My dad was the best dad that I could ever ask for. I could always count on him to be there for me when I needed him, no matter what the circumstances were. We had so many good times together that I can't count them all. I miss him so much that I can barely breathe sometimes, to tell the truth. I was very lucky to have a dad like mine. I do not know many other people that have a relationship like the one I've had with my dad and that goes for my mom too. As I think back through all my life and the special times spent with my dad, it is rather hard to just pick out just one or two memories. I have so many great memories with him. When I was a little boy dad would challenge me to pull his arm down. He would sit in his lazy boy chair and he'd put his elbow on the arm of the chair and pull his arm up and his hand was in a fist. He would bet me that I couldn't pull his arm down so I'd start pulling with my feet on the floor, then my feet would move up the base of that chair, before I knew it I was laying on his arm pushing it down with my body weight and laughing as I struggled to get it ALL the way down where his arm and fist was touching the arm of the chair, that was the way I could win. I learned a lot about leverage playing that game and when I learned it well enough he'd pick a different challenge. Thinking back on it, those challenges taught me a lot of things that I would use in my future profession. There was a game that my sister and I would play with dad in the mornings. Shari and I would have to work as a team for this one because it was impossible to do it alone. Dad would lie across the middle of the bed and the challenge was for me and Shari to roll dad off of the bed. We would get him to roll pretty easily when our feet were closer to the headboard because we'd push against it to push dad to roll. Once we had that first roll things got much harder. We'd both put our head in his side and his ribs and push like crazy. Our feet were pushing the sheet up as our butts would come up into the air and finally, we’d get dad rolled over once more and just enough to where one of us could maneuver under him, most of the time it was me that was able to get under and my sister would be laying over, feet wedged into the bed with her hands under him and we’d gain another roll closer to the edge of the bed and we’d repeat this over and over until we rolled him off the bed and into the floor. This challenge taught my sister and me about teamwork. He was brilliant in the way he taught through action. My memories race forward to when I was a teenager and it was time to go transmitter hunting. I loved going transmitter hunting with my dad! These were hide and seek games for adults with Ham Radios really. One of the ham guys would pick a spot to hide inside and surrounding area of Austin, TX most of the time. The person hiding would transmit a signal ever so often and all of the other people participating would be hunting for that person transmitting the signal. The first person to find the person hiding would be the winner. This is where dad and I were more alike, we loved competition and we loved being first, because second place was the first loser’s spot. We were in for the win and I was dad’s driver! Talk about crazy fun! If you are familiar with the Austin area this isn’t just an itty bitty city! So, there was this one time that the person hiding was in downtown Austin, he thought he was gonna be slick! We didn’t know in the beginning that he was gonna be in the downtown area though. That was the point of the game we had to hunt for where this cat was hiding. Our advantage here was that dad and I knew every street, fire hydrant, parking lot, hill, and ant-mound in Austin and every pathway to get around. We both had to know the greater Austin area for this to work. GAME ON! Dad has the antenna sticking up and out of the passenger side window to pick up the signal and he is watching the meters in the car and he tells
me where to go. Imagine a sixteen, seventeen, or eighteen-year-old behind the wheel with permission from his dad to slide around corners, jump medians, go backwards on one-way roads and to speed while doing all of it! Talk about FUN! This guy that was hiding at this particular time had a habit of hiding around 2222 and Bee Caves Road so we started heading out that direction. I’m hauling butt on Mopac on past the river toward 2222 and we pick up a signal again. Dad says, "I know where they are at, he thought they were in Zilker Park. They really were in Zilker Park! They were under the River Bridge where they weren’t supposed to be. We pull up under the River Bridge and dad says, “Stop, Stop!” I’m just looking and there wasn’t really a place to drive. I wonder where, where!?!? Dad is already getting out of the car, antenna and all, and we start walking and there they are, just up under the River Bridge. There they were hanging out in lawn chairs with cold beers, laughing as we came walking up on them. Dad says, “Are we the first to find you all, and they say, Yes! We all have a good laugh and this ends this hunt for the night. The next hunt that night is out by the State Capital. We pick up the signal going toward downtown! He’d changed his norm this time and dad says, “Go, Go, Tom, Go!” Dad had his cigarette pinched between his teeth and says he’s around the Capital! I’ll skip all the road names and get to that area here. Now keep in mind this is before 9/11. They didn’t have the fencing and barriers around the Capitol building like they do now days. So, we are hauling it down the street heading dead straight into the Capital … he’s gotta be on the other side. Dad yells, “Get on the other side!” I say, “There’s a median!” Dad says, “Go over it then, but get other there”! “Go that way” he says, pointing his finger as he leans forward helping the car go faster. We’re close to finding him now. I jump the median getting to the other side and sliding around the curve and we’re heading toward a one way street! Dad yells, “Go, Go, Just Go there’s nobody coming!” I floor it and we are flyin’ down this one way and sliding into the next street and turning the correct direction on the road now. I think dad and I were both shaking our heads at this point. Then he shouts, “They’re in there, they’re in there!" They were on the very top floor of the State Capitol Parking Garage for the State Employees! Needless to say we won this one too. (Hashtag WINNING) LOL! That was that for these two hunts! *High Five Guys* Then we all head down to the hotel banquet room where dad goes to collect his next trophy, an antenna or radio or whatever it was…I believe it was an antenna for this particular hunt that he won. It was fun, Real Fun, being dad's driver! That's why my sister, Shari, says that we make Batman and Robin look like silly putty! We kinda did a few times at least! Hanging out with my dad was a really good time. I'll have these memories for the rest of my life until I meet him again on the other side. 
I love you, Dad
Tom

