Section D Pg 30 Missoulian Centennial [Radio] Club’s Granddad Born in 1931
Club’s Granddad Born in 1931
The granddaddy of the Hellgate Radio Club, then known as the Missoula Amateur Radio Club, held its first meeting March 11, 1931. A. L. Smith was the first president, with J. M. Hamilton vice president and A. T. Phelps secretary-treasurer. The charter membership was 19.
Hoping to interest some of the high school and University boys in amateur radio, the club built its own station and installed it with the club call of W7B11. With the exception of the war years, the club grew steadily to its current membership of nearly 100. It is an active club with meetings held on the second Friday of each month and a monthly paper, the “Hellgate Static.”
Officers are Walt Polette, president: Jess Field, vice president, and Gerald Nelson, secretary-treasurer.
An important project, now in its sixth year, is the annual radio class conducted for approximately three months each winter. Basic theory and code are taught by members of the club. From an average enrollment of 30, about 12 pass the FCC novice examination and receive licenses to operate. The club offers this class as a public service, besides providing many with an interesting hobby and a laboratory for those who continue in the field of electronics.
50 Fixed Stations
Amateurs pride themselves on their ability to provide communications, especially in times of emergency. The Hellgate Radio Club members have available for their purpose 50 fixed stations, 11 mobile stations and seven portable generators.
Amateurs keep abreast of the latest techniques in communications through their own national organization, the American Radio Relay League, which publishes the official amateur magazine, QST. They are also active in civil defense, and Army, Navy and Air Force network activities.
The local club has 14 members enrolled in the military affiliate radio services and 21 members in the National Emergency Corps, with T. J. Rigby, a ham radio operator since 1912, as coordinator.