Our Club History
In early 1962, amateur radio operators in Bradley County decided to focus their
interest in communications by forming the Cleveland Amateur Radio Club. Their
desire was to work together to enhance interest in electronics and to provide for
common good of the community. Their efforts culminated about March 1962 when
the first meetings were held. No minutes can be found of those early meetings but
membership rosters were kept to show who was involved in the organization.
You can imagine the excitement which spread through the ranks of ham operators.
Other towns in Tennessee were forming clubs and now Cleveland is to have its own
group.
Records indicate members on record as of March 28, 1962 were David Carr, Robert L.
Carr, Rodney Carter, Glenn Clayton, Kenneth Cole, Raymond Coleman, Charles H.
Daugherty, Henry Gatlin, Stephen Gatlin, James B. Hay, James R. Hicks, Steve
Keasler, Larry G. Ledford, Mike Pierce, Warren Pirkle, W.L. Pittman, Don Rose, Jim
Ruble, David Smith, Fred Smith, T.G. Spruiell, Ben Stephens, Jack K. Stewart,
Jimmy V. Still, and Joe Wilson. While most were licensed hams or would later
receive their ticket from the FCC, licensing requirements would lead to some to
choose means of communication with a less stringent licensing process. As one of the
first moves to organize a club, committees were established. The membership
committee consisted of Henry Gatlin, Fred Smith, James Ruble, James R. Hicks and
T.G. Spruiell. An equipment committee was also named. ppointed to serve were
Mike Pierce, Robert L. Carr and Charles L. Daugherty. Each committee was assigned
specific responsibilities by the membership.
In the years that followed, many of those who accepted areas of responsibility would
later become leaders in the club serving in one of the elected positions.
The club evolved into an organization that was not only a place to exchange ideas
but some of the younger members were able to learn from older hams. Some had
been involved in studying electronics for several years, later focusing their interest
on amateur radio and the opportunities it offered.
As earlier stated no minutes have been found from the club's early beginnings, but
accurate records were kept the following year. Membership continued to grow as
newly licensed hams joined the ranks of the Cleveland Amateur Radio Club.
The first minutes we have available are from January 9, 1963. At that time,
meetings were being held at the Bradley County Courthouse. That year a club
member hosted a meeting in his "hamshack" to show off his amateur radio gear.
Meetings were held twice a month, a practice that time hasn't changed. Today
meetings are held the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month.
One of the early accomplishments was attaining affiliated club status from the
American Radio Relay League, an amateur organization headquartered in
Connecticut. A 1965 letter from F.E. Handy, W1BDI, confirmed the club's
acceptance into a select group of amateur radio groups around the country. It
meant members of the C.A.R.C. had met specific requirements laid down by the
league.
In that day, some communications were carried out on the six-meter amateur radio
band. At one meeting, club members were told they could purchase crystals for
their rigs that would allow them to communicate on the civil defense emergency
channel of 50.64 megahertz. Crystals were sold for fifty cents each. Women played
an important role in club activities through the sixties. At one time it was suggested
steps be taken to increase the club's female membership through special activities.
Wives were often pulled into club functions whether or not they maintained
membership in the club.
Membership saw some ups and downs through the remainder of the sixties into the
seventies.
Herbert Benton Jr., while not one of the original organizers of the club, served as
treasurer from 1965 through 1968. The longest tenure in office is held by Jessie
McCreary, WB4BKF, who served as secretary from 1968 through 1984. She took over
prior to the end of 1967 and was elected in each of the following 16 years. McCreary's
records were well organized, and included important supporting documents.
Steps began in 1971 to draw up a club constitution and by-laws. Those by-laws
remain in effect, having undergone several changes since being adopted in June
1972.
Meetings have moved from place to place, including the courthouse, the rescue
squad headquarters, Cleveland High School and Cleveland Middle School.
In October 1980, under president Jimmy Phillips, discussions started to find
property on which a clubhouse could be constructed. This would give the club a
permanent place at which meetings could be held. City officials, who had several
available parcels, were immediately contacted. Representatives of the club
inquired about property near the dog pound which was located just off east Inman
Street. Their offer was for the club to purchase one lot for $3,500 or two lots for
$7,000. During ongoing discussions, concerns were voiced by city officials over
potential interference the amateur radio repeaters might have on some existing
police radio transmitting equipment. Assurances were given that the proposed
amateur gear would not cause interference with a guarantee they would stop
transmitting if the city detected any problems.
After hearing the city's offer, discussions turned to leasing the property if an
acceptable arrangement could be attained. An offer of $20 a year for 10 years or $50
a year for 20 years was suggested. Talks continued until November 18th when club
members agreed to a 20-year lease for property facing Johnson Boulevard. The
parcel was part of what once was known as the Cleveland city dump. It offered
several benefits for radio coverage being one of the tallest ridges in the city. Over
coming months, several trips were taken to the site to clear it of debris and
overgrowth, making sure it would be ready when a building was undertaken. At
about the same time, efforts were underway to incorporate as a club, now that
insurance was required as a condition of their lease.
On December 2, 1980, a building committee was named by president Phillips. It
consisted of Larry Ledford, Bill Randolph and John Atchley. They were charged with
pulling resources together and planning where the clubhouse would be built and
who would do the work.