This is a story that I love remembering and telling. This photo is of Ron and Wanda's wedding vows renewal. It was their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary. Shari had decided that she wanted to surprise her parents with a renewal of their vows. My parents didn't have marital problems so it was a safe event to plan without their knowledge or consent. Gary was all in so it was Game On Time and I went to work to get it done! This took about six weeks to plan out where everyone was off work and everyone available and reservations available for that specific date. We talked to Tom and Lauren about it and they wanted to share in the experience too. I was pleased as punch about that! I told my parents that I had something Very Special planned for their wedding anniversary. I told them that daddy needed to be in a nice suit, mama in a nice dress so get dressed to the hilt. I told them we were doing something at the house first, then we were going to a swanky restaurant afterward and to pack an overnight bag as well. I contacted a Justice of the Peace to come to my parents house and officiate their vows renewal on May 31, 1989. I wrote their vows for the Justice of the Peace, bought daddy a silk boutonniere, mama a bouquet of silk flowers so they could have them as keepsakes. We bought Gary, Tom, Shari and Lauren new suites & dresses. The day had finally arrived and boy was I excited!  That afternoon the Justice of the Peace arrived at the house and performed the ceremony and just look at their faces! This is a Perfect Picture of true love and happiness shared with the whole family. Mama must've gotten wise to what I had planned because they had new wedding rings to exchange and I sure didn't do that part. I just loved it! I changed into a different dress and then we loaded up in separate vehicles. They didn't know where they were going so they followed us. We took them to the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Austin, Texas right off the river. We took them to the restaurant inside the hotel and had a three course meal. The name of the restaurant was called The Foothills Restaurant at that time. After supper we went down to the lobby and looked at the gorgeous indoor waterfall they had there with paths of scenery to walk around to see the koi fish, flowers and lily pads. Gary & I had left for a little bit to go get their luggage from their car, had it sent up to their room and we checked them in for their nights stay. When Gary and I returned a woman was there singing and I requested a song for my parents to dance to. The name of the song was "The Rose". When she announced my parents anniversary she asked them to come to the floor then she proceeded to sing the requested song. Oh, how I loved watching them dance together in that scenery, to that song. It was so romantic! We all joined them in that dance before the song ended. After we danced and finished looking around I handed them the key to the Honeymoon Suite upstairs overlooking the river. All of their belongings were already up there. They had beautiful flowers, his & hers robes, champaign chilling in the bucket with glasses and strawberries. We got them the works! They deserved the works! Our parents had done so much for all of us and it just delighted me to be able to do this for them. I'm so glad I did it for their twenty-fifth anniversary because they didn't live here at their fifth anniversary. It was Perfect!
Location - Round Rock, Texas
Date - May 31, 1989

