ARRL November Sweepstakes, led him in 1973 
to be the founding editor of National Contest 
Journal (NCJ). In 1976 he became K0TO. He was 
inducted into the CQ Contest Hall of Fame largely 
on the strength of his vision for NCJ and his 
willingness to do the enormous work that it took 
to launch, edit, and distribute a print 
publication in the days before personal computers.

Tod served on every standing committee of the 
ARRL Board, and twice was chairman of the 
Administration & Finance Committee. In 
recognition of his extraordinary contributions 
the ARRL Board elected him as Honorary Vice President in 2003.

In retirement, Tod and Jackie divided their time 
between Minnesota and Idaho, and it was in Idaho 
Falls that Tod chose to enter hospice to spend 
his final weeks with Jackie and other family 
members. His countless friends in Amateur Radio 
send their condolences to the family and our 
thanks for having shared him with us for so many years.”

A memorial service will held later in Minnesota.

Thanks in part to ARRL

73,

Ken Oelke, VE6AFO
President, Quarter Century Wireless Association, Inc.