From Norm:
A tribute to Jeff Beals, WA4AW

Jeff Beals, WA4AW became a silent key on <TBA),2024. He lived a life dedicated to community service and Amateur radio.

Jeff was elected as Vice Director for the ARRL Southeastern Division in 2022, and was previously Vice Director in the SE Division from Aug 2009- Dec 2010.


Jeff has been an SFDXA Member, Speaker and Partner in Hamfests and ARRL Events to the SFDXA. And an old friend.
RIP Jeff - Bill W2CQ

From WA4AW QRZ page:

I was first licensed in the early 60s as WN2OUK at age 12 in Long Beach, LI, NY , where I was active with the local 5 Towns Radio Club and Nassau County AREC/RACES. I hold an Extra Class license and FCC First Class Radiotelephone license (now called a GROL).

 I have been active with the ARRL Field Organization since the late 70s. In the Southern Florida Section, I've served as the Section Manager, Assistant Section Manager, Affiliated Club Coordinator, Section Membership Coordinator, Technical Coordinator and Technical Specialist. I was elected as Vice Director for the ARRL Southeastern Division in 2022.

My service with emergency communications includes serving as Section Emergency Coordinator for the Southern Florida Section, Assistant SEC, District Emergency Coordinator for the Gold Coast District, Emergency Coordinator and County RACES Officer for Lee and Palm Beach Counties and member of the ARRL National Emergency Response Planning Committee. I'm certified at all 3 levels of ARRL ARECC , EC-015, EC-016 and advanced FEMA training. I'm proud to have received State of Florida commendations for service with Hurricanes Andrew and Katrina. I was also deployed to Hurricanes Frances, Jean, Wilma, Matthew & Irma..

Active with the Quarter Century Wireless Association ( QCWA )  I have been serving as Secretary/Treasurer of the Palm Beach Chapter 111 since 1999 and a member of the National Board of Directors and Historian. Member of the Highlands, Edison, Everglades & Citrus Chapters of QCWA. I was elected Vice President of QCWA in 2023.

I am a life member of the ARRL, QCWA , OOTC and AWA and a Fellow of the Radio Club of America. Past President of the Fort Myers and West Palm Beach ARCs and current member of the Wellington RC, Port St. Lucie ARA,  Florida Contest Group, FL East Coast DX Club and life member of the Fort Myers ARC, West Palm Beach ARC, Gold Coast ARA and Martin County ARA. I hold membership in the ARRL A-1 Operator Club, Old Timers Club & Royal Order of the Wouff Hong. I also was named " Ham of the Year " by the West Palm Beach ARC. I'm a CE and VE with the ARRL and W5YI VEC and VE with the Laurel VEC.

My personal tribute to the fathers of electronic communications are memorials to Major Edwin H. Armstrong and Philo T. Farnsworth and trustee of the callsigns for their pioneering FM and TV stations.

I curate the Yesteryear Village Old Radio & TV Museum at the South Florida Fairgrounds in West Palm Beach. Our club call is W4YYV. Visit our webpages at [email protected] and qrz.com/db/w4yyv.

Professionally, I was the communications supervisor in SE Florida for the State of Florida Forestry Service. I am also a licensed insurance adjuster in the State of Florida and previously, a licensed insurance broker in New York State.

My XYL, Myra, K3PGH and I are retired and split our time between residences in Lake Placid & Royal Palm Beach, FL  My other interests include collecting and restoring classic radios, traveling to hamfests, antique cars and radio-TV history. Myra & I also volunteer at many amateur radio events thruout the year.

Look for you on the air or at a hamfest or club meeting. Thanks for visiting !!
Very 73,
Jeff, WA4AW
https://www.qrz.com/db/WA4AW