Pictured here is Shari with her parents, Ron and Wanda, on Shari's wedding day right before leaving the house for the church. It was a very small country church in Georgetown, Texas. The date was January 13, 1985 and it was Snowing! We very rarely have snow in central Texas but it snowed that day and heavier than we'd ever had before that I could remember. Shari was rather freaked out by the weather and how all of the wedding plans were going to play out that day. Daddy reassured me that he would see to it that we'd make it to the church. My mama had been rather stressed that morning as well. She had to go to the bakery to pick up the wedding cake and get it over to the place we were going to have the reception. Mama got the cake alright and had to drive at a crawling speed to not slip and slide all over the road. She did make it to the dance hall where we'd planned to have the reception and Guess what? The dance hall was CLOSED due to snow! Can you imagine this happening on your daughter's wedding day? As I told you earlier, my mama has a magical way of making things happen when it's really important. This was one of those moments!!! She managed to get the wedding cake, punch bowl, cups, and all the other things to the church for a sudden make shift backup plan. The snow was beautiful! However, it would have been nice to have it happen the following day and after the wedding. Anyway, daddy got me to the church on time. The others attending that were accustomed to driving in this type of weather arrived just fine, thank God! The other local family and friends slipped and slid all over the roads trying to get there in time. Some ended up in the ditch. Some couldn't make the trip at all. It was a really small wedding ceremony anyway but it was much smaller than planned. The vocalist couldn't make it but the pianist did. My soon to be husband had to go get the minister from his home and drive him over. Ok, so everyone that could make it, made it safely. Those that couldn't make it were either safe and sound at home or being pulled from the ditch and returned home but no one was hurt. My mama and her best friend Perry were in the back room of the church moving furniture, making space for the reception, cleaning and setting up a table for the wedding cake and making the punch. See? She is a miracle magic maker because she and Perry pulled it all together as best it could be in an almost impossible situation and made it work! Now then, please allow me to tell you about the church. As I said, it was a very small country church and there was no other hallway or access point to go around to the front of the church to enter the doors to walk down the aisle. Can you imagine this? I'm looking at my daddy about to cry all my makeup off and into a wet and smeared mess, I'm tellin' ya! Daddy hugged me really tightly, told me to breathe and that he would see to it that I could make it around to the front doors to walk down that aisle. I could hardly breathe but I knew daddy had something in mind and I trusted my daddy to do exactly what he said he'd do! Come time to make this other miracle happen, my daddy took my hand and led me to the side door to go outside. Picture this with me, now! The door goes outside, down a few steps but there is NO sidewalk or path that wasn't covered with snow, ice, and sticky MUD under it!!! I'm looking at my daddy like he's crazy and said but how are we? Daddy stopped me right there and said trust me, we'll make it just fine because I have a plan. What other choice did I have? Go backwards through the church and tell everyone to close their eyes or somethin'? This was nuts! So, I took a big breath and said ok let's do this, Daddy. He said take off your shoes first ... my mind was absolutely swirling with how in the HE-double hockey sticks are we gonna do this and he wants me barefoot in nylons?!?!?! I take my shoes off and daddy said now put one shoe in each hand. I'm going to pull the bulk of your dress like this, as he proceeds to do so and you're gonna just hold it up and get on your tippy toes and leave the rest to me. I come down the stairs on my tippy toes, he moves behind me and proceeds to lift me from under my arms, pulling me backward against his tummy and chest and he walks me, almost floating me, around the side of that church to those front doors. Daddy had a damp cloth in one of his pockets and a dry one in the other. Once on the front covered porch of the church he cleaned my tippy toes and dried them. He took one shoe and slipped it on and then the other, then cleaned his own boots off. He helped me get my dress all the way down and fluffed out like it should be. MY HERO!!!! He took my arm and asked me, "Are you ready to walk down that aisle now, lil lady"? I paused for a moment and hugged my daddy harder than ever before, I think. Then I answered him with, " Yes, I am ready, daddy". We both said, "Game On and We Win"! We said it at the same exact time! We snickered for a moment and he opened that door for me and down the aisle we walked! The candles weren't lit, but I didn't care. The pianist was playing the wrong song, but I didn't care. My daddy was walking me down the aisle, and I saw Gary standing there with a look that I can't even begin to describe when he saw me in that dress! I saw my mama, my grandparents, my brother, my uncle, mama Perry, Bill and my soon to be mother-in-law. All the people that mattered the most to me were there, standing and smiling as they watched us walking down that aisle and perfectly timed, I might add. He gave me a kiss on the cheek, whispered go now and marry that man like I married your mama, you got a good one, babygirl! I sit here typing this with tears remembering this day of snow and miracle's and magic, and marriage and how everyone helped me so much that day. My parents are true hero's and they raised me to be one too. I couldn't have had a better life than what I've had with them growing up and even until this very day. My parents have been my best friends, my advisors, my pillars of strength, and my hero's all of my life. I am so incredibly Grateful and Honored to have had them both always, in all ways. 
Side Note: Big tummies are comfortable to sleep on when you're little and they save your daughter's wedding day. I always loved my daddy's big tummy!
Location - Round Rock, Texas
Date - January 13, 1985

