ARLX003 Former ARRL Vice Director and Contest Advisory Committee Chairman Wayne Overbeck, N6NB (SK)

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QST de W1AW

Special Bulletin 3 ARLX003

From ARRL Headquarters

Newington CT April 18, 2025

To all radio amateurs

SB SPCL ARL ARLX003

ARLX003 Former ARRL Vice Director and Contest Advisory Committee Chairman Wayne Overbeck, N6NB (SK)

Former ARRL Vice Director and Contest Advisory Committee Chairman Wayne Overbeck, N6NB, passed away Saturday April 12, 2025. He was 82 years old. Overbeck held an Amateur Extra-class license and was active in amateur radio for over 68 years. He served four terms as an elected ARRL Vice Director, from 1984 to 1993, and was also chairman of the ARRL Contest Advisory Committee during the 1970s and an ARRL Life Member. Overbeck had many passions, and his longest-standing one was amateur radio. Wayne’s first station started in his childhood bedroom in Manhattan Beach, California, then into numerous vehicles, toolboxes, suitcases, etc. He invented the Quagi antenna and won many awards for his service and contributions to amateur radio, as well as his record-high scores in contesting. Overbeck was an accomplished journalist, communications law professor, lawyer, real estate broker, 20-year author of a widely-adopted textbook, pilot, sailor, cabin-builder, computer programmer, and amateur radio engineer. More details about his life and career can be found on his Facebook page.

Funeral details are pending.

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ARLX004 Paul “Tad” Cook, K7RA (SK)

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QST de W1AW

Special Bulletin 4 ARLX004

From ARRL Headquarters

Newington CT April 18, 2025

To all radio amateurs

SB SPCL ARL ARLX004

ARLX004 Paul “Tad” Cook, K7RA (SK)

Paul “Tad” Cook, K7RA, passed away on April 13, 2025.

For 36 years, Cook wrote the weekly W1AW Propagation Forecast Bulletin and the K7RA Solar Update for the ARRL Letter. He retired in January 2025, citing a recent ALS diagnosis and on March 8, Cook received the ARRL President’s Award presented to him by ARRL Northwestern Division Director Mark Tharp, KB7HDX.

Several weeks ago, Robin Amundson, WA7CPA, and Western Washington DX Club President Rob Fanfant, N7QT, sat down with Cook to talk about his life and amateur radio, and he shared several interesting stories. One of his fun ham experiences was road-tripping the western United States in a 5-speed stick-shift while making CW QSOs on his Drake TR-7 radio and logging on a legal pad, with Hamsticks for antennas on top of the car.

About 15 years ago, Tad discovered a dance subculture on Capitol Hill in Seattle, getting hooked on traditional blues dancing. He danced at the Capitol Hill Dance Underground and Waves, a Haitian restaurant. He danced with every woman featured on a Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) “All Things Considered” segment on blues dance, including the host. Tad also played guitar in Danny Eskanazi’s, K7SS, Lamar Harrington Band. Their 1975 single, Oom Cocka Mau Mau, is still available for sale. In addition, Tad worked as a roadie for one of the most iconic rock bands of that generation, Iron Butterfly.

Cook admitted he led a life of calculated risks fueled by a deep personal conviction and a desire to make the world a better place. Funeral arrangements are pending and will be announced at a later date.

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