Bob Denniston

My project “Building the Wave” began in 2008 soon after I moved to the (British) Virgin Islands. Inevitably this meant that some of the people who would fall into my category of ‘builders before the wave’ were no longer available for interview because for a number of reasons. Once such person was Bob Denniston who died in 2002 at the age of 83. He had lived on Tortola for some forty-three years (since 1959). Bob was ham radio ‘geek’, but is perhaps best knownlocally for his “Hotel and Beach Bar” at Smugglers’ Cove, and for his 1966 Lincoln Continental in which the Queen (Elizabeth II) toured Tortola on a state visit in October 1977 (http://www.stjohnbeachguide.com/Queens_Lincoln.htm). I have endeavoured, for the sake of completeness, to include something about these people.

From:
http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2002/05/14/101/?nc=1
Past ARRL President Robert W. Denniston, W0DX/VP2VI, SK
 

NEWINGTON, CT, May 15, 2002--UPDATED--Past ARRL President and DXpedition pioneer Bob Denniston, VP2VI and W0DX, of Tortola, British Virgin Islands, died unexpectedly in his sleep May 12 or 13. He was 83. Denniston served as ARRL president from 1966 until 1972 and as International Amateur Radio Union president from 1966 until 1974. He later was elected an ARRL honorary vice president.

"He was an Amateur Radio icon, and he will be missed," said ARRL President Jim Haynie, W5JBP. "Our condolences go out to his family and many friends."

ARRL Chief Executive Officer David Sumner, K1ZZ, said that Denniston traveled extensively during his years as IARU president to promote IARU membership and build support for Amateur Radio in anticipation of what eventually became the 1979 World Administrative Radio Conference. As a result of WARC-79, Amateur Radio gained allocations at 30, 17 and 12 meters.

Denniston was a founding director of the IARU Region 3 Association in 1968 and served as chairman of the Second IARU Region 3 Conference in Tokyo in 1971. In 1972, he went to Managua, Nicaragua, to deliver equipment and to assist personally in providing communications in the aftermath of a major earthquake.

Among those sending condolences to Denniston's family was Japan Amateur Radio League President Shozo Hara, JA1AN, who called Denniston "a great leader" of Amateur Radio in the US and abroad. "Mr. Denniston's attitude and influence with high spirits about amateur radio will be long remembered among all radio amateurs all over the world," Hara said.
After heading up the "Gon-Waki" VP7NG DXpedition to the Bahamas during the second weekend of the 1948 ARRL International DX Contest, Denniston--then W4NNN--was credited with being the "father of the modern DXpedition." The DXpedition's name was a spoof on Thor Heyerdahl's "Kon-Tiki" expedition the previous year. (The full "Gon-Waki" story appeared in QST, Jul 1948, page 80.)

Denniston has said he didn't realize at the time that he was inventing the concept, and he credited CM9AA with coining the expression "DXpedition." Denniston remained active on the ham bands until his death--including operation on 6 meters during the tremendous openings last year and early this year.

In recent years, he and a group of friends had commemorated the 1948 "Gon Waki" milestone each March, setting up vintage equipment and using simple wire antennas and hand keys to replicate the flavor of the original DXpedition from his Tortola QTH. Sumner said he had to decline Denniston's most recent invitation to help celebrate the original "Gon-Waki" DXpedition. "I will always regret having missed this unique opportunity," he said.

Denniston's other firsts included Clipperton Island (FO8AJ) in 1954 and Malpelo (HK0TU) in 1969. His strategy of visits to rare prefixes helped earn him a world record ARRL International DX Contest score in 1960 from VP1JH (now Belize).
Denniston was first licensed some 70 years ago as W9NWX at the age of 13. He subsequently held W4NNN while attached to the Pentagon, and later became W0NWX--the call sign he held during much of his tenure as ARRL President.

"Bob Denniston was the operator's operator," said former ARRL staffer John Nelson, K0IO (ex-W1GNC), who lives in Denniston's hometown of Newton, Iowa. Nelson said Denniston promoted use of 160 meters years ago and always encouraged newcomers to get on the air during Field Day. "It was fascinating to watch him use a bug," Nelson said, "sending with an easy-rolling motion of his wrist, and we beginner's took note of how the rate went way up!"
 
Bob Denniston, VP2VI/W0DX, retired to Tortola, British Virgin Islands, to run a beach hotel and bar.