Shari is giving her daddy a birthday kiss on his cheek. This day was Shari's sixteenth birthday. No, they didn't gift me a vacuum cleaner. In our family, never believe the box your gift is wrapped in. It's very rare that the gift matches the box! I believe I got a new bedspread and curtains for my room that year. Shari was supposed to have a sweet sixteen party but none of the other girls came. I had been wanting to go The Magic Time Machine so daddy had me put on my new dress mama had just bought for me and off we went. Now, I need to tell you about The Magic Time Machine! It was a special restaurant that served good food, not junk food stuff and the price matched the higher end restaurants. What made this place special was that all of the staff wore different costumes of Disney related movies like Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Mighty Mouse, Daisy Duck, Snow White, etc. There were no games like a fun house, it was a full fledge nice food restaurant. When we arrived, it was Mickey Mouse  that started showing us the way to our table. He put his tail in my mama's hand so that we wouldn't lose him. So then Mickey Mouse takes off walking and his tail comes off in mama's hand. Of all the jumping around and making a scene of having his tailed pulled off! It was quite a sight and people were snickering and giggling to include me and daddy. Mama was a wee tad embarrassed but it was meant to do that and Mickey stuck his tail back on and we were seated. I think it was Snow White that came to our table to take our order. Daddy ordered two drinks, they were Tequila Sunrises. When the waitress delivered the drinks to the table daddy took one and slid the other one over to me. Dad said, "I want to be the first man to buy you your first real mixed drink." I looked over at my mama waiting for her look of approval. She said, "Just one for the sixteen year old birthday girl." I don't know the laws in other states but in Texas, if you are under age, you can legally drink with your parents or your spouse. They have to be with you the entire time though! The colors in the drink really did look like a sunrise too. We watched all of the other people while we were waiting for our food to arrive and we saw poor Mickey's tail being pulled off about ten times or so and we were the ones laughing then. Also, if you had to go to the restroom and you didn't know where it was and if you asked for directions, boy howdy, they would sure help you find it! There were three people dressed up like...well, I dunno what, but they were wearing bright yellow rubber looking pants, bright yellow helmets with a red flashing light attached to the top, and they were loudly calling out "Potty Patrol", "Potty Patrol", "Potty Patrol" as they escorted the person to the restroom. We witnessed this in action and oh my gosh, what a sight that was! It was funny to watch it happen to others but none of us wanted that to happen to us! You're laughing, right? You should be, we had a good time and my parents really did save my sixteenth birthday and I loved every moment of it. The Magic Time Machine is no longer but the memory is in a safe place within me.
Location - Round Rock, Texas
Date - October 10, 1981

