Silent Key: Donald G Kruml K7MMI 1927 - 1995
As a young boy in
the 30's, our Dad was very interested in electronics, radios and trains along
with a passion for fishing. Building small radios out of tubes, plywood, and dry
cell batteries, some of which he would mount to his Whizzer bike so he and
friends could stay in contact when traveling down to the train yards in and
around Portland Oregon and yes, even jumping a freight train with his camera to
some unknown location. He got his schooling from
For my
brothers and me, he was very influential in our understanding of radio,
electronics, and yes, trains. We would spend countless hours listening to the
old SX-42 in the dinning room, tuning back and forth around the bands looking
for any small bits of information. It was normal to hear the teletypes pounding
away out the in radio room under the squeal noise of tuning around in the HF
band.
So you see,
K7MMI is not just another call sign, but it's a life long memory of our dad and
all he taught me and my brothers. He passed away in 1995, one year before I
started the
Thanks Dad
for looking out for me and opening up so many opportunities.
Mom and I in the “Little Room” dads radio room. 1974
