February 25, 2025
Willard Hugh Sitton passed away on Tuesday. He was a lifelong member of Church Street United Methodist Church. He was a sixty year plus member of Masters Lodge No. 244 F. & A.M. A member of Knoxville Volunteer Rotary Club for 36 Years, he served as Secretary Treasurer for 30 years and maintained perfect attendance. Past President of The Technical Society of Knoxville. Past President of Administrative Management Society.
He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy and proud of his work in Crypto analysis while in the Navy. He was very active in Boy Scouting and served as Merit Badge counselor at Camp Buck Toms teaching Radio Merit Badge and Electronics Merit Badge for 10 years. He was an active Amateur Radio Operator with call sign W4HZD who enjoyed the radio sport of contesting. He was Vice-President of Western Carolina Amateur Radio Society/Volunteer Examiners, Inc. He administered the Amateur Radio exams on behalf of the Federal Communications Commission, and served on the Board of the Nation Conference of Volunteer Examiners Coordinators.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Hugh B Sitton and Jeannette (Dye) Sitton. He is survived by his wife of 63 years (married in 1962) Joan Mae (Hjellum) Sitton; daughter Molly Ann Carrico (James); and son John H Sitton (Jehanne); six grandchildren: Caleb Carrico (Alexis), Anna Gillette (Cameron), Sarah Carrico, Elijah Carrico, Jack Sitton, and Samantha Sitton. Memorial Gifts may be made to Church Street United Methodist Church designated for the Capstone Endowment. Online condolences may be left at www.berryfuneralhome.com for the Sitton family.
April 25, 2024
From K4VIG "It is with deep sadness that I share that Ken George, K3JWI died this past Thursday. His widow, Lee, wanted me (K4VIG) to share with the TVDXA club this news. Obviously their plans are not made yet, but possibly a memorial service will be held at a later date. Please keep Lee and their family is your thoughts and prayers. Ken was an integral part of the Tennessee Valley DX Association and will be dearly missed." Ted W4NZ writes "Ken K3JWI was one of five TCG members in our local TVDXA club. It was his family cabin in Pennsylvania where we went to operate the PAQP. Professionally, Ken was a sound systems engineer providing systems for concerts and other large venue events like the Riverbend Festival in Chattanooga. Some of his clients included several country music stars like Jason Aldean. His son, Bobby, who lives near Nashville continues in that industry today. Most recently, Ken was the chief engineer for a local radio station, US101. He will be missed indeed."
August 2, 2023
First licensed in St. Charles, MO in 1976 with the call sign N0AUI, Bill relocated to Murray, KY in 1991, and finally to Franklin, TN in 1997. Bill changed his call to W4BCG after settling in Tennessee. An avid participant in RTTY and other digital mode contests, Bill was a regular contributor to TCG scores right up until his passing. He operated both from home and from a station that he set up in a retirement community. Billy’s full obituary may be found at the following link: OBITUARY: Billy Charles Gage
May 10, 2021
W4NL (ex WN4HZI, W4HZI, K6AAX, K7UMZ, W3BWZ, DL5FP, 8P9GN - center in photo above) Layfield Lynn Lamb, became a Silent Key passing away comfortably in his home in Maryville, TN. Lynn, who was first licensed at the age of 16 (in 1954) was mentored not only in Amateur Radio but also in life by his Elmers Carl W4RHS and Lenny W3GRF. After retiring from the Department of Defense in Washington, DC, Lynn and his bride Rosie KA4S moved to Tennessee. Lynn was a co-founder of SEDCO W4DXCC. He was also a founding member of the North Carolina DX Association. He was also a life member of ARRL and INDEXA, as well a member of PVRC, ETDXA and of course, the Tennessee Contest Group.
Lynn was a major supporter of TCG and the ham radio DX and contesting community. He made sure that contesting topics were always part of the program at SEDCO/W4DXCC. Lynn understood the important role that contesting serves in the amateur radio hobby. A true friend to DXers and contest operators world-wide, Lynn was inducted into the CQ DX Hall of Fame in May 2010.
July 26, 2020
Bill (center in photo above) was an avid HF/VHF/UHF contest operator and served as a TCG officer not long before his passing. He worked hard to focus TCG’s efforts in promoting contesting. Within TCG, Bill did significant work to get our roster organized and established an automatic dues payment procedure. Bill worked in the professional recording studio world during the heyday of rock and roll. He worked with some of the most iconic artists, including the likes of Jimi Hendrix and other legends. AC6ZM writes "It is with great sadness to report that a dear friend is now a silent key. He fought till the end. He wanted me to pass on that he was very happy that we came together as a club in his honor for the HF IARU Championship. I will keep you updated with information for his service if one is provided."
May 19, 2020
Rev. William Pollard Hall was born on February 13, 1932 and passed away on May 19, 2020. K4RO writes "I had the pleasure of hosting Bill here for the 2000 CW Sweepstakes contest. He was a very good operator and really enjoyed ham radio. Bill helped establish a station at his retirement community and was heard in numerous contests until his passing — more evidence of his deep love for our beloved hobby."