PaPa,
I will remember your hugs. 
When you wrapped your arms around me, 
I could feel the world melt away as you held me in your warm embrace.
Your arms were always so strong and yet so gentle, and when you hugged me, I was in the safest place on Earth.
I can never put into words how much I love you, and how incredibly blessed I am to have you as my Papa.
I have learned to take nothing for granted. To cherish every moment we are given, because tomorrow is never promised.
I never thought about what it would be like when you would no longer be here. You have always played such a special part in my life that can never be forgotten. I look at your photos, and there you are, smiling back at me. You were always smiling, always laughing and always happy. And that is how I will always remember you. 
I can just see you holding my daughter, Mia. She's beautiful isn't she? I can see you bouncing her on your knee and hearing the both of you laugh together as you show her how a horse eats cabbage, the way you used to show me!
How very lucky I am to have the two of you for angels... 
You were the most amazing man. A devoted husband, loved and respected father and a deeply adored grandfather.
And the world just seems a little less vibrant without you in it, Papa.
But this is not our final goodbye, as we share the same belief that this is not the end, and I know I will see you again. 
I will see your smiling face again, and I will hear your big, deep laugh. I will feel your tight bear hug squeeze, and the world will melt away.
Until then, we will continue to look at photos and remember the amazing times we shared with you.
We will talk to you and seek your guidance when we need it, and look for you in nature when we miss you terribly. 
We will keep your memory alive and never, ever forget you.
Until we meet again, Papa... I love you.

Your loving granddaughter always, Brittney Bevins

Grandpa,
I’m truly blessed to have all the special memories I have with you and will always cherish them. I remember all the times I would sit on your lap in your recliner and you would tickle me. You would count each rib as you tickled me and always told me that you would pay me for one dollar for each rib that I could make it through. You would count and make each number soooo drawn out as I laughed uncontrollably fighting to make it through all my ribs and make the most. Your laugh was so contagious and could make everyone in the room laugh with you. One of my other favorite memories was sitting with you in your office and asking to eat the candy out of your candy jar and the time I chose to Fireball candy and you laughed telling me it was hot and how I wouldn’t like it but me being me I went for it anyway. Didn’t last very long before I was spitting it into a tissue and you telling me “I told you so” as you laughed at me. Every time I see Fireball candy at the stores I laugh to myself and think of you and the times we share. 
I miss you dearly Grandpa, and I love you so much! Until we meet again! ❤️

My grandfather was a man that always had a smile on his face and brought so much joy to anyone that was around him. Whether it be when we were small children goofing around, or as adults, he constantly made you feel like he was truly listening and present with you in that moment. As an adult and being able to understand fully the upbringing and life that my grandfather lived, I learned to cherish his compassionate and joyful demeanor that much more. 

I'm overjoyed and so proud that my grandfather was able to share in some of the most important times in my life. Watching me walk across stage and seeing me graduate from school, or even being able to have him present at the birth of my son are things that I will forever hold near and dear to my heart. 

Despite the time, distance, and any circumstances in life that have come up, I can and have always find solace in the memories that I have of him. Thinking of his big smile while he held his great grandson, remembering traveling to New Mexico and the adventures we had there. Thinking of the sound of his contagious laugh and his humbled spirit and soul. I will always remember his larger than life personality and words of wisdom. 

I wish I could have said it more over the years, however,  I love you, grandpa. I have always loved you, I have always held you close to my heart. I will forever love you, respect you, look up to you, and cherish every memory we have ever made together. 

Papa/ Grandpa,
The many names and titles you held over your years of life.  I’m truly so blessed to be a Stailey. Thank you for all the laughs, huge hugs, wisdom and most of all, marrying such an amazing woman!! I know you can see me now and look over us. I visit you often. You chose a beautiful place to lay to rest. Thank you for all the life lessons you passed along to all of your children and grandchildren. I love you so much. Words can not and never will be enough justice on expressing how much you and Grandma mean to me. I love you! Your service was absolutely beautiful. I never knew how popular you were outside of being my Papa. But I’m silly to not think you were not popular. You’re the reason why I have a sense of humor. You are the reason why I love to make people laugh and you are the reason why I have such an amazing grandmother. You did well choosing grandma to spend the rest of your life with. I will never forget your hugs, your farts, your jokes, your chair, you polar bear cigarette tray and most of all, YOU. Rest In Peace Papa. See you in the future. 

