[WVDXA] Top Of The Honor Roll

[Dave Heil]

w8hc at aol.com wrote:
> Having a teacher that instills that kind of attitude and who obviously 
> was as devoted as Mr. Hedrick is certainly a rarity this day and age.  

I can number the teachers with similar motivation on the fingers of my 
hands and that number includes teachers in Glen Dale; Lake Worth, FL;
Lexington, KY; Hinton; Oak Hill and Miami, FL.  Hedrick was excited 
about West Virginia history and wanted to share his excitement with his 
students.


> To have 3 Golden Horseshoe winners from one teacher is probably a 
> record.  

I've wondered a time or two if it was.  Nancy Cusick and Tom Whitlock 
were the other winners from Hedricks' class.  Sandra-something from 
Talcott was the fourth winner from Summers County.

> I had a biology teacher like him. She made learning fun and 
> challenged me to do my best.  It's because of her that I went to 
> Fairmont State my freshman year to major in biology.

I dated a nurse in Miami.  She sparked my interest in anatomy. :-)

> I remember you talking before about Andy W8MN as your Elmer.  

Andy was first licensed in the mid-1920's.  He was one of the last 
Advanced Class holders of an original 1x2 call.

> Sorry I 
> didn't know him or Buzz Collins, although I would see Buzz at various 
> hamfests and such.  

At the time I got my Novice ticket there were a number of licensees who 
were tutored by Buzz.  John ? WA8H?? (now a 2x1 holder in Louisville, 
KY), Ed Matheny WN8KGU (a recent silent key in Florida),  Bill Martin 
WN8NHS (now AB4JC in Florida), Greg Richardson WN8JPC (WA8JPC now living 
in Gallipolis Ferry, WV), Gary Richardson (Greg's twin brother) and me 
as WN8LET.  That was quite a crop in the '63-'64 time frame.

> I know Buzz's name was mentioned by Doug Sweeny 
> N8AJC (SK) as his Elmer when Doug first got interested in ham radio in 
> the Oak Hill area.  Maybe I have asked you if you knew Doug.

I may have, but not through amateur radio.  His interest must have 
sparked after I left Oak Hill in '66.  Bill Wilson WA8YTM still lives in 
the Oak Hill area.  He was mentored by Buzz too.


73,

Dave K8MN
> 73,
> Hal W8HC