Denniston served for four years in the US Army Signal Corps and was chief of the radio control section of radio station WAR at the Pentagon. It was at WAR that he met his wife, Nell--a Women's Army Corps CW operator. At the end of World War II, Denniston was the radio operator aboard the presidential train--an experience he later described as "a sort of Field Day on wheels."

Denniston was ARRL Midwest Division Director from 1956 until 1966, when he was elected as the League's sixth president. While in Iowa, he had been active in ARES and RACES. He was a Charter Life Member of the ARRL as well as a charter member and past president of the Potomac Valley Radio Club. He was the founder and president of the Virgin Islands Amateur Radio Club.

In his professional life, Denniston was president of Denniston and Partridge, a firm that operated more than two dozen lumberyards at one point. When he retired to the British Virgin Islands, he ran Smugglers Cove Hotel in Tortola.
Jim Livengood, W0NB (ex-KP2L), was a long-time friend of Denniston's and had operated with him during some of the "Gon-Waki" recreations. "Bob was a treasure," Livengood said. "He was my Elmer, the first ham operator I ever met, shortly after Clipperton." Livengood credited Denniston with "lighting the fire" that led him into Amateur Radio and a career in broadcasting. "Bob was coaching new hams in the British and US Virgin Islands as late as this spring," he said, adding that he ran a 160-meter CW net every evening as a code proficiency tool for newcomers.

"Bob loved our hobby, promoted its growth, and was an ardent supporter of the League as long as I knew him," Livengood said. Denniston's wife, Nell, died two years ago. A son, Matt, and daughter, Carol, are among his survivors. Funeral arrangements are incomplete.

VP2VI QSL Manager Rick Casey, W6RKC, says he will continue to handle requests for VP2VI cards. Send cards via W6RKC, 10640 Tabeaud Rd, Pine Grove, CA 95665.

From:
http://www.w0uce.net/VP2VIPage.html

 
Friends Remember Bob
Some remember him as the Father of DXpeditions, ARRL President or Ham's Ham. Regardless of the description, Bob left special memories for those of us who knew this wonderful man.  Each of us enjoyed something special and now share personal thoughts in his memory.

A Special Night
Jack WØUCE

While I had met and knew Bob from Central Iowa Amateur Radio Club meetings in Marshalltown, Iowa I had no idea what was to happen when I was assigned to side saddle with him my first Field Day.  Back then things were different, new guys were there to learn and were required to work their way up through the ranks.  Everyone was expected to help put up RX and TX antennas, refuel generators, etc. however "new guys" were made well aware the first time out you only sat side saddle, perhaps, if you were fortunate, there may chance to lay the large piece of plywood across your knees and add worked callsigns under the 1-0 column headings carefully laid out on the large sheet of paper using a pencil to keep dupe sheet logs for an experienced operator.

Now after fifty-one years, I remember this special night as if it was just last evening, something I will never forget.  Bob came to the CW position ten minutes before midnight to relieve the second shift operator.  I arrived earlier full of anticipation and had my cans plugged into the side saddle jack copying calls and exchanges in my head for learning purposes.  Bob sat his Vibroplex on table, slipped the wedge into the J-38 key switch bar and slid into the operators chair never missing a dit as he took over sending CQ FD.  The other operator unplugged his bug, headphones and said "Forty is hot Bob."  The guy logging for Bob said he had to leave, Bob replied "no problem, I can operate and log myself."

For the next thirty minutes I was in awe watching and listening to the "Master" work station after station, log them then work the next, his Vibroplex sounding as rhythmic and exact as a W1AW code practice session.   During one CQ FD, two stations replied at the same time, a W9 and a W8 slightly lower in frequency and much faster than the W9.  Bob answered the W9 that was zero beat and replied 2A IA.  While he copied and logged the reply, W8NDU called again.  Without thinking, I glanced at calls in the 8 column and said "W8NDU is next, no dupe"  Bob worked NDU, turned to me and said "nice job, log for me."

My hands shaking, the fourteen year old new General Class ticket holder on his first field day, slid into the loggers chair and started logging.  Every CQ FD response I would repeat the call say dupe or good call and Bob would work them.  Sitting in front of a Collins 75A1 and 32V1 beside Bob the new kid was in paradise.  For the next couple hours, Bob worked station after station and not once did I hear him make a sending error.

