David Packard, Chairman of the Board and co-founder of Hewlett-Packard, was a ham in Colorado in his youth.  I never discovered his call, but he was truly a giant in so many ways.  Many HP management techniques were later adopted by modern business schools but most of them began with Dave.  He remains one of my very few business heroes and I treasure the integrity he instilled throughout Hewlett-Packard.  The letter below, sent to a lowly division manager, shows the concern for people Dave demonstrated throughout his life.

Peter DJ8WL operating DA0LF (experimental 137 kHz station) at Friedrichshafen 1997.  Peter was one of the most generous and humble hams I've ever met considering his many accomplishments.  His DXCC totals on 160 still stand among the top in Europe and his work on the 137 kHz band resulted in European access to that band. I now sponsor the World Single-Operator Plaque for the CQ 160 CW Contest in Peter's honor.  We all miss you Peter!  

Saito JA1XAF at his home in the late 1980's.  Saito and I became very good friends...he visited me frequently in Colorado and I often spent my weekends with him when I was in Japan on business.  I annually sponsor the JA Plaque for the CQ 160  CW Contest in memory of my good friend Saito.  Domo arigato and sayonara Saito-San!

Bahri TA2BK at Friedrichshafen in 1997.  I've known him on-the-air for over 20 years and it was a thrill to meet him since he was my first TA on 160 meters.  Many of you may recall Bahri operated  ZA2RPS as one of the few legitimate operations from Albania until until ZA1A was activated in 1991.  Bahri was very active in promoting amateur radio in Turkey and was also the most active station on 160.  Our prayers are with you and your family Bahri!

Don N4IN at his shack in Melbourne, FL in the late 1980's.  Don was years ahead of his time in the thoroughness he applied to checking logs for the CQ 160 Contest.  Today's UBN analysis is very similar to what Don did single-handedly 15 years ago with a Radio Shack TRS-80!  Thank you Don for the integrity you brought to the CQ 160...it remains my favorite contest today because of the traditions you started!

Here (L-R) are Jim K1MEM, Pierre HB9AMO, Ed W2FZY, Bill K1MM and Clark W8TN during my first trip to Dayton in 1985.  These guys were well-known on 160 in the mid-80's and Pierre was one of my first 3 European contacts on 160 from Colorado in early November 1984.  Unfortunately, since these happier times,  Jim K1MEM and Ed W2FZY have now passed away.  We all miss your big signals on Top Band!