NET HISTORY
Meeting Number 1 on 24 November 1953
ORIGINAL MEMBERS
W1SS, W1OE, W2EBT, W2FSM, W2MCU, W3KYK, W3RES, W8EP
We believe all the original members are now silent keys
. Our current records show that Sam, W1MGP, received his certificate, Number 19, on 11/30/73, signed By Al Rich. WA1EPH.
Evidently, the numbering system now used was started by W1GJE, Oscar, sometime in 1972 after the former system was deemed lost and a new list was needed. We would appreciate any old (pre-1972) records that can be made available to honor all old-time members.
From the records kept by W1EUB No.8,and sent to W2JBI No. 54
1 ST president – W8DXW 1954
2 – W3LAS – 1955
3 – W3KYK – 1956
5 – W2MCU – 1957
6 – W2UWD – 1959
7a – W3IDD - ½ 1960
7b – W2MCU - ½ 1960
8 – K2QWB – 1961
9 – W2MVD – 1962
10 – WA2JWN - 1963
11 – W1DDW – 1964
12 – W2EBT – 1966
13 – W2EBT – 1966
14 – W1EUB – 1967
15 – W3HKL – 1968
16 – W1NCK – 1969
17a - ??? - 1970
17b – W2MCU - ½ 1970
18 – W2ZPL – 1971
19 – W2ZPL – 1972
20 – W2JBI – 1973 to 2001
21 – W1AJW – 2001 to 2013
22- K1BF - elected 2013
23 - WA1QIX 2022
A letter from W2EUB, 1/6/90
The other day I made a startling discovery, I had made a record of the history of the Gray Hair Net the Year I became president ,1967.
In the early years of the net, records were kept of each years presidential elections and each newly elected president received these records thru the mail from the previous president and this policy was passed on from year to year at that time . The current president kept these records until his year was up, Then he mailed them on to the next president, along with the then current roster.
Apparently I thought it a good idea to copy down a personal copy. Somehow, someone, who was elected later must have lost them and that was the end of it. In the copy of the 1967 roster I found some old timers who still call into the net. Ralph, W3KDN, Ed, W2BAY (W1XV, now a SK), :Al, WA1EPH, Lou,W3HKL, etc.
The symbols (markings) on the Log page (Gray Hair Net 1967, Mtg's 692 thru 704) , were the idea Of W2MCU who passed them on to me. They were used to mark those who checked in and those who remained for the rag chew session.
By the way, contrary to what some members think, we did not have numbers assigned to us then. It was years later, perhaps the early seventies. It was the idea of a newer member who was W2GNG in NJ (Little Silver!) who then moved to Ghosttown, NH , and became W1GJE . Oscar then became president while there and proposed the idea of assigning numbers. Last I heard he moved south and became W4NVN. I don't know if he's still alive. ( Nope, Oscar is an SK)
Bob wrote that there were two features that the early net had that no longer exist.
First: It was the policy of the net that whoever became the net secretary , his XYL did the announcements, such as birthdays and anniversaries. It might have stopped either the year I became secretary or my wife queered it, because a team of horses could never drag her near a microphone.
Secondly: We have had Gray Hair Net banquets, but no longer. It was different then. We had a policy that whoever was Secretary that year, it was his duty to make the arrangements at HIS QTH ! In other words, if the policy was still in effect, John, W2NXB would have to hold the banquet at his or a nearby QTH. If you were secretary, it would have to be in or near Little Silver. I believe the last banquet was in 1962.
In any case I (W1EUB), remember the ones I and my XYL attended were held in Binghamton, NY Syracuse, NY Crescent, NY, Linbrook, LI, NY Cheshire, Mass, Walton, and West Ghent, NY. (Kozel's). As for older members, "Milt" W2BFA, (Now an SK) joined later because he worked nights for RCA and joined after he retired or when he went on day shift. He was not on my roster and it was some time later when he joined. Some others who joined after I did were W1DOW, W3HKL,WA1EPH. As for Ralph, I am not sure whether he or I am the oldest member. That is easy to check up on.. (Bob is #8, Ralph is #11 ). My Certificate is signed by "Swannie", W2FSM, on 23 December 1958.