ARRL Board of Directors Names Humanitarian, Leonard Award Winners

NEWINGTON, CT, Jan 27, 2005--The ARRL Board of Directors has named the winners of the 2004 ARRL International Humanitarian Award and the 2004 Bill Leonard, W2SKE, Professional Media Award. Board members approved the selections when they met January 21-22 in Windsor, Connecticut, for their first session of the year.

2004 ARRL International Humanitarian Award Winner Dr Glenn Johnson, W0GJ.

W0GJ Wins International Humanitarian Award

The ARRL Board named veteran radio amateur and ARRL Life Member Dr Glenn Johnson, W0GJ, of Bemidji, Minnesota, to receive the 2004 ARRL International Humanitarian Award. The award recognizes Dr Johnson's contributions as a medical emissary to the Kingdom of Bhutan and the numerous times he has practiced and taught Amateur Radio in that developing country.

Among the first to bring Amateur Radio back to Bhutan during a visit in 2000, Dr Johnson learned firsthand during that trip that the country had very limited resources to deal with those needing orthopedic treatment. The following year, he went to Bhutan as an orthopedic surgeon on behalf of Health Volunteers Overseas Orthopaedics Overseas, a group of physicians and health-care professionals dedicated to improving basic orthopedic care in developing countries through training and education. His work first involved building trust and confidence among those needing his skills but unaccustomed to Western medicine. Once he'd earned his patients' trust, Dr Johnson was able to treat a wide variety of injuries and conditions by working with local physicians, enabling them to augment their own skills and knowledge. Dr Johnson has returned to Bhutan several times in this capacity, most recently in 2003.

During his 2000 visit, Bhutan's director of telecommunications and the chief engineer of the Bhutan Telecommunications Authority asked Dr Johnson to help teach a ham radio course. Using his 25-plus years experience as an ARRL-certified instructor, W0GJ adapted material for an Amateur Radio class, taking Bhutan's licensing and operating regulations into account.

Dr Glenn Johnson, W0GJ, outside his Minnesota home with the family's antenna system in the background.

In less than a month, seven local students finished the course, passing the examination on the first try. Included in this groundbreaking group was Bhutan's first resident female radio amateur. Dr Johnson subsequently helped set up ham radio club stations at three Bhutan high schools.

In recognition of his many contributions to its citizens, the Bhutan government has designated Dr Johnson as an honorary citizen, and he's been granted the call sign A51B for life for his efforts to promote ham radio in Bhutan.

First licensed as WN0PUJ at age 16, the teenaged Johnson earned his Worked All States award in just three months as a crystal-controlled Novice operator. He's led an active Amateur Radio life ever since, becoming involved in contesting and DXing and earning DXCC Honor Roll, 5-Band DXCC and "W0DXCC Mr DX of the Year" along the way. He also was a member of the Heard Island VK0IR DXpedition.

Every member of the Johnson family is licensed. Dr Johnson's wife Vivien, KL7YL, has home-schooled the couple's four children, Melissa, K1MJ, Mark, N0MJ, Paul, W0PJ, and Carrie, N0CMJ.

As the recipient of the 2004 International Humanitarian Award, Johnson will be presented with an engraved plaque.

Bill Leonard, W2SKE, Media Professional Award winner Randall D. Larson.

Randall Larson is Bill Leonard, W2SKE, Professional Media Award Winner

Named the recipient of the Leonard Award was Randall D. Larson of San Jose, California. Larson's six-page article "Ham Operator Assistance" appeared in the July 2004 issue of Homeland Protection Professional magazine.

"Thank you," Larson told ARRL when being notified that his submission had won. "I am both humbled and pleased to have this article recognized by your organization!"

A San Jose Fire Department senior dispatcher and director of an incident dispatcher team since 1993, Larson is very familiar with emergency communications. He's also been a Communications Academy instructor since 1995.

In addition to his award-winning article in Homeland Protection Professional, Larson's byline has appeared in publications that include Firehouse, Fire Engineering, American Fire Journal, 9-1-1 Magazine--for which he currently serves as editor--and Public Safety Communications. He's written articles in other fields as well.

The Leonard Award goes annually to a media professional or group who does the best job during the previous calendar year of covering Amateur Radio in print, photo essay, audio or video forms. Members of the ARRL's Public Relations Committee judge the nominations each year, while the ARRL Board of Directors has the final word on the award recipient. Larson will receive a $500 check and an engraved plaque.

In Amateur Radio circles, Bill Leonard is perhaps best remembered for his 1958 contribution to Sports Illustrated, "The Battle of the Hams," which describes the "sport of DXing." In November of 1996, Leonard was inducted into the Broadcasting and Cable Hall of Fame. He died in 1994.

Nominations are now being accepted for the 2005 Bill Leonard, W2SKE, Professional Media Award. The deadline for entries will be in December. For more information, including rules for entry and nomination forms, contact ARRL Media and Public Relations Manager Allen Pitts, W1AGP, 860-594-0328.

Previous: A View from the Other Side of DX

Next: ARRL Board of Directors Outlines Ambitious Legislative Agenda