Things slowed a bit and after sending CQ FD several times with no reply, Bob said "Jack I need to go outside, you take it."  With that he took off his headphones and walked out the door.  Terrified I slid into the operators chair and sent CQ FD on Bob's bug, which felt like no other I had ever touched.  The first CQ generated a response which I worked and logged then... they kept coming.  Somehow the terror and knots in my throat and stomach subsided and I settled in working FD QSOs.  After what was probably a few minutes, yet seemed like hours, I felt a hand on my shoulder and glanced to see Bob standing behind me smiling and he said "Nice work, Jack, I will log for you."  My "No, No" was answered with a smile and Bob's reassuring voice saying "You are doing fine, work them."

When things slowed a bit I again said "Bob you take it" to which he simply smiled and said "work them."  The next CQ a KP2 respond, I worked him and Bob said "Ah, DX."  My mind raced for the answer DX, what is DX?"  Bob finally agreed to take over operating and with a sigh of relief I moved to the Logger's chair.  The rest of the operating time was all but automatic, Bob never once faltered or missed a call, the log/dupe sheet entries had tripled between midnight and when the morning operator and logger relieved us.

Full of questions and excitement I sipped orange juice with Bob sitting while on the driveway outside the garage FD CW operating shack and not once did he not answer and fully explain everything I wanted to know.  One question, never asked, remained un-answerd for years.   How could such a tremendous CW operator have the patience and time to spend with a new kid?  Well... finally the question was answered but by myself after several exciting visits to his home and hamshack actually getting to know him.  The answer was simple, I had had the unbelievable good fortune to meet Bob Denniston.

Another Bob Denniston event I will never forget...

Several years ago while living in Japan I returned to North Carolina on a business trip.  My station had not been turned on in years.  One evening I decided to see if things could possibly be functional.  I fired up the 1000MP, hit tune and everything looked fine.  I called CQ DX on the bottom end of 40 and worked several Europeans then sent QRZ, immediately VP2VI responded.  The response was not the normal RST, Name, QTH.  VP2VI sent "Is this Jack from Grinnell?" I sent "C" to which Bob replied "Jack this is Bob WØDX, I have been listening to you work DX, you make me so very proud. Bob's beautiful fist was the same as I admired the first time I heard it.

Immediately the knots in my throat and stomach returned but this time they were accompanied by tears.  The Master was there, after so many years he was with me again.  Straining so I would not make a sending error we reminisced of days when I was a kid and times we spent together.  Bob told me he was planning to host a "VP2VI friends expedition reunion at Smugglers Cove, a get together in remembrance of past good times and friendships; he invited me to participate.  But... it was not to be, first Bob's XYL Nell passed away and plans were delayed.  Then before it could happen the final dit had been sent and the Master became a silent key.

To this day, be it running Q's in a contest or when working a new one on Top Band, the Master is once again with me, his hand on my shoulder, the smile and words of reassurance are there.  Bob you shaped my future as a ham, your patience, kindness, confidence and time spent with a new kid on my special night will never be forgotten.
 

 I REMEMBER BOB DENNISON
     JAMES GRAHAM, WØNFL

   I first met Bob Dennison, WØNWX in person about 1960, when my wife to be and myself were returning from a local Iowa Hamfest. We were in my 57 Thunderbird with the top down and the 75-meter mobile on. We heard Bob WØNWX calling for help. Bob was also at the hamfest and was returning home when he ran out of gas. I was quite close so I was there for the rescue. My T-Bird was packed with the three of us and one large gas can in the one front seat but we managed.  I found out later that Bob was known for running out of gas when he was mobile with his radio. Herb Johnson WØRCW once rescued Bob when he was stranded. Herb said not only was Bob out of gas he did not have a cent of money on him. Herb had to pay for Bob’s gas to get him going once again.

  It was said Bob Dennison was a millionaire.  Bob was the head of a local Lumber chain with Lumber yards all round central Iowa.  With Bobs great personally and he was as common a person as anyone was. He was just one of the guys to the ones that knew him. I also remember Bob as one of the best CW operators and contesters on any band. Bob was loaded with as much pure talent as any Ham radio operator I have ever known.

    I don’t remember having much contact with Bob after the gas incident until I was married and moved into a home in Ames, Iowa where I could put up antennas for a base station.

