NEWINGTON, CT, Feb 28, 2007 -- ARRL Honorary Vice President and Past Central Division Director Edmond A. "Ed" Metzger, W9PRN, of Springfield, Illinois, died Monday, February 26. He was 93. An ARRL Charter Life Member, Metzger spent more than half his life serving the League in a variety of capacities.
"There are so many outstanding aspects to Ed's five decades of service to the ARRL that it is difficult to pick the highlight, but for me it was his chairmanship of the Administration and Finance Committee," ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ, commented. "Ed's professional expertise, love of Amateur Radio and the ARRL -- and plain common sense -- combined to enable him to make a unique contribution in that role."
Licensed in 1941, Metzger began his lengthy League service in 1957, when he became Illinois Section Communications Manager (SCM -- now Section Manager), a post he held until 1980. From 1965 until 1981, he also served as ARRL Central Division Vice Director. He became Central Division Director in 1981. That same year, the ARRL Board of Directors elected Metzger as an ARRL Foundation Director, and he subsequently served as the Foundation's president from 1993 until 2001, when Dick Isely, W9GIG, succeeded him as Director. On a motion by Isely, the ARRL Board of Directors in 2001 named Metzger an ARRL Honorary Vice President.
Metzger was a member of the Sangamon Valley Radio Club and the Quarter Century Wireless Association.
A graduate of Springfield Junior College, Metzger also attended Lincoln College of Law in Springfield. He was comptroller for Kerasotes Theatres for more than 50 years. Metzger was a past member of the American Red Cross of Sangamon County Board of Directors and of the Springfield School District 186 School Board. He also served on the Board of Directors of the Illinois Association of School Boards.
Survivors include two sons -- Ed, NL7LJ, and William, and three daughters -- Margaret, Molly and Lisa. Visitation is Wednesday, February 28, 5-8 PM, at Kirlin-Egan and Butler Funeral Home, 900 S 6th St, Springfield. Funeral mass will be held Thursday, March 1, at 10 AM at Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 524 E Lawrence Ave, Springfield.
The family invites memorial contributions to the Edmond A. Metzger Scholarship, c/o The ARRL Foundation, ARRL, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111.
 Previous: Washington Bill Seeks Excise Tax Exemption for Ham Radio Repeaters |  Next: Application Avalanche Under Way as New Codeless Testing Regime Ramps Up |