My father-in-law had a great sense of humor about himself.
He sure got a kick out of it when he first introduced himself to me, weak wristed and speaking in a lispy, sissy like voice. I almost went back out the door until he started laughing, letting me know it was a joke. My mother-in-law put her hands on her hips and said, "Rrronn, stop that"! 
I sure miss him, rubbing his head for good luck (he had a bald spot) or laughing when we watched a football game when it really didn't matter who won. It was always enjoyable sitting around the kitchen table with the family and him telling us all kinds of stories about being a fireman and the pranks they pulled on each other. Some of the things they would do to pass the time was crazy and funny too. I liked how he would talk about his Ham Radio Operations and I truly believe that was his true calling in life. I had a love and respect for him. He really grew on me like a father figure and I believe he was okay with me calling him "Pops". He really was like a second dad to me and most especially when my own dad passed away early in my marriage to Ron's daughter, Shari. He was always there for me, no matter what the issue was - he always tried his best to help me out. He and his wife, Wanda, have always been good role models. I know he's up there in heaven playing with my granddaughter, Mia Lee, now that he's been able to meet her. He will always be in my heart and he'll always be my "Pops" too. 
I'll see you on the other side, Pops!
I love you,
Gary L Floyd   

Sure hate to hear this sad news. On this Thanksgiving Day, I'm thankful I got to know Big Ron. He taught me a lot about RTTY contesting and introduced me to WriteLog.

One contest we operated together was the 2000 BARTG RTTY Contest. We set a record that still stands today. I remember having a big run into Europe in the morning on 10 meters and thinking I was seeing a few JA calls in the pileup as well. I thought I was hallucinating. I said to Ron "I think I'm seeing JAs". He said "Yeah, turn the top antenna southeast and work the JAs longpath." I had never worked JAs longpath before on any band, let alone ten meters. But there they were. Operating contests with Ron was a real treat.
Here's a synopsis of that 2000 BARTG contest with Ron 
(with pictures).
https://www.aa5au.com/rtty/articles/2000-bartg-hf-rtty-contest/

RIP my friend.
Don AA5AU

I am saddened by this news. Ron was always kind and patient with me, answering my several emails when I was just starting out in RTTY contesting.

He also introduced me to WriteLog in the late 90's perhaps around 1998/1999. And it was always great to work him, usually on all bands during several contests.

RIP Ron and condolences to his many friends in the ham radio fraternity. He will be missed.

73 Dean 8P2K/8P6SH
Dean St.Hill
Bajanscapes
St.Philip
Barbados

2000 BARTG HF RTTY Contest
In March 2000, Ron K5DJ invited me to operate the BARTG Spring HF RTTY Contest from the W5KFT Ranch in central Texas.  We had operated this contest as mult-multi in 1997 and had set a new world record with 1,893,546 points.  However, in 1999, the team of LY8X broke that record by scoring 2,021,760 pts.  So Ron and I set out to retake the record using the callsign AA5AU.

Conditions were unbelievable.  10M was in excellent shape allowing us to work JA longpath and EU at the same time in the early morning.  The band stayed open late into the evening.  15M was the best I’d ever seen it.  The band stayed open to EU all night.  20M was also open 24 hours.  40M wasn’t bad, but 80M was extremely noisy and nearly unusable.

Using two complete stations, side by side, and the awesome antenna farm at the W5KFT Ranch, we broke the record in just over 24 hours.  As the 2nd day wore on, we kept changing our goals.  First we went for 2.5M, then 3.0M, then 3.5M and finally, although nearly impossible to obtain, we set our sights on 4M points.

What started out as a leisure operation, turned into a grueling, all-out gut wrenching performance that left us both completely drained at the end.

With less than 15 minutes to go before the end of the contest, we finally reached 4M points.  A big thanks goes out to Ron and to Bryan, W5KFT, for allowing us to use his station.  It was a memorable experience I’ll never forget.  Our final, now official score, is 4,009,824 pts.

Shari Stailey-Floyd

I was like many of Ron's friends thinking of him over the weekend. We couldn't do the contest as we just couldn't get into the mood.
K5DJ was a very dear friend.  We probably spent a million hours yacking on the phone. I think our first contest was the 1995 ARRL RTTY Roundup.  He wanted to do it and talked me into flying into Texas.  Great fun from his home in Round Rock.  Later that year Ron and I created the WW RTTY WPX contest. 

From the RTTY Journal to Dayton the WPX held in February had results and plaques out and at the RTTY contesting dinner which Ron created in April.  Less than 3 months setting a standard that hasn't been approached yet.

