{"id":26,"date":"2025-12-31T00:56:15","date_gmt":"2025-12-31T00:56:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/192.168.86.64\/?page_id=26"},"modified":"2026-01-03T13:15:06","modified_gmt":"2026-01-03T19:15:06","slug":"history","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.w9lj.org\/index.php\/history\/","title":{"rendered":"History"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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The Beginnings of the LCARC<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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 LCARC History Lesson By
Joe Cress, W9GRA (SK)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Back  in the late forties, right after the conflicts of that time, John Macnac of  Whiting formed a radio club.  It consisted of many radio operators who had been trained in the service, eager to get their amateur radio licenses.  The FCC had  licensed some while in the service.  They had an advantage over the others that had to apply through the usual channels.  The plethora of surplus electronic  equipment was a ham\u2019s dreams come true.  Good, inexpensive radio equipment was available for the ham in quantities and prices never experienced before or  since.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It didn\u2019t take long for the hams in the area to quickly form an organization of men  and women with a common interest in radio.  From John Macnac\u2019s Whiting club grew  an organization that was second to none in the state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over  the years, high-speed C.W. operators like Kenny Monroe, and organizational types  like Chuck Rebert, and Bill DeGeer sparked interest in many a fledgling radio  ham in the area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I made my first radio contact as a civilian in the fall of 1949.  It was at that  time that I talked to a couple of hams named Herb Brier and Roy Hulvey.  They told me of a club that met at the Coast Guard station in Miller.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the years that followed, there were many places where the club held their  meetings.  For a time we met in Gil Galumbus\u2019s basement.  Gil\u2019s basement was used whenever other accommodations could not be found.  One meeting place in  particular was a challenge.  It was nothing but an excavation with four walls and a roof.  The low ceiling and lack o circulation caused a bit of a problem.   The members who were addicted to tobacco had little pity for their non-smoking brethren.  Normal breathing in these restricted quarters became a problem.  The  room was so thick with smoke you didn\u2019t know whether to breathe it or chew it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You  could always tell a member who attended club meetings.  They smelled of stale  tobacco smoke and looked at you through red, blood-shot eyes.  Those who were  members in another era can only appreciate today\u2019s meeting place and parking  accommodations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As  the membership and interest grew, it was inevitable that to protect the club and  its membership, incorporation was necessary, and to keep the members informed a  monthly newsletter was published.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To  break the winter doldrums an annual installation banquette was initiated.   Because of its popularity and large attendance, tickets were sold out far in
advance.  This, more often than not, cause some consternation for those who  failed to purchase their tickets in time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When  Master of ceremonies, Chuck Reberg, opened the banquet in his distinctive  booming voice by saying: \u201cLadies and gentlemen, let\u2019s eat\u201d it was to an eager  audience that needed no encouragement.  They were all anxious and ready to enjoy  the cuisine of Teibel\u2019s restaurant.  To this day the prize table and special  awards have never been equaled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many  speakers such as Leo Myers, of World Radio Labs and others often honored the  club with their presence.  Those in attendance always thought that it was an  experience well worth the small charge of  admission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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2019: LCARC amateur radio demonstration for a Boy Scout event at the Lake County Fairgrounds. <\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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1942: Gary Civil Defense Network<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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1950s: LCARC members Doc (W9WJU) and Jack (W9DDA) Miner working on a television.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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1957: Paraplegic LCARC member Herb Brier, W9EGQ operates from his bed. Herb was a popular writer for CQ and Popular Electronics magazines. The ARRL Herb S. Brier Instructor of the Year award is sponsored by the LCARC in his memory.<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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1996: After, American Eagle Flight #4184 crashes in Roselawn, the LCARC constructs a 150ft PiRod tower in Merrillville to increase coverage of our repeater systems for emergency communications.  Nick Cominos, W9UM is wiring rebar at the base of the tower.  <\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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2012: Celebrating our 60th anniversary as the Lake County Amateur Radio Club.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Club Callsign – W9LJ History<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Thanks to Mark, K9MQ for doing some research regarding the club call W9LJ.  Mark found:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 9LJ was held by Edwin W. Gould of Norfolk, Nebraska (this was prior to the 0 call district) according to the 1920 callbook. At this time all amateur calls began with a number.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 The next entry Mark found was for Glenn Imler of Gary, Indiana.  Glenn held W9LJ up until April 5, 1967 when he became a silent key.  Mark also found Glenn held W9LJ in the 1954 callbook, so he held the call prior to 1954, how long he could not determine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 Glenn was a transmitter engineer at WIND (see his obit on this page).  Glenn was also a charter member of QCWA Chapter 36.  It appears the club obtained the W9LJ call after Glenn became a Silent Key.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 The first time W9LJ showed up as assigned to the LCARC was in the Summer 1968 issue of the Callbook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 The LCARC also held special repeater callsign WR9AMU when the FCC required special repeater callsigns Mark could not determine when the call was first obtained, but the club held the call until they stopped renewing them in 1983.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 This information was obtained through callsign historian, W3HF, as well as, hamcall.net<\/a>‘s historical callsign databases from 1921, 1954, 1960, 1969, 1983, and 1995 and from the 1920 Callbook on Google Books.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Beginnings of the LCARC  LCARC History Lesson ByJoe Cress, W9GRA (SK) Back  in the late forties, right after the conflicts of that time, John Macnac of  Whiting formed a radio club.  It consisted of many radio operators who had been trained in the service, eager to get their amateur radio licenses.  The FCC had  […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":3,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-26","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.w9lj.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/26","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.w9lj.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.w9lj.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.w9lj.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.w9lj.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=26"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.w9lj.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/26\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":199,"href":"https:\/\/www.w9lj.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/26\/revisions\/199"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.w9lj.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=26"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}