 HS Photo - 1928 |
Ero Erickson Chicago, IL QCWA # 776 OOTC # 2223 RCA Fellow SOWP Chapter 2 |
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When my my old boss and pal, Ero E. Erickson, then W9HPJ, and later KA9DYS (he was so busy he let his ham ticket expire) died just a few years ago, his family emptied his cellar . full of priceless memorabilia pertaining to the police portion of the wireless art.
I was in the process of changing QTH myself, groveling through 32 years of living too long in one place and didn.t dare tackle the job of sorting through all of his big cardboard boxes, notebooks and photos. So I had to turn down the job, advising them instead to contact the Association of Police Communications Officers for whom Ero had been a steady correspondent and author. I might have taken the task after my own move was completed but then I began planning a move to Canada. I know there was a treasure trove in all that material.
Ero used to spend large chunks of his vacation time visiting and photographing police radio stations and personnel across the country. He was primarily responsible for more than half the size of the CW network, coaxing some out-of-the-way cities and states to hire FCC-licensed telegraphers.
Rod Newkirk, W9BRD
(Source: www.msprg.com (W9BRD, Rod Newkirk, 2002))
While in the course of study of Electrical Engineering at the age 18 Ed Folta was hired by the late Ero Erickson who owned and operated E-Lectronics Co., in Chicago. Erickson had a strong influence on him and his determination to continue in the business. Ero Erickson (a well known author and radio pioneer, early NABER member and officer, Illinois State Police Radio, Radio Club of America, QCWA - Amateur Radio W9HPJ) who operated E-Lectronics Co., Inc. since the early ´50´s, emphasized the need for quality customer service by an independent supplier.
Folta has continued in this philosophy, as an independent communications contractor. Com/Rad became incorporated under the laws of the State of Illinois in 1977. For over 40 years Folta and Com/Rad has focused on service and development of mobile communication systems in Northeastern Illinois, sites across the United States and International Markets.
(Source: com-rad.com)
Credit: Illinois State Police Comm. Officers (Christmas 1947, Ero in middle)
Credit: Old Old Timers Club (OOTC)
Credit: Society of Wireless Pioneers (SOWP)
Everything on this webpage was stolen from the National Silent Key Website page for KA9DYS