Many trips were planned and implemented.  We went to W5WMUJ's super station a couple of times and did well.  Many trips to the W5KFT ranch were made with Wayne K7WM (SK), Don AA5AU, and many others.  I missed the trip to Canada, work got in the way of that one.

As Wayne W5XD has stated without Ron there wouldn't have been the Writelog that we have today.  Ron couldn't type with a darn, so got Wayne to put in all the mouse stuff.  Many thought that an improvement over the WF1B software that we all used.

Having one program to do CW, RTTY, and SSB won me over.  I talked W5XD into keeping all the keyboard stuff that those of us who can type still use.

Many good times on the porch of the Ranch Shack, eating some Texas BBQ, and sipping a beverage of choice.

RIP old buddy.

Jay WS7I

We were schoolmates together.
Also Mrs. Stailey lived next door to my Mother after they both had moved into Abilene after leaving the country. I used to enjoy his visits when we were both visiting our parents.
RIP,
Charles Zachry

RTTY Contesting Stalwart Ron Stailey, K5DJ, SK
12/10/2019
Ron Stailey, K5DJ (ex-AB5KD), of Farmington, New Mexico — a major player in the 1990s amateur radio RTTY scene — died on November 25. An ARRL Life Member, he was 75.

“Ron dominated the RTTY contesting world in the late 1990s,” said Jay Townsend, WS7I. Stailey lived in Texas at the time. “Ron really enjoyed RTTY operating. When Wayne Wright, W5XD, a fellow resident of Round Rock, Texas, began developing one of the first Windows-based computer logging programs, Ron was an early adopter, and helped champion its tight integration with the state-of-the-art RTTY terminal hardware of the time.”

Stailey became the distributor of WriteLog. Ron’s first RTTY contest from the W5KFT Ranch Station was the 1996 ARRL RTTY Roundup, in which he operated under his own call sign, AB5KD, in the single operator, high power category. It was his first of five consecutive W/VE victories. It was also the first of five consecutive record scores in that category of the ARRL RTTY Roundup.

Stailey is credited with creating (with WS7I) the CQ World Wide RTTY WPX Contest and the North American QSO Party RTTY event. He served as RTTY Journal’s contest columnist and hosted the RTTY Contesters Banquet in Dayton for many years.

Ron K5DJ at W5KFT

Ron Stailey K5DJ (ex: AB5KD) dominated the RTTY contesting world in the late 1990s. With a modest
station at his home in Round Rock, Texas, Ron really enjoyed RTTY operating. When Wayne Wright
W5XD, a fellow resident of Round Rock, began developing one of the first Microsoft Windows-based
computer logging programs, Ron was an early adopter, and helped champion its tight integration with
the state-of-the-art RTTY terminal hardware of the time. Ron became the distributor of WriteLog,
freeing up Wayne to focus on software development. WriteLog soon became the premier computer
logging software for serious RTTY contesters, and Ron was always on the cutting edge.
Ron's first RTTY contest from the W5KFT Ranch Station was the 1996 ARRL RTTY Roundup, in which he
operated under his own call sign, AB5KD, in the Single Operator High Power category. It was his first of
five consecutive W/VE victories. It was also the first of five consecutive record scores in that category of
the ARRL RTTY Roundup, a feat that has never been accomplished before or since. Ron also dominated
the BARTG Spring HF RTTY Contest operating at the W5KFT Ranch Station, with two Single Operator High
Power world victories in 1998 and 1999, and two Multi-Operator Multi-Transmitter victories in 1997 and
2000. From 1996 to 2000, no other RTTY contest station in the world had as much success as the W5KFT
Ranch Station, operated by Ron Stailey K5DJ.
Between 1996 and 2002, Ron entered a total of at least 14 major RTTY contests from the W5KFT Ranch
Station. In addition to dominant victories in the ARRL RTTY Roundup and the BARTG Spring HF RTTY
Contest, Ron also had successful contest efforts in the JARTS RTTY Contest, the CQ WPX RTTY Contest,
and the CQ/RJ World Wide DX Contest, RTTY. Ron's last RTTY contest from the ranch was the 2002 ARRL
RTTY Roundup, in the Multi-Operator Single-Transmitter category with teammate Robert Brandon K5PI.
RIP, Ron, you will be missed by us all.
Brion