    An old friend Dennis Burke of Ames, WØNTB encouraged me, to get on 16Ø meters. Dennis was also a very close friend of Bob Dennison.  After I did get on Top Band, I then ran into Bob WØNWX who seemed to be active almost every evening when he was home.  Bob was the one whom got me into 160 meter Dxing. We became DX buddies and would share DX openings by telephone. I worked a few new ones this way. Bob seemed as thrilled, as I was when I worked OK1ATP for my first ever-transatlantic QSO on 16Ø.   I listened to Bob work his first Japan QSO on 160 back in 1968. I was hearing the KA station (US military in Japan) but I missed him, as he was only audible for 3 minutes at sunrise.

   Bob was often mobile using his Elmac 67; running AM on Top Band. One day I was hearing Bob mobile having some problems. I answered him and Bob said something about a broken microphone he went on to say that he would be driving through Ames and asked if it would be alright to stop in at my place and fix his microphone.  Of course that would be fine with me and a few minutes later Bob and his big Lincoln pulled into my drive. He jumped out with a most unusual looking device. He had this large light switch the type used for turning on lights in your home taped to his mobile microphone. The switch itself was as large as his mike. I tried not to laugh as Bob explained that when his push to talk button gave out this was the only thing he could find to key the Transmitter. We soldered the broken connection and Bob was again on his way and back on the air. I wondered how long he used that haywired microphone before he replaced it.

   By 1968 I had purchased a R4B and TX4B Drake Line. This was top of the line equipment back then. One evening I received a telephone call from Bob. He asked me how I liked my Drake. I of course told him great! Best rig I had ever had.  Bob then wondered if he might come up and play with my Drake line equipment. Anytime I said.  A couple days later he was up. Bob sat at my desk and for over 20 minuets he played with the R4B radio with out saying a word.  He never said if he liked it or not but just thanked me and went on his way. I guessed Bob was planing on getting a Drake line and was checking them out.

   A week later Bob called me once again on the telephone. He said he was going on a Dx-pedition to Malpelo. He apologized for not telling me the previous week but things were not all finalized and he did not risk letting the word out to soon.  He also said he wanted to take his SX 88 Hallicrafters radio but the gang said no they were taking the Drake line of equipment just like I had and he wanted to check them out.  Bob said they would be on 16Ø meters and to watch for them. Also I if I heard them I was to call his home because he had an operator standing by to work the HKØ from Bobs home station in Newton.

   The first night at Malpelo nothing on 16Ø was heard. I heard later from Bob that they tried to get on but when unloading the generator they lost it in the darkness.  The next night I heard a couple West Coast stations making contact but it was not until the third night when we could hear them in the Midwest.  I had good copy but local CW QRM was giving us fits. But as soon as the local signed I called HKØTU and Bob came right back with a report. I was thrilled, Bob said something about calling his home. But that was not necessary because  WØDX Bobs home call was the next station he worked.  Bob said later that I was the first WØ they worked on top band. I treasure that HK0TU topband Malpelo  QSL  card.

   It was less than two weeks later I was listening on 16Ø when I heard a CQ signed by HK5EV.  I was excited a new one on Top band. I called and he came right back. It was Bob using Carlos Vanencia’s station in Colombia. I think we both were thrilled over that one. Bob calls a CQ from Colombia on 16Ø meters and I answer.  Bob later hand delivered that QSL  which said “Tnx QSO fm HK5 #1 JIM. Opr Bob WØDX”   I also treasure that QSL.    Bob said later they haywired an inverted L antenna for Top Band and it did work quite well.

   I forget the dates but Bob was still president of ARRL , he was very busy and we seldom ever talked to him on the ham bands.  A close friend mine and also Bob passed away. Denny Burke W0NTB of Ames. Denny was SCM of Iowa for several years and very active in ham radio even before the war. I though of Bob and knew he would like to know about Denny. I called ARRL headquarters in Newington, Connecticut by telephone. I guess I could have used the Ham nets but working for the telephone company it was easier for me to call and I did.  I was told that Bob was out of the country and when I explained why I wanted to contact him. I was told in a nice way. That they of course was very sorry about WØNTB’s death but it was the policy of ARRL not to send flowers to silent keys even if they were SCMs or other ARRL officials, a cost factor I guess.  I thanked them and again told them I just wanted to get word to Bob because he was a close friend of W0NTB. I was told they would do their best.

