Yesterday, April 18 at 5:12 PM, Larry Thomas, WAØGWA left our world. I learned this from his wife Sandi by phone a short time ago. Larry, age 60, was our W9BSP and W9UA Trustee and second club member and allowed me to have the #1 tag.

I knew Larry from years as a member of the Santa Fe Trails ARC where he was a regular at Saturday breakfasts and other radio events. The dawn of our friendship came on a Saturday morning club breakfast in 2002 where we mulled over the 2001 Field Day that took place at the Ensor Museum South of Olathe. We each marveled at how great it was to send radio waves from the life long home of Mr. Ensor.

Larry fessed up that he had been a student of the world class instructor back in 1963. He told some memorable episodes of what Ensor was like. He left Larry with a huge amount of respect and a desire to follow the electronic training gained at Olathe High.

We sort of each felt a respect that called to us. Over coffee that day, we vowed to create a radio club dedicated to the memory of Marshall H. Ensor. Larry had already created his Krell business as a result of the start given him by Mr. Ensor. Larry even schooled to become a teacher and succeeded at that work for a while before becoming a business owner.

On April 6 2002 we sat together again and signed the papers of our MEMO Club prior to attempting to regain the W9BSP call for the Museum. We were welcomed to use the museum radio room for our club operation. We got the W9BSP call thanks to the vanity call system and also put the call back on the air on December 6, 2003, making our first contact with W1AW. It was 62 years since the call was last used on the opening day of WWII. Larry was also instrumental in getting the W9UA call of Loretta Ensor last year.

Larry was as thrilled as can be with all this pay back stuff. He also helped by getting our web domain for the club web site. I have hopes that we can continue the site into the future.

WA0GWA (SK) April 2007

WA0GWA co-signs MEMO Charter April 2002

The Incredible Hulk!

Larry P. Thomas, Age 60, went home to be with the Lord, April 18, 2007. Visitation will be Monday, April 23 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Indian Creek Community Church, 12480 S. Blackbob Rd., Olathe, KS, followed by a Celebration of Life on Tuesday, April 24 at 1:00 p.m., also at the church. Interment, Oaklawn Memorial Gardens, Olathe. In lieu of flowers, contributions to the Thomas Memorial Fund, in care of Metcalf Bank, P.O. Box 4249, Overland Park, KS 66204. To leave a message for the family, please visit www.PenwellGabel.com.