There would be no WriteLog today if Ron, who was AB5KD at the time, had not offered back in 1995 or thereabouts, to take over and manage WriteLog sales. I remember him better by the phonetics of his previous call, Killer Duck.
The only operating plaque in my possession was also due to Ron and from 1997. It was #1 in the World-Wide RTTY WPX contest as WU3V/5 at W5WMU (RIP Pat, as well) along with K5DJ, WSJI, WU3V, W5WMU, K5JZ, K5ET N5SYF, and K7WM. My job was to keep the WriteLog network up at all the operating positions (were there 5 or 6 of them?) and call CQ on 10m.
RIP Ron.
Wayne, W5XD

My dad was one of the most remarkable men that people can say they knew. He was a fireman for 25+ years who saved countless lives. He was an Army Veteran who served overseas in Vietnam. He was a substitute bus driver at the Round Rock school district for many years. He also drove a school bus for the Georgetown school district for several years and he drove for a private charter bus company with his daughter for 3 years. He loved being in service for and with others & made friends everywhere he went. If you knew my dad, then you already know that he was one of the most humorous men you've ever known. There wasn't one day that went by that he wasn't telling one of his stories and making people laugh so hard that they were almost falling out of their chair & ready to pee their pants! My dad always had some sort of hobby that he was involved with. He built & flew model airplanes, had a pigeon loft in the backyard where he raised & raced pigeons from point A to point B (point B was home). He built customized clocks that he would sell at one of the booths on Frontier Days in the main downtown square of Round Rock. He was known best and world wide for his ham radio contesting & the software he assisted in it's creation, sales, and service. Ham was a very serious thing for him. He placed in the number one spot for many years in a row. Sometimes he worked solo for these contests & sometimes for certain contests he had a team. He or with his team won top ranking spots every single year that he participated. I would work with him during his contest many a time throughout the years & my contesting began at the young age of 8 years old where I did his logging before there was a WriteLog software program. He always told me he couldn't have won that one without his lil blonde sidekick helping him. My dad was my best friend, my advisor, my pillar of strength, & my hero. I will miss him for the rest of my life, we all will! 
Until we meet again, daddy. I love you 💗

I was a ham radio friend of Ron's for a number of years.  We operated contests together at the Lake Buchanan station.  I was saddened to hear of his passing.  Please accept my condolences and wishes for peace and comfort in the coming days.

Monday, Nov. 25th, 2019 my family lost a foundational pillar, influential example, and even funny-man; but we also gained an amazing Guardian Angel that will look over us for the rest of our lives. 
My Grandad was an awesome man that I'm proud to say had a lot to do with the man I've become. 
He has moved on to spend lots of quality time with other family members & friends amongst the stars, to include his great-granddaughter, Mia, that he finally got to meet for the first time as he crossed over.
He was, is, & forever will be loved by everyone that knew him; now he will be missed and Honored forever more. 
I love you greatly Papa... until we meet again, stay tuned, I'll continue to make you proud of your "#1 GrandSON"

My husband, partner, friend, companion, confidante, lover, father of our precious children, my very soul, has left us for his Heavenly Father. May he have healing and peace. I shall miss him with everything in me. But where ever I go, whatever I do going forward, he will walk beside me and reside within me and I will Honor him.

I came to know Ron as a fellow Ham Radio Operator many years ago. He and I shared similar passion for Radio Teletype even if his knowledge of this far exceeded my own.

He was always patient with my many emails. Always answering, never assuming anything, and always with great sincerity. 

He was of course very competitive and it was always nice to contact him during one of the many amateur radio competitions we both entered every year.

To his family, I extent heartfelt condolences to you. To friends, fellow amateur radio operators who knew Ron well, my condolences to you are no less sincere.

We have lost a great human being. A true gentleman. May he Rest in Peace and Rise in Glory and may Light Perpetually shine on him.

OBITUARY

Ronnie Jan Stailey

October 12, 1944 – November 25, 2019

Cook-Walden Capital Parks Funeral Home & Cemetery

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