[SFDXA] Jack Curtis - A name we should know

[Bill Marx]

From the Lonestar DX Club reflector:

1 Jack Curtis, K6KU 
Thu Dec 31, 2015 7:38 am (PST) . Posted by: w5dnt 
A name we should know. Please consider a congratulatory note of gratitude to Jack. 

From Donald, K6RV....

K6RV at earthlink.net

Subject: Curtis - a name everyone should know. 

If you have ever used CW, or read about it in the Manual of your Radio, or owned a keyer you have seen the name Curtis. My friend of 50+ years, Jack Curtis, K6KU, is the inventor of the Curtis "Keyer on a Chip". In 1973 he designed the first chip to be a CW keyer, and came out with a keyer he called "the little bugger".

In all the literature you see or read about CW, you will see things like: "Curtis A or B Mode", The Curtis "this" and the Curtis "that". Jack had a company called Curtis Electro Devices which made keyers. He was very innovative and way before his time. He made the Curtis Keyboard Keyer - in 1975 - NO ONE had ever used a keyboard to send CW before that. I had at the time, one of his first keyers, then had one of the first Keyboard Keyers. I still have it, works perfectly,and will show it off if you would like to see it.

Brings me to my reason for writing this email: Jack just celebrated his 85th Birthday, is still in relatively good health, although he has Parkinson's disease. 

I have a request: Would you send him an email and congratulate him on his 85th? If you like CW, or even if you don't, and have a keyer would you thank him for the convenience and ease of sending CW ?- all because of his pioneering design of a keyer chip with all its benefits.

Also, if you wouldn't mind, would you send me a bcc?

Jack is a modest guy, but I am sure he will appreciate your thinking of him.

Send your email to: jgcurtis at surewest.netmailto:jgcurtis at surewest.net

Thanks very much and 73, Donald K6RV

P.S. - Would you please pass this on to your Ham Radio Mailing list? Maybe to your Club Members or other Ham friends. I would love to know Jack got a stack of emails - he deserves it !

Thanks for your consideration - 73, Donald K6RV