After more than 12 years as a member of the ARRL Board of Directors -- 10 of them as West Gulf Division Director -- Coy Day, N5OK, announced that he is resigning from ARRL elected office, effective January 20. Per the ARRL Articles of Association, Vice Director David Woolweaver, K5RAV, will take over as Director, and ARRL President Joel Harrison, W5ZN, will appoint a new Vice Director. The next election for West Gulf Division Director and Vice Director will be in 2010.

Day, who was Chairman of the League's Ethics and Elections Committee when he resigned, said, "I have really enjoyed interfacing with and serving the membership in my term as West Gulf Division Director. Traveling around, going to club meetings, going to hamfests -- I've just enjoyed being with other amateurs the most. I've also enjoyed representing the membership at the Board of Directors meetings, talking, finding out what they need and what they are feeling and bringing that back to the Board." Before being elected to the Board of Directors, Day served as West Gulf Vice Director and Oklahoma Section Manager.

"It has been a pleasure to work with Coy Day on the ARRL Board," said ARRL President Joel Harrison, W5ZN. "Coy's integrity is admirable and something that everyone should model. We will miss his wisdom and smooth manner on the Board, and wish the best for Coy and his wife Judy."

ARRL Chief Executive Officer David Sumner, K1ZZ, concurred: "In addition to the gentlemanly demeanor that most people who know him associate with Coy, what I will always remember about his service on the Board are the high standards that he set -- for himself, as well as for the ARRL staff. This was especially evident while he was Chairman of the Administration and Finance Committee. Coy challenged and supported the staff in equal and abundant measure."

"I could not step down if I was not confident that David would do a great job as Director," Day said. "He's been such a great Vice Director. He's already served on committees and done so many things within the West Gulf Division. David's doing a great job and I know he will continue to do great things as Director of the West Gulf Division."

Woolweaver called Day a "tireless contributor to Amateur Radio for two decades," and said Day's long service "has been marked by honor and integrity. It has been my privilege to serve with Coy for the past seven years as his Vice Director. I know that everyone in the West Gulf Division will join me in wishing Coy well in his retirement."

While serving on the Board of Directors, Day served on numerous committees. "I think I served on all of them," he joked. "I was Chairman of the Membership Services Committee -- that was before the name was changed to the Programs and Services Committee. I was also Chairman of the Administration and Finance Committee. My first committee was the ad hoc Committee for Long Range Planning, back in 2001."

"I would like thank the members and the staff -- the support here at HQ," Day said. "I also want to thank my fellow Board members -- it takes all 15 of us working together to make things happen. It's been fun."