In Memory of Wayne Hester, NK4T

Silent Key · Semmes, Alabama · licensed 1979 · Extra Class · ARRL Life Member

Wayne was HamSpace member #187, and the members remembered him on the Schedule board in June 2024. This is Wayne in his own words, from his QRZ page.

How it started

"I became interested in Amateur Radio at age 10 in 1958 from a Bookmobile edition of Boys Book of Radio. I built a kit crystal radio at 12 and at 14 found a 1963 ARRL Radio Handbook at the Brookley AFB PX in Mobile, AL which my parents said I couldn't have but it was under the Christmas tree anyway. I still have it."

Novice KA4KRU in 1979, General in 1980, Advanced KD4QP in 1981 and Extra Class NK4T in 1983. He trained on 4.5 - 5 GHz tactical microwave gear with the Army National Guard Signal Corps, worked as an industrial electrician at the Port of Mobile, built most of his first station from Heathkits, and earned ARRL CW WAS #36,662.

"I operated Navy MARS in the early 1980's... My most overwhelming experience was passing traffic from a Marine who survived the Beirut Barracks Bombing in 1983. It was the first message his mother had received about his survival. She was waiting by the phone because she answered it before the first ring ended."

Back on the air

After years away Wayne came back in August 2020 with an old trap dipole at 19 feet - and then, with a rollator and a lot of help, put his 50 foot Rohn tower and his 1980 KLM KT-34A "Flyswatter" beam back up.

"THIS IS MY CO-ENGINEER, MY DEAR WIFE DEBBIE... I am back on the air only because of her. ... She has climbed ladders, hung pulleys, helped me raise poles, helped me mix and pour concrete for anchors and helped me raise the 50 foot tower. ... I am not worthy of her."

He wrote it all up for other hams - tower and Hazer repairs, the beam refurbish, and a thunderstorm bulkhead he built so he could disconnect every cable from his rollator in under a minute. "Anytime you can please offer help to disabled hams and disabled people in general."

On the nets

HHH Net #187 · OMISS #1581 · 3905 Century Club #1122 · USTNET #278 · MARAC #R1735 · 10-10 International #31222 · SKCC #23867 · Deep South ARC and Mobile ARC.

"HERE ARE MY MOST TREASURED CERTIFICATES FROM THE 2022 10-10 SUMMER QSO PARTY: FIRST PLACE 4TH CALL AREA AND FOURTH PLACE WORLD. POWER 300 WATTS."

Wayne's obituary · All HamSpace Silent Keys

Text and pictures from Wayne's own QRZ.com biography, saved 11/01/2026 (calls get reissued, so the original page may now belong to someone else).