Remembering My Father-In-Law

I remember Dave Drew as a very kind man. He came to visit several times after I married his daughter. I know that he has been very many things in his life: a cook, a realtor, a computer guru, but most of all a guy that knew everything about amateur radio.
I was first introduced to his hobby on our first visit with him in Washington. He showed me through his Ham Shack and told me all about the different people throughout the world that he has QSO'd with on the radio, mostly in morse code(CW). Then it was off to my first "Field Day". We went to a park where a good many other Hams were either setting up their radios or "talking" on them to make as many contacts as possible.
I also remember that he at one time had a tele-type machine connected to his radio that he could receive messages and send message over the tele-type.
Dave knew PERL, a computer script language, and had worked with tektronics as a computer specialist.


In the 1980's and 90's, I worked for Johnson Controls and helped install some computer controls at the John Day and the Dalles dams which allowed me to visit him and Rose quite a few times. Whenever I spent the weekend with them or just came over on a Saturday, Dave would take Rose and me to the beach. I really enjoyed those times. We visited Long Beach and Cannon Beach. We went to Sand Castles at Cannon Beach, a memory that will always stay with me. As a matter of fact, whenever my family and I have gone to the beach at South Padre Island, I like to make my version of Sand Castles in the sand of the Gulf coast with my Texas Gator.
Dave has always encouraged me to do more with my radio license but I just can't seem to hear the difference between a dit and a dah.

I love you and will miss you. 73's until we meet again.
Love Mike