George J. Fritsch, Jr. was called home by his Lord on December 28, 2009 after a year of battling cancer.  George was born on September 6, 1929 in his parents' home in Baltimore, Maryland.  He was a 1948 graduate of Baltimore Polytechnic Institute where he enjoyed annual class reunions through this past October, leading the group in their fight song.  George was a long-time employee of the Maryland State Highway Administration and served in various capacities from Junior Draftsman to Bureau Chief of Materials Control.  He was a project engineer on parts of US 301 and US 50.  George proudly served his country during the Korean War. 

George was previously active as an Amateur Radio Operator (Ham Radio) and his call sign was WA3TOX.  In addition, he was a Boy Scout leader and Little League coach in the Glen Burnie, Maryland area for years.  He was an active member over the years at Arbutus United Methodist Church in Baltimore, Maryland, Emmanuel United Methodist Church in Bradenton, Florida and currently at Hillside United Methodist Church in Woodstock, Georgia.  George was a devoted choir member at all three churches.  He was also an active member of AARP Chapter in Woodstock, Georgia.  Over the years, George was an avid bowler and enjoyed bowling in Senior bowling leagues in both Bradenton, Florida and Woodstock, Georgia and had received several bowling awards.  

George was preceded in death by his wife of almost 55 years, Jeanne (Berrett) Fritsch.  He is survived by his current wife, Barbara (Westhoff) Fritsch, children Kurt Fritsch (WA3TOY) of Pasadena, Maryland and Linda Walsh of Roswell, Georgia.  He was blessed with three grandchildren who called him "Pop", Andrew Walsh, Sarah Walsh, and Jessica Fritsch. 

George's ashes will be interred at the Georgia National Cemetery in Canton, Georgia on December 31, 2009 with military decorum.  A memorial service will take place at Hillside United Methodist Church in Woodstock, Georgia at 2:00 p.m. on January 2, 2010.  Additional memorial services will take place at later dates in Baltimore, Maryland and Bradenton, Florida. 

George was loved by all he met and will be greatly missed.  

* Submitted by Kurt Fritsch (WA3TOY).  Kurt and George were GMRA members in the 70's and 80's.

This October marks the 40th anniversary of GMRA. Through it's membership, past and present, it has sustained it's reputation as one of the largest/friendliest repeater club in the State of Maryland and the largest and arguably the friendliest in Prince George's County. Shortly after activating  the 146.610 repeater in October 1971 and the 146.880 repeater a year later, membership peaked at 300.

Forty years later, when many clubs have diminished membership or have closed their doors, GMRA can boast a membership of 249. It is also noteworthy to mention the support to ARES first responders, community events and repeater reliability that is virtually unfailing. No small feats.

73, Murray Green, K3BEQ

ARRL Honorary Vice President Hugh Turnbull, W3ABC, of Silver Spring, Maryland, died September 14 at age 93.

Turnbull served the ARRL as Atlantic Division Vice Director (1980-1982) and Director (1982-1996).

The ARRL Board named him Vice President in 1996 and Honorary Vice President in 2000.

Aside from his long and distinguished service to the ARRL, Hugh wasactively involved in several DC-area Amateur Radio clubs and organizations, including the Foundation for Amateur Radio, a group of clubs from the Maryland, Washington, DC and Northern Virginia area that awards scholarships to deserving radio amateurs.

In 2005, the Quarter Century Wireless Association awarded Turnbull aspecial plaque recognizing his "exceptional contributions to Amateur Radio in general and for outstanding work in the selection of recipients for the QCWA scholarship awards. "He was also a charter member of the Goddard Amateur Radio Club.

A licensed and active radio amateur since 1932, Hugh's engineering career included employment with the FCC, the Voice of America and NASA.

Upon hearing of his death, ARRL President Kay Craigie, N3KN, whoserved as Atlantic Division Vice Director during Hugh's tenure as Director, said: "Hugh's life was devoted to serving his country and Amateur Radio. Many times I heard him say that each of us should give something back to ham radio. He was my first mentor in ARRL leadership, and it was my good fortune to have his example to learn from."

ARRL Chief Executive Officer David Sumner, K1ZZ, added: "Hugh was an exemplary member of 'The Greatest Generation' who unselfishly took on whatever needed to be done for the common good." According to his daughter, Karen Shangraw, Turnbull will be buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery

Fresno, Calif. –  iPhone, beware?

The newest trend in American communication isn't another smartphone from Apple or Google but one of the elder statesmen of communication: Ham radio licenses are at an all time high, with over 700,000 licenses in the United States, according to the Federal Communications Commission.

Ham radio first took the nation by storm nearly a hundred years ago. Last month the FCC logged 700,314 licenses, with nearly 40,000 new ones in the last five years. Compare that with 2005 when only 662,600 people hammed it up and you'll see why the American Radio Relay League -- the authority on all things ham -- is calling it a "golden age."

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