Former ARRL Staff Member E. Laird Campbell, W1HQ, SK

NEWINGTON, CT, Apr 29, 2002--Former ARRL Headquarters staff member Laird Campbell, W1HQ, of Amarillo, Texas, died April 26 following a long battle with multiple sclerosis. He was 70. Campbell joined the ARRL Headquarters staff in 1954. During his distinguished 35-year career, he served in a variety of roles, including QST managing editor and ARRL advertising manager. He was an ARRL Charter Life Member.

"Laird was an uncommonly decent human being--I was proud to call him my friend," said current QST Managing Editor Joel Kleinman, N1BKE. "Despite the setbacks he had after he left the ARRL HQ staff, he never lost his sense of humor. He was the quintessential gentleman."

Born in Kansas City, Missouri, Campbell grew up in Amarillo and Pampa, Texas. He developed his interest in electronics while attending Texas Tech. Following an active duty stint in the US Naval Reserve, he was licensed in 1951 as WN5TQD (later W5TQD). He joined the ARRL staff as a contest log checker in 1954, when League Headquarters was still at 38 LaSalle Road in West Hartford, Connecticut, and became W1CUT. His later choice of W1HQ reflected his close association with ARRL Headquarters.

It was at ARRL HQ that he met his future wife, Connie, who worked in the advertising department. ARRL Headquarters legend Lew McCoy, W1ICP, gave away the bride at their wedding. Connie Campbell later became W1CIE. She died in 1990, and the couple's daughter Mary now holds her mother's call sign.

As a technical assistant at HQ, Campbell in 1955 was believed to have made the first Amateur Radio contacts using transistorized transmitters on 160, 40 and 20 meters. Over the years, he wrote extensively for QST on a variety of topics, and he developed an interest in mobile noise, QRP and solar power. Outside of ham radio, he enjoyed motorcycling, mountaineering and bird watching among other pursuits. He also continued as part of the US Naval Reserve and retired as a chief warrant officer in 1984.

In 1965, Campbell became managing editor of QST, and in 1972, he took on the job of advertising manager. He was promoted to assistant general manager for business operations in 1976 under former ARRL General Manager Richard Baldwin, W1RU, and he filled in at the top spot while Baldwin was away from Headquarters during World Administrative Radio Conference 1979.

Campbell retired from ARRL in 1989. At the time, it was said in QST, "Few persons have contributed as much to the League or in as many different ways as has Laird."

Among his closest friends during his ARRL career were HQ staff members Bob and Ellen White, W1CW and W1YL, and their son Jim, K4OJ. "Our hearts are heavy at losing a friend--a friend who was more like a family member to us Whites," said Ellen White. "This was a decent man, a good friend, a loving husband and father of Mary and Michael, a caring ham, a courteous Headquarters employee who ably functioned in many important capacities. We've all lost something very special in our lives."

A memorial service will be held Saturday, May 4, at 11 AM in the parlor at Park Place Towers of Amarillo.

Survivors include a son, Michael, and his wife Rie, of Canton, Connecticut; a daughter Mary Campbell-Barry, W1CIE, and her husband, Will Barry, N1XRK--an ARRL Volunteer Counsel--of Cumberland, Maine; and Laird Campbell's partner of the past six years, Shelli Mosier of Amarillo.

The family invites memorial contributions to the Maine Chapter, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, PO Box 8730, Portland, ME 04104.--some information provided by the Amarillo Globe-News

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