W6AW 1973 Coarsegold, California

The operator was Roland Dufour "Rich" Richardson, W6AW, ex-W6AVH and 6AVH in 1921.
He was a ship radio operator beginning when he was 18 years old.
His first ship was the M/S City of Panama, callsign "RXZ" in 1925.
His sea-going career took him around the world and lasted into the early 1930's and the title of Chief Operator.
He served in the U.S. Merchant Marines during WWII.
He was born November 26, 1907 in Chico, California and died July 1 1981 in Madera, California.

I sat by his leg as he reached around the world on his radio. My heart is still in my thought having found this. I miss him so much. Grand daughter Diane.

While attending Fremont HS in Oakland, CA, grandpa qualified for his W6AW HAM operator’s license and was active in the schools radio club. His freshmen year (age 14) he endeavored to build his own HAM Radio then applied to receive his license. This was the beginning of the key’s service in my grandpa’s able hand.

He attended PolyTech School in Oakland. In the 30’s, he worked as the merchant marines radio operator on the maritime ships of Alaskan Packers. He went on to work for Matsen Passenger Lines as their radio operator and photographer. He sailed from California westward to the orient and back. He said, “I remember pulling into the aouhu with only one hotel on Waikiki. A pink one at that.”

This is my grandfather's beautiful code key!
Morse Code Key is from his work as the Radio Operator at Marconi Radio ship to shore station in Marshall, CA. Located on Tamales Bay (1939-42). After this, the war began and he took a job in the shipyards in Valero as a planner and estimator and provided assistance in the work on the Nautilus nuclear submarine. During this time his passion and call W6AW for HAM operating went private for the remainder of his life.

He gave me his Philco radio and just by turning the dial, I could hear chatter in strange languages from all around the globe.

QSL Patrick Rigg Collection
Info courtesy of W5KNE
Info, Photos from his grand daughter Diane Richardson Hill