    A few days later at Denny’s funeral there was this very large bouquet of flowers signed by ARRL.  I was very much moved, they did get my message to Bob and he came through.  Later we had an auction to dispose of Denny’s radio equipment. Bob made it home for that one.  Bob thanked me for letting him know about Denny’s death. Bob said he was in England and heard about Denny via an America to England ham radio net

   I worked Bob a few times after he moved to the British Virgin Islands. I have one QSL card from VP2VL  signed by Bob dated 1970 and he was still using that SX88 radio.

    I shall never forget the fond memories that I have of Bob WØNWX/WØDX/VP2VI.                                                                                            James Graham, WØNFL, of Ames, Iowa.

WØNWX Revisited
Dwight Smith W5USM

Bob Denniston, WØNWX, was a 1950s DX guru and something of an Iowa broadcast radio celebrity.

His fame and celebrity stardom arose over his attempts and ultimately success in landing upon Clipperton Island, a barren French owned atoll in the Pacific hundreds of miles off the southwestern coast of Mexico.

Clipperton Island was a DXCC Country only once briefly activated in 1937 and not again until Bob organized a 1954 adventure which required two boats, two weeks plus and much labor.

The adventures of the Newton, Iowa lumber company owner and holder of Clipperton license FO8AJ was broadcast at least three times a day on Des Moines radio station WHO and their 7:30 AM, 12:30 and 10 PM newscast.  Newsmen Jack Shelley and M.L. Nelson saw to that.  Listeners to the longtime news favorites of Iowa were treated to regular updates about their fellow Iowan trying to find and then land upon a spit of sand just to talk to people "back home."

Certainly, the lay people thought Bob a bit nuts, perhaps, but the Iowa hams enjoyed the constant updates being broadcast after having been radioed stateside from FO8AJ/Maritime Mobile.  Bob and his group eventually did briefly land on Clipperton, hauled ashore several hundred pounds of radio gear, set up a tent and made 1108 contacts "back home" before departing the sandy shores for terra firma of Iowa.

Not an Iowa with a broadcast radio hadn't heard of Bob Denniston, that Newton, Iowa ham radio nut.

My Thoughts About WØNWX
Bill KØCER

I first met Bob around 1953 at an Iowa 160-meter Picnic.  Those were the days when Iowa 75 and 160 meter hams got together somewhere in the state, usually in June, on a Sunday just to socialize.  Each group had a separate picnic, separate date and location, but all attendees seemed to make both picnics.

The one picnic I remember most was 1955 at Webster City, if I recall correctly.  Bob had an Elmac mobile set up in his   3-porter Olds; the whip was on the car's roof and a formable site, indeed.  Bob loaded the rig on 20 CW for me and away I went making many QSOs that afternoon resting in the front seat.

Fact is, I had so much fun I ran his car battery absolutely dead flat.

Undaunted, Bob still had that NWX grin from ear-to-ear and never muttered an unkind word, although this then youngster sure felt foolish.  No one said the car had to run, but Bob probably didn't have much gas in it anyway.  Out of gas, out of battery, that Olds wasn't going anywhere anyway!

Later, I got to know Bob even better when I was working at ARRL Headquarters and he was ARRL President in the mid 1960s.

Bob was one fine gentleman; I never heard him utter an unkind word nor saw him without that famous smile.

I still think about you, Bob, 50+ years after we first met.

73 de Bill , KØCER

Don't Forget
Herb Schoenbohm KV4FZ

Bob lived in Newton, IA about 40 miles from Iowa City where I was first licensed as W0VXO. Bob was also my Elmer and got me into contests and DX-peditions.   Bob was the founder of the modern DX-pedition with his Gon-Waki operation from the VP7 (Bahamas in the 50's.) It was a take off on Heyerdahl's Kon-Tiki and was a big success. He also openned up Desecheo some years ago.
VI Club Field Day With Bob
Jim Jarvis N2EA

As a member of the VI Radio Club, I was priveleged to operate FD with Bob, in the KP2N effort which set the 2A record.  We used to charter sailboats, and make a point of stopping by to say hello.  Sometimes anchoring off his reef, sometimes running over by dinghy.  Hot dogs and Heinekin were the menu,  unless he forgot to make the store run for dawgs, in which case, it was just Heinekin.

One time, a couple from Chicago happened by  Smugglers Cove, and unwittingly came in to 'get something to eat'.   Nell was chewing Bob out, by intercom, because he'd forgotten to make the morning store run, and they were out of dogs. As it happened, we had lots of leftover pizza from the night before, so I dinghied out to the sailboat and brought it all back...and
there we were, sharing cold pizza with strangers from up north.

