[TWIAR] ARRL Staff Member John C. Hennessee, N1KB, SK

[Greg Williams]

ARRL Staff Member John C. Hennessee, N1KB, SK

NEWINGTON, CT, Mar 7, 2006--Long-time ARRL Headquarters staff member 
John Hennessee, N1KB (ex-KJ4KB), of Newington died March 2. He was 42. A 
Headquarters employee since 1986, Hennessee was a regulatory information 
specialist in ARRL Field and Educational Services. In that role, he 
answered a seemingly never-ending stream of members' questions about FCC 
rules and regulations and other legal issues pertaining to ham radio. He 
also was the primary editor for The ARRL FCC Rule Book. ARRL CEO David 
Sumner, K1ZZ, described Hennessee as "a valued member of the Amateur 
Radio community far outside the walls of Headquarters" who achieved a 
lot in his short lifetime.

John Hennessee, N1KB, spent a lot of his working hours on the telephone 
or on e-mail answering members' questions about FCC rules and other 
Amateur Radio regulatory issues.
 
"John came to Newington 20 years ago, fresh out of college, and quickly 
became an expert in FCC rules and local land-use regulations affecting 
radio amateurs," Sumner commented. "His death leaves a hole in the 
fabric of the ARRL family."

ARRL General Counsel Chris Imlay, W3KD, expressed his own shock at 
Hennessee's death and spoke highly of his dedication. "I don't think 
many people at Headquarters worked harder or more diligently than John," 
Imlay said. "He helped me so many times, and he never failed at anything 
I asked of him. It is a very sad day indeed."

Long-Time Radio Amateur

First licensed at age 14 as KA4AUR in his hometown of Cheraw, South 
Carolina, Hennessee joined the ARRL Headquarters staff as in 1986 
following graduation from Wingate College in North Carolina. ARRL 
Contest Branch Manager Dan Henderson, N1ND, has known Hennessee since 
their Novice days.

"When John first got on the air, he spent a lot of time on many of the 
various Novice nets in the South," said Henderson, who notes that he and 
Hennessee shared an Elmer. "I fondly recall the times we would chat 
before the Carolina Novice Net, then one of us would be NCS. Our hobby 
was better because of John." A North Carolina native, Henderson said he 
would miss chatting with Hennessee about mutual friends "back home."

The FCC Rules "Go-To Guy"

To handle hundreds of questions each year regarding how to interpret the 
FCC rules required Hennessee to keep abreast of ongoing Amateur Radio 
legal and regulatory matters and proceedings. That task became 
increasingly difficult for him as his eyesight and general health 
continued to fail. Nonetheless, he persevered in keeping on top of what 
was happening in areas ranging from the PRB-1 limited federal 
pre-emption and covenants, conditions and restrictions (CC&Rs) affecting 
ham radio antennas to new Amateur Radio rules and privileges, license 
restructuring, reciprocal licensing and licensing rules and procedures 
in other countries. He also maintained the regulatory pages on the ARRL 
Web site.

Hennessee discussed his work as regulatory information specialist during 
last fall's ARRL New Section Managers' Workshop at Headquarters. [Tom 
Blackwell, N5GAR, Photo]
 
Earlier in his Headquarters tenure, Hennessee for several years edited 
the "Washington Mailbox" and "Happenings" columns in QST. Over the 
years, he also contributed to The ARRL Handbook, the ARRL Operating 
Manual and Now You're Talking!

ARRL Hudson Division Vice Director Joyce Birmingham KA2ANF, said 
Hennessee's passion for and knowledge of Amateur Radio and his love for 
people would be missed. "His faith inspired, lifted him up and carried 
him throughout his years as he battled health problems and failing 
eyesight," she said.

Active In and Within Amateur Radio, Community

In the past, Hennessee attended the weeklong winter session Handi-Ham 
workshop in Malibu, California. From 1986 to 1994, he was the 
coordinator of the ARRL Plan for the Disabled and taught courses 
annually at the Handi-Ham camp in Minnesota.

"Campers loved his gentle Southern manner--unfailingly polite and ever 
so patient, John made each Handi-Ham member feel like a long-lost 
friend!" said Handi-Ham Manager Patrick Tice, WA0TDA. "No question was 
ever too difficult."

Hennessee "absolutely loved his work at ARRL, and it really showed," 
Tice observed. "He was one of the best ambassadors one could imagine for 
Amateur Radio and ARRL." Tice also expressed his respect for the 
League's working with John's disability.

In addition to ARRL, Hennessee also belonged to the Quarter Century 
Wireless Association and was an active member of the Newington Amateur 
Radio League, where he was a Field Day regular. Over the years, he 
enjoyed operating various bands and modes--often as a guest operator at 
W1AW or at the Headquarters club station W1HQ; a bit ironically, 
Hennessee couldn't have antennas at his condominium. Hennessee enjoyed 
CW and low-power operating (QRP).

In addition, he was an active member of the Newington United Methodist 
Church and was on the Board of Directors of the Newington Kiwanis Club, 
where he was a member for more than 18 years. Hennessee also was 
involved in the American Cancer Society's "Relay For Life" and was 
assisting with the recruitment committee at the time of his death.

"Gave His All" to Amateur Radio

Hennessee with some of the first copies of the then-latest edition of 
The ARRL FCC Rule Book, which he edited.
 
Those who knew or worked with Hennessee remember him as consistently 
friendly, selfless, loyal, gracious, upbeat, willing and eager to help 
whenever and wherever needed and, above all, as an asset to Amateur 
Radio in general and to the ARRL in particular.

"The world is a better place because of John, and a sadder place without 
him," said Senior Assistant Technical Editor Larry Wolfgang, WR1B, who 
worked with Hennessee on numerous publications. Former ARRL staffer 
Brennan Price, N4QX--now an attorney and an ARRL Volunteer 
Counsel--credited Hennessee with teaching him "everything I know about 
Amateur Radio regulation."

Former ARRL Field and Educational Services Manager Rosalie White, K1STO, 
was Hennessee's supervisor during much of his HQ tenure. "John gave his 
all to ARRL Headquarters and to the League's members," she said. "I was 
proud to supervise him. He would focus on a problem and let nothing 
distract him until he found the answer."

ARRL staff members gathered this week at Headquarters to reminisce about 
Hennessee. "I like to think ARRL provided him with an outlet to share 
his gifts with the world," Sumner observed. "Let's celebrate that this 
South Carolina boy improbably found a home in Newington, Connecticut."

Survivors include his mother, Carole Hennessee, two sisters and his 
beloved cat, Darlene. A service will be held Thursday, March 9, 11 AM, 
at First Methodist Church, Cheraw, South Carolina. Visitation begins at 
10 AM.