W8USR - Special Events

Honoring Senator Barry Goldwater K7UGA

Biography & Legislative Legacy

Barry Goldwater was born on January 2, 1909, in Phoenix, Arizona, in what was then the Arizona Territory. After performing poorly academically as a high school freshman, Goldwater was sent by his parents to Staunton Military Academy in Staunton, Virginia, where he played varsity football, basketball, ran track, and competed in swimming; was senior class treasurer; and attained the rank of captain. He graduated from the academy in 1928 and enrolled at the University of Arizona, but dropped out after one year. Later, in 1964, Barry was the Republican nominee for President of the United States. For his entire life, Goldwater was an Episcopalian, though on rare occasions he referred to himself as Jewish. While he did not often attend church, he stated that "If a man acts in a religious way, an ethical way, then he's really a religious man—and it doesn't have a lot to do with how often he gets inside a church."

During his time in Congress, Senator Goldwater supported the right to vote for people 18 years or older, repealed the Military Selective Service Act, and was responsible for the historic "Goldwater Amateur Radio" legislation that established the VEC program, the Amateur Auxiliary, and exempted Ham Radio from the secrecy provisions in the Communications Act of 1934. This important legislation also permitted the FCC to set RFI susceptibility standards for home electronic equipment.

A Champion for Amateur Radio

Goldwater was a prominent spokesman for amateur radio and its enthusiasts. Beginning in 1969 and for the rest of his life, he appeared in many educational and promotional films about the hobby produced for the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) by such producers as Dave Bell (W6AQ), ARRL Southwest Director John R. Griggs (W6KW), Alan Kaul (W6RCL), Forrest Oden (N6ENV), and Roy Neal (K6DUE). His first appearance was in Dave Bell's The World of Amateur Radio where Goldwater discussed the history of the hobby and demonstrated a live contact with Antarctica. His last on-screen appearance dealing with ham radio was in 1994, explaining an upcoming Earth-orbiting ham radio relay satellite.

Electronics was a passion for Goldwater beyond amateur radio. He enjoyed assembling Heathkits, completing more than 100 of them and often visiting their maker in Benton Harbor, Michigan, to buy more before the company exited the kit business in 1992. Barry received his first Amateur radio license in 1922 with the call 6BPI. While living in Washington D.C., Barry maintained the call sign K3UIG. He was the President of QCWA in 1972-1973, a Life Member of ARRL, and a Life Member of the Central Arizona DX Association (CADXA). Senator Goldwater passed away on May 29, 1998.

On February 14, 2004, the Town of Paradise Valley, Arizona, paid homage to its native son by dedicating a 1-1/2 Acre memorial park in his honor. The site contains historic references, including 8 bronze medallions showing various aspects of K7UGA's life. The Central Arizona DX Association is privileged to have received as a commemorative call, the K7UGA callsign. As a Lifetime Member of CADXA, along with his notable contributions to the amateur radio community and permission from his family, the K7UGA callsign is periodically activated as a Special Event Station in his memory.

Station Log: Contact History

Date	Special Event Call	My Callsign	Time (UTC)	Band	Mode
November 8, 2003	K7UGA	W8USR	18:10 UTC	20 Meters	SSB