April 28, 2020
Bill O'Kain, K4LTA, first licensed as KN4LTA in November 1956. Member, FOC #1548. Very active in many contests, mostly on CW. Top of the Honor Roll DX-er. 20 trips to the Caribbean from 1980 to 2011. Married to Ruby, K4UPS, since 1952. Ruby was first licensed as KN4UPS in 1960. He was an avid Amateur Radio Operator since he was first licensed as K4LTA in 1956, and a member of the world-wide First Class CW Operators Club, Oak Ridge Amateur Radio Club, East Tennessee DX Association and American Radio Relay League. He and Ruby enjoyed 23 trips to the Caribbean to operate in many DX contests with ham radio friends. He also loved to travel and enjoyed planning trips stateside and abroad with his family, visiting ham radio friends around the world.
Billy Joe O'Kain (Bill), 89, of Oak Ridge, died Tuesday, April 28, 2020. He was born February 20, 1931, at Jackson's Chapel, TN, in Dickson County, and moved with his family to Concord, TN, in Knox County in September 1943. He attended Farragut High School in his 8th, 9th, and 10th grades before he and his family moved to Oak Ridge, TN, in May 1945. He attended Oak Ridge High School and played varsity baseball and basketball, graduating in 1948.
Bill is preceded in death by his parents, Grady O'Kain, Sr. and Katherine Miller O'Kain, sister Mae O'Kain Gill, brother Grady O'Kain, Jr. and survived by his wife of 68 years, Ruby McGinnis O'Kain, and daughters Ginger O'Kain, and Linda O'Kain Clark (Mike), both of Oak Ridge; grandchildren Landon Clark (Kayla) and Kelsie Clark Suggs (Clint), and great-grandchildren, Jace, Lila, and Lainey Clark, and Logan Suggs, all of Knoxville; brothers, Jim O'Kain of Oak Ridge, Doyle O'Kain (Linda) of Huntsville, AL, and David O'Kain (Katy) of Oak Ridge, and several nieces and nephews.
Bill attended UT Knoxville from 1949 to 1953, awarded an Athletic Scholarship, and was a right-handed pitcher on the Vols Baseball team in 1950, 1951, and 1952, including the 1951 College World Series team that were national runner-up champions to Oklahoma. He began Bill O'Kain Insurance Agency in 1956 and continued until 1989 when it became O'Kain and Clark Insurance Agency, and retired in 1996. Bill was a faithful member of Robertsville Baptist Church since 1948, serving several years as a SS teacher, several terms as an ordained deacon, Evangelism Explosion ministry team leader, and on other committees.
March 26, 2018
Steve Woods JOEL STEPHEN WOODS, age 66 of Athens, Tenn. passed away Monday, March 26, 2018, in Starr Regional Medical Center of Athens, Tenn. He was a native of Bristol, Va., resident of McMinn County since 1977, a son of the late O. H. and Vernice Geneva Wyatt Woods, and was preceded in death by his Son, Adam Keith Woods. He retired from TVA as an electrical engineer. He was an amateur radio operator with a call sign NA4K. Survivors include his Wife of 46 years, Donna K. Parham Woods of Athens, Tenn.; Two daughters and Son-in-law; Lisa and Guy Neisler III of Athens, Tenn. and Sara Woods of Madison, Ala.; Brother, Mark Woods of Cookeville, Tenn.; Daughter-in-law, Angie Woods of Jackson, Tenn., Two Grandchildren, Geneva Neisler and Guy Neisler IV; Step-Granddaughter, Jasmin Holt; several nieces and one nephew.
September 18, 2017
Patrick J. Richmond, age 68, passed away September 18, 2017. He was a member of Saint Albert the Great Catholic Church. He was a HAM radio operator for over 50 years (W4PV). He retired from Northwest Middle School after 35 years of teaching. He was a loving husband and friend. Preceded in death by parents Frank C. and Genevieve C. Richmond and brother John Michael Richmond. Survived by wife of 29 years Diane Hankins Richmond; 5 nieces and nephews; special friends Bill and Sarah Greene and Wayne Wolfenbarger, as well as, friends whom he met through HAM radio. Funeral Mass will be held Saturday September 23, 2017 at 10:00a.m. at Saint Albert the Great Catholic Church, Father Chris Michaelson officiating. Family will receive friends after the service. A private burial service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers family requests donations be made to the Saint Albert the Great Catholic Church Building Fund in Patrick’s memory.