But several years would pass before work began on a building. Club members were
excited about having a place where the club could meet and house their radio
communications equipment. Enthusiasm and interest was sparked. In the
meantime, the club continued moving forward in 1981. The club acquired a
permanent mailing address through the post office and incorporation was
completed with the Secretary of State's office.
Four years would pass before another building committee is named. Russ Lawson,
who was now president, on January 8, 1985, asked former president Jimmy Phillips
to chair a building committee. Phillips was president when the first building
committee was named, and he helped negotiate a lease on their property. Serving
on the committee would be Larry Ledford, KA4J, a member of the first building
committee. He was joined by Danny Lowe KB4AQS, Hal Lindstrom WB4KFV, Herb
Hamby N4DAO, Gary Martin KB4JVG, Jack Stewart WA4JET, Don Dailey KB4AYH,
Wayne Reeves KB4KRQ, and John Atchley who would prepare plans for the new
building. At the next meeting the committee expanded with Fletus Longwith
KB4FPR, Bill Randolph KQ4N, Howard Lones KB4FJK, Ken Campbell, KB4JVN, Edwin
Woody KB4JVF, Sammy Hughes KA4RNC, Ray Hysell KA4CNC, Joe Johnson N4FPF, Joe
Beavers N4DMF and Bill Oliver KB4AQT being added.
The committee investigated what materials would be needed and club members
and their families planned to do the construction themselves. On March 10, 1985, a
Sunday afternoon, club members were invited to the site to lay out the building
and discuss materials. There was much excitement and membership that year grew
to 101.
Through the summer of 1985 work progressed and the clubhouse was completed.
Meetings were moved there and a dedication ceremony and open house was
scheduled for Sunday afternoon, November 3, 1985. That day, club members set up
a special events station operating on several amateur bands announcing the new
home of the Cleveland Amateur Radio Club. County Executive Eddie Cartwright was
on hand for a ribbon cutting and refreshments. The program was to begin at two
o'clock with a scripture reading, followed by a prayer of dedication, presentation of
the colors, concluding with the ribbon cutting and a presentation by the Mayor of
Cleveland. The program was set up to last less than 30 minutes.
Through the years, the Cleveland Amateur Radio Club has had its ups and downs,
but today remains a viable organization with the same commitment to amateur radio
and community service that existed almost 40 years ago. Club members, through
their participation in organizations like the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service
(RACES) and Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES), have been recognized for
providing communications for noteworthy events such as the I-75 pile up involving 99
vehicles and the evacuation of Charleston when a railway tank car carrying a toxic
substance sprung a leak. This, in turn, has brought recognition on the club. We
have been truly "serving the greater Cleveland and surrounding areas with amateur
resources since 1962."
Below is a listing of those who have served as club presidents.
1962 - Jimmy Still WA4GJU
1963 - Jimmy Still WA4GJU
1964 - Jimmy Still WA4GJU
1965 - James B. Hay WA4GOL
1966 - James B. Hay WA4GOL
1967 - Fred Smith WA4HLS
1968 - Bill Grisby K4MQ
I
1969 - Bill Grisby K4MQI
1970 - Larry Ledford WA4YFL
1971 - Larry Ledford WA4YFL
1972 - Walt Craig WB4DAJ
1973 - James B. Hay WA4GOL *
1973 - Fred Smith WA4HLS
1974 - Delmar Gooden WB4HKC
1975 - Delmar Gooden WB4HKC
1976 - Larry Ledford WA4YFL
1977 - Ron Murray WA4IWN
1978 - Don Rose WB4KGF
1979 - Charles Brock WA4NPU
1980 - Jimmy Phillips WA4DLJ
1981 - Jimmy Phillips WA4DLJ
1982 - Jack Stewart WA4JET
1983 - Russ Lawson WB4LCB
1984 - Russ Lawson WB4LCB
1985 - Russ Lawson WB4LCB
1986 - Russ Lawson WB4LCB
1987 - Russ Lawson WB4LCB
1988 - Charles Brickell K4IXN
1989 - Danny Lowe KB4AQS
1990 - Danny Lowe KB4AQS
1991 - Danny Lowe KB4AQS
1992 - Wayne Reagan AC4FB
1993 - Wayne Reagan AC4FB
1994 - Bob Gault KD4NEC
1995 - Bob Gault KD4NEC
1996 - Shavannah Clabough KC4VIS
1997 - Bob Gault KD4NEC
1998 - Bob Gault KD4NEC
1999 - Bob Gault KD4NEC
2000 - Bob Gault KD4NEC
2001 - Bob Gault KD4NEC
2002 - Bob Gault KD4NEC
2003 - Ray Myers KG4LZB
2004 - Ray Myers KG4LZB
2005 - Ray Myers KG4LZB (now W4VRM)
2006 - Ray Myers W4VRM
2007 - Glenn Clayton W4BDB
2008 - Glen Clayton W4BDB
2009 - Glen Clayton W4BDB
2010 - Derek Wooley - KD5UBL
2011 - Derek Wooley - KD5UBL
2012 - Derek Wooley - KD5UBL
* Died in office
Note : This information was compiled from minutes of club meetings and other
records maintained by the Cleveland Amateur Radio Club. Any corrections,
Best hosting deal on hostgator coupon or play poker on party poker