Silent Keys

In amateur radio, a “Silent Key” (SK) is a respectful term used to refer to a ham radio operator who has passed away.

Why “Silent Key”?

• Historically, Morse code operators used a telegraph key to send messages.

• When an operator died, their “key” would go permanently silent.

• The term became a tradition in the amateur radio community to honor and remember operators who are no longer with us.

Jim Cooper, NØJC

Garry Moore, KD1EQ

Jarit Keith, KØTNL

Joe Bellis, KØRMF

Bruce Boulden, KDØHRY

Jim Bowers, KØDQA

Willie Bryan, KCØXB

Earl Chasteen, KØVKE

Jack Chronister, KAØLBE

George Clark, W9AVQ

Ed Cole, WØYBQ

Lloyd Corvick, KØYIM

Joe Davis, WØZZI

Glen Duckworth, ACØO

H. L. Estes, WØBOE

August (Doc) Euges, KØRME

John Frye, WJØU

Irma Frye, NØJPJ

Ralph Fuhrmann, Sr., KØQVR

Sandra Fluegge, WNØGRO

Gerald Grasso, WWØG

Morris Haman, WØTFH

Warren Harding, WØPXQ

Steve Hay, KD7EV

Jarit Keith, KØTNL

Phil Leible, WØQMF

Elmer Lind, WØBDS

Gerald Lintner, NØQNR

Joe Lorberg, WAØZNI

John MacBride, KØYIN

Darrell Mangrum, KDØKDU

Joe Marsh, NØCCE

Gene Marshall, WAØBFW

Brian Miller, WAØWIV

Vincent Miller, WAØOVE

George Neilson, W9TX

Raymond Nunnelly, KØZAN

Bill Poe, WAØWIW

Melvin Rickard, WØKNL

Fred Schneider, WØECE

Bill Sides, NØPIO

William Silverstein, WKØE

Elmer Southard, KBØDBE

Robert Stephens, KEØNSG

Fr. Ellsworth Stone, WA9ZXT

Martha Vandivort, NØXBW

Jude Williams, WØJTW

Otha Wingo, KDØLMI