Let’s give credit where credit is due
You know I like to tell stories. Let me share another one with you. I’m a student of history. I have been since my undergraduate days. I am especially attracted to aviation history. Some of my fondest memories came from the fact that during my 20+ years in the Air Force, I was honored to meet many historical figures. In fact, while a student at the Air Force’s Air Command and Staff College, I was part of a project to honor 25 aviation greats.
Five of us were “selected” (military term for “you just volunteered”) to put together a program that resulted in a three-day event honoring the aviators. If there was a fun part of the program, it was that each of us got to select whom we wanted to come.
As an electronics type (avionics officer), I wanted someone who had contributed to aircraft avionics. So, I nominated Jimmie Dolittle. Dolittle was an innovator besides being a war hero. He was the first man to demonstrate instrument flying was possible. The story behind how he did it is amazing. (There’s a little homework for you.) Because of Dolittle, avionics became an integral part of flying.
When I met him, he was a frail man with a smile that would melt snow in Buffalo. I was awed at meeting him. I’m not usually shy or at a loss for words. Yet, when he walked in the room to meet with me, I couldn’t say a word. He just reached out, grabbed my hand and said, “Hi. My name is Jimmie.” It was all I could do to say, “Hi. My name is Roger.” I was almost in tears being in the same room with him. It was just the two of us. He told me about his technology demonstration. He took off and landed without seeing outside the aircraft. He depended on the instruments in the aircraft. He risked his life to prove instrument flying could be done.
I was absolutely enthralled as he told his story. After he finished, I was able to muster a few follow-up questions and concluded by telling him that it was an honor to meet such an innovator, warrior and hero. He looked at me and said, “I just flew the airplane. The real heroes designed the instruments.” What he didn’t say was he was one of the designers. Here was a Medal of Honor winner being truly humble and giving credit to others.
Land mobile radio ‘aviators’
I still get goose bumps when I meet or talk with someone who has made a difference in our way of life like Dolittle did. One such individual was Fred Link, whom I met only briefly prior to an RCA breakfast. Another was Al Gross, whom I didn’t meet personally, but talked with on several occasions prior to his passing. I wrote a short article about Al for MRT‘s sister publication RF Design and for the Proceedings of the Radio Club of America.
After writing about Al, I received several responses thanking me for the article. It was an honor to write about Al, so no thanks were needed. But some of the responses pointed out that there were others in the radio world such as Al (and Fred) who go unnoticed. Isn’t that a sad commentary?
We depend on technology advancements to further the industry and seem only to live in the moment. We tend to forget those who went before. I want you to help me fix that. I want you to help educate me. If you know of someone who has made a difference in the world of radio, please drop me a note. It would be an honor for me to bring these individuals to the attention of the industry. Let’s give credit where credit is due.
Viva Las Vegas
It’s hard to believe that another year has gone by and we are on the verge of returning to Las Vegas for IWCE, April 24-26. This will be my fifth; for some it will be their 26th. This year’s event promises to be outstanding. I’ve been assisting in putting the public safety track together, and I can tell you it will be exciting. While we are still firming things up, the topics will range from the events on Sept. 11 to Nextel spectrum issues. The other conference tracks are also shaping up to offer the kind of information you need to keep abreast of what is going on in the industry.
I look forward to IWCE every year. Of all the conferences I’ve attended, including military, aviation, security, electronic design and others, I find IWCE one of the most informative and just plain fun. Of all the industries I’ve had the honor to work with, I find no industry with a better sense of community than mobile radio. I look forward to seeing you in Las Vegas.