"Uncle Bob" was known outside ham radio, too.  Turns out there was a cadre of science teachers who my wife worked with, who took their annual treck to the BVI, and made a point of visiting Bob's beach.

Bob's strategy for FD was to do a Le Mans start and take the extra three hours on 17 meters running europeans.  The rules have since changed, so you can't use WARC bands, but at the time, KP2 was DX and Europe needed it.  But everybody on the team knew the 17 meter run was Bob's turf.

My experience was very much like Jack's story of the 14 year old... Except I was 44 at the time.  Bob had been running EU at 70 per hour with me logging for him.  He wasn't particularly fond of computer logging.  When it came time for a comfort break, he said..."take over for me and started to pull the plug on his bug."  "Leave it, said I".

I'd been using the keyer and computer, for the most part but when he stood up, I reached over and continued the rhythm of his CQ unbroken, while sliding into the ops chair.  As he toodled off for the tall weeds, Bob was heard to mutter, "Humpf....I'll be damned.  Didn't know he could do that."  High praise from Uncle Bob.
 
None Other Than Bob Denniston, WØNWX
John Brosnahan WØUN

In 1960 my first DX QSO was with VP1JH, who was operating at 21.098--just below the novice band--in the 1960 ARRL DX CW contest. The lowest-frequency crystal on 15M that KØVBU and I had was 21.102. After what seemed like hours of fruitless calling, Bill and I took apart that old FT-243 crystal and started lowering its frequency by writing on it with a pencil. I don't know how far down we moved it before we both finally worked VP1JH, although we were most likely outside the novice band.  When we received the QSL cards we discovered that the operator was none other than Bob Denniston, WØNWX.

Twenty years later I went on the 1980 DXpedition to Desecheo with KP2A and about 20 other guys.  When John Ackley wanted to climb a big hill to set up the stations a few of us CW ops decided we would go our own way and set up right on the water--giving us some separation from the SSB guys.  One of the CW ops was Bob Denniston.  When I told him the story about how he was my first DX contact 20 years later he said my story was the highlight of the Desecheo trip for him. I'll never forget how he could sleep anywhere including on a rock beach that looked more like a bed of nails to me.

Sorry to hear that Bob has made his final QSY.  I'll never forget the time we had together on Desecheo or my first DX contact.
Carribean Contesting Consortium
Robert W. Denniston Memorial Station
Jeff Maass  K8ND

The Robert W. Denniston Memorial Station. Past ARRL & IARU President and DXpedition pioneer Bob Denniston, VP2VI/W0DX was a cherished friend and member of the Caribbean Contesting Consortium which honors his memory and perpetuates the use of his callsign through its operating events. After heading up the VP7NG "Gon-Waki" trip during the 1948 ARRL DX contest, Bob was credited with being "the father of the modern DX-pedition". Other firsts included Clipperton (FO8AJ) and Malpelo (HK0TU). His VP1JH ARRL DX-CW score was a world record. For QSO's effective November 1, 2003 QSL to N9AG.

The Club expresses its gratitude to Carol and Matt for their assistance in honoring their father.

See http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2002/05/14/101/?nc=1 for more about Bob.
My thanks to everyone who provided memories of Bob.  If you have a memory or story about our dear friend, please forward by e-mail to:  w0uce@nc.rr.com

The "official" ARRL presidential portrait of Bob Denniston, then W0NWX  hangs with those of other past ARRL presidents in the lobby of ARRL Headquarters.	Then-ARRL President Bob Denniston, W0NWX, Ray Meyers, W6MLZ, and Sen Barry Goldwater, K7UGA, share a moment at the 1968 ARRL Southwestern Division Convention in Phoenix.	The original "Gon-Waki" crew puts VP7NG on the air in the first-ever "modern" DXpedition to the Bahamas in 1948. Shown (l-r) are Charley Orr, W4NND, Buddy Buttizoni, W3GRP, and Bob Denniston, then W4NNN. The "Gon-Waki" name was a humorous reference to the 1947 "Kon-Tiki" expedition by Thor Heyerdahl.	Bob Denniston, VP2VI/W0DX, retired to Tortola, British Virgin Islands, to run a beach hotel and bar.

Draft of March 19th, 2010

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