April 26, 2012
Mr. Thomas M. Mayse, 57, of Elizabethton, passed away suddenly on Thursday, April 26, 2012 in the Johnston Memorial Hospital in Abingdon, VA. He was the son of the late Edward C. and Delphine G. Brock Mayse and was born in South Bend, IN. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, James Edward Mayse. Mr. Mayse was a veteran of the United States Army having served in Vietnam. His hobby was amateur radio electronics. He was the Senior Field Service Engineer for Engineered Telecom Solutions, Inc. and was of the Protestant faith. He is survived by his sister, Sherry Merkousko of Piney Flats. The funeral service for Mr. Mayse will be conducted on Friday, May 4, 2012 at 11:30 a.m in the Chapel of Peace, Tetrick Funeral Home, Elizabethton. The family will receive friends in the funeral home chapel from 10:00- 11:30 AM Friday prior to the service. Interment will follow the funeral service at 1:00 PM at Mountain Home National Cemetery, Mountain Home, Tennessee. Military honors will be accorded by the Carter County Honor Guard.
April 3, 2009
Donald Wayne Jones (Ham radio call sign “N4TN”) died Friday afternoon, April 3, 2009 at Hospice House in Bristol at the age of 71. A native of Kingsport, he was a graduate of Dobyns-Bennett High School and served with the U.S. Army in Ethiopia for three years. Don lived in Raleigh, NC, from 1980-1991 where he was employed with IBM as a computer programmer. He worked with IBM for 30 years, retiring in 1991. Surviving are his wife, Glenda Joan Daugherty Jones of Kingsport; one son, Dr. Andy Jones, Cleveland, OH; two brothers, Olan O. Jones, Jr. and wife Sylvia of Kingsport, Paul Richard Jones, Sr. and wife Penny also of Kingsport; niece Sarah Jones Kitzmiller, Kingsport; nephews Kevin Jones, Little Rock, AR, Paul Jones, Jr., Knoxville, and William P. Jones, Cumming, GA
October 25, 2005
From K4RO: It is with great sadness that I must report the passing of Larry Lindblom W0ETC. Larry was one of the TCG’s first out-of-state members, and he participated on TCG NAQP teams year after year. Larry was also a frequent operator at Iowa’s biggest superstation, N0NI, when not doing single op from his own station. W0ETC was a big fan of radio teletype, and he always made sure there were PLENTY of TCG teams on the air for the NAQP RTTY contests. In 2001 he took first place in the very first TCG RadioActive Report in the number of contests worked — this guy loved to operate. Larry W0ETC was a contest operator who played by the rules every time. His wisdom beyond contesting has left a lasting impact on me.
August 19, 2005
GIESLER, JEAN V., JR. age 81, of Knoxville, died Friday, August 19, 2005 at Brakebill Nursing Home. He was a member of St. John’s Episcopal Cathedral. Mr. Giesler attended the University of Tennessee where he was a member of Kappa Sigma Fraternity. He was a U.S. Army Corps veteran serving during World War II and had retired as a quality engineer after 50 years with Robert Shaw Co. A very active amateur radio operator, he was W4TYU. He was preceded in death by a son, J.V. Giesler, III. He is survived by his wife, Blanche M. Giesler; son, Charles Bryson Giesler of Houston, TX; daughter-in-law, Victoria Hawkins of Houston; daughters and sons-in-law, Lucy and Joe Fleming of Kingsport, TN, Mary and John Harvey of Houston, Anne and Greg Abel of Austin, TX; 7 grandchildren; and 1 great grandchild. Following a private interment, there will be a memorial service 5:30 P.M. Monday August 22 at St. John’s Cathedral with The Very Rev. John C. Ross officiating. The family will receive friends following the service in the Great Hall. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-1905 or Interfaith Health Clinic, 315 Gill Ave., Knoxville, TN 37917. Arrangements by Rose Mortuary Mann Heritage Chapel
September 9, 1998
Mike KH6ND (KH7X) wrote "Rod (N5HV) got me interested in Amateur Radio when he and his family moved in across the street from me in Arizona. He gave me my novice exam when I was 12 years old, and was one heckuva role model. Our respective families left several years later, mine to California, then Hawaii. Rod moved to Thailand, England, Florida, then Tennessee. We kept in touch only via ham radio throughout those 26 years. In 1993, I went to Tennessee and spent three weeks with him and his lovely wife Jerry (K5KRN) at their beautiful home in TN. We spent our time getting re-aquainted, and working on, and from, his marvelous station. A finer, more gracious gentleman I have never known. I hate to think what my life might have been like had I never met him. You will be sorely missed, old friend. Vaya con Dios."
The following text was sent from Rod to Tom K1KY, a week before Rod's death. "Please: no tears or sympathy. This cat has had a much better life than any white man has any reason to expect. It has been very rich and if I leave tonight, I will leave with only one regret: that of leaving my lovely wife to fend for herself. Other than that, I never in my wildest life expected to have such a good life and I honestly feel that I’m going to have to spend some time in Purgatory to make up for it! When you hear of my going to the Happy DX Hunting Ground, toast my life with some champagne! The DX up there is going to be fantastic!!"
73 from Rod, N5HV