01/09/2025

By HWN Net Manager Bobby Graves, KB5HAV ÿ

It is with a heavy heart that I announce the passing of Terrence "Terry"
Redding, Sr., Ph.D., W6LMJ, SK. Just before Christmas, I heard from one of
Terry's daughters that he suffered a bad stroke a few months earlier. Sadly, he
passed away January 4, 2025. His daughter said he passed holding the hand of
his bride as they listened to their favorite song.

According to information Terry posted on his QRZ page, he was born in 1948 in
Torrance, California. He became interested in amateur radio as a result of
helping his father recover electronic components from old television sets. From
those, he built crystal radio sets, strung antennas, and built solid-state beat
frequency oscillators. He was later introduced to amateur radio by a good
friend while taking electronic classes at Torrance High School.

As Terry stated on his QRZ page, he "attended El Camino College pursuing an EE
degree, and worked for the Electron Dynamics Division, Hughes Aircraft Company.
The plant moved from the Los Angeles airport site to Torrance, which involved
me working 12 hours a day, seven days a week for about six months, during which
I lost my college deferment and became eligible for the draft."

Terry was drafted into the US Army in 1968. He was selected for Field Artillery
Officer Candidate School and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in 1969. Terry
later served in Vietnam. He retired as a Major. Over the years, he was
stationed in Augsburg and Aushaffunsburg, Germany, Fort Sill, OK, Fort Ord, CA,
and the Panama Canal Zone. He co-authored the Field Acquisition Training Manual
with General Tommy Franks and, through ham radio as part of his doctoral
degree, met and interviewed the man who became aware of the pending attack on
Pearl Harbor. Terry was well-known wherever he lived. He loved his family,
astronomy, and amateur radio.

I first met Terry shortly after I joined the Hurricane Watch Net back in early
2000. Terry was one of the longest-serving active members of HWN...40 years. He
also served as a board member of Hurricane Watch Net, Inc. for 9 years. ÿ Terry
joined the Hurricane Watch Net[1] in 1984 while stationed in Panama, using the
call sign HP1XTR. His first storm to participate in was Hurricane Diana, which
made landfall just north of the North Carolina/South Carolina border. In 1987,
he returned to the US, living in Lawton, OK, and held the call sign of WB5LMJ.
In 1995, he relocated to West Palm Beach, FL, and was active using the call
sign W6LMJ. While living in West Palm Beach, Terry and his family,
unfortunately, experienced numerous tropical storms and hurricanes. However,
during those hurricanes, he found himself in the position of being a reporting
station.

In late 2016, I had the honor of making Terry an "Honorary Member" of the
Hurricane Watch Net for his 32 years of dedicated service. But this honor did
not slow Terry down. He would find a way to make himself available to assist in
whatever capacity needed every year, as he had always done. Terry's on-air
help, and more importantly, his friendship, will be greatly missed.

Terry leaves behind Barbara, W5HKY, his wife of almost 55 years; and his
children Terry Redding, Jr., KB5EHV, (Kelly); Sandra King (Harvey); Cynthia
Smith, KB5FIQ, (Joseph); Mary Elizabeth Fabian-Redding, KC5UFZ; Sarah Lynn
Redding, KC5YYT; and Michael, N4WTW, & Kirsten, KD4GUN, Glowaski; along with 17
grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren.

Editor's note: Redding was an ARRL Life Member, Teacher, Instructor, and
Volunteer Examiner. ÿ


[1] http://www.hwn.org


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