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John C. Hennessee Newington, CT QCWA # 31986 Chapter 149 |
Long-time ARRL Headquarters staff member John Hennessee, N1KB, of Newington died March 2, 2006. He was 42. A Headquarters employee since 1986, Hennessee was a regulatory information specialist in ARRL Field and Educational Services. In that role, he answered a seemingly never-ending stream of members´ questions about FCC rules and regulations and other legal issues pertaining to ham radio. He also was the primary editor for The ARRL FCC Rule Book. ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ, described Hennessee as "a valued member of the Amateur Radio community far outside the walls of Headquarters" who achieved a lot in his short lifetime.
John Hennessee, N1KB, spent a lot of his working hours on the telephone or on e-mail answering members´ questions about FCC rules and other Amateur Radio regulatory issues. "John came to Newington 20 years ago, fresh out of college, and quickly became an expert in FCC rules and local land-use regulations affecting radio amateurs," Sumner commented. "His death leaves a hole in the fabric of the ARRL family."
ARRL General Counsel Chris Imlay, W3KD, expressed his own shock at Hennessee´s death and spoke highly of his dedication. "I don´t think many people at Headquarters worked harder or more diligently than John," Imlay said. "He helped me so many times, and he never failed at anything I asked of him. It is a very sad day indeed."
Long-Time Radio Amateur
First licensed at age 14 as KA4AUR in his hometown of Cheraw, South Carolina, Hennessee joined the ARRL Headquarters staff as in 1986 following graduation from Wingate College in North Carolina. ARRL Contest Branch Manager Dan Henderson, N1ND, has known Hennessee since their Novice days.
"When John first got on the air, he spent a lot of time on many of the various Novice nets in the South," said Henderson, who notes that he and Hennessee shared an Elmer. "I fondly recall the times we would chat before the Carolina Novice Net, then one of us would be NCS. Our hobby was better because of John." A North Carolina native, Henderson said he would miss chatting with Hennessee about mutual friends "back home."
The FCC Rules "Go-To Guy"
To handle hundreds of questions each year regarding how to interpret the FCC rules required Hennessee to keep abreast of ongoing Amateur Radio legal and regulatory matters and proceedings. That task became increasingly difficult for him as his eyesight and general health continued to fail. Nonetheless, he persevered in keeping on top of what was happening in areas ranging from the PRB-1 limited federal pre-emption and covenants, conditions and restrictions (CC&Rs) affecting ham radio antennas to new Amateur Radio rules and privileges, license restructuring, reciprocal licensing and licensing rules and procedures in other countries. He also maintained the regulatory pages on the ARRL Web site.
Hennessee discussed his work as regulatory information specialist during last fall's ARRL New Section Managers' Workshop at Headquarters. [Tom Blackwell, N5GAR, Photo] Earlier in his Headquarters tenure, Hennessee for several years edited the "Washington Mailbox" and "Happenings" columns in QST. Over the years, he also contributed to The ARRL Handbook, the ARRL Operating Manual and Now You´re Talking!
ARRL Hudson Division Vice Director Joyce Birmingham KA2ANF, said Hennessee´s passion for and knowledge of Amateur Radio and his love for people would be missed. "His faith inspired, lifted him up and carried him throughout his years as he battled health problems and failing eyesight," she said.
Active In and Within Amateur Radio, Community
In the past, Hennessee attended the weeklong winter session Handi-Ham workshop in Malibu, California. From 1986 to 1994, he was the coordinator of the ARRL Plan for the Disabled and taught courses annually at the Handi-Ham camp in Minnesota.
"Campers loved his gentle Southern manner--unfailingly polite and ever so patient, John made each Handi-Ham member feel like a long-lost friend!" said Handi-Ham Manager Patrick Tice, WAØTDA. "No question was ever too difficult."
Hennessee "absolutely loved his work at ARRL, and it really showed," Tice observed. "He was one of the best ambassadors one could imagine for Amateur Radio and ARRL." Tice also expressed his respect for the League´s working with John´s disability.
In addition to ARRL, Hennessee also belonged to the Quarter Century Wireless Association and was an active member of the Newington Amateur Radio League, where he was a Field Day regular. Over the years, he enjoyed operating various bands and modes--often as a guest operator at W1AW or at the Headquarters club station W1HQ; a bit ironically, Hennessee couldn´t have antennas at his condominium. Hennessee enjoyed CW and low-power operating (QRP).
In addition, he was an active member of the Newington United Methodist Church and was on the Board of Directors of the Newington Kiwanis Club, where he was a member for more than 18 years. Hennessee also was involved in the American Cancer Society´s "Relay For Life" and was assisting with the recruitment committee at the time of his death.
"Gave His All" to Amateur Radio
Hennessee with some of the first copies of the then-latest edition of The ARRL FCC Rule Book, which he edited. Those who knew or worked with Hennessee remember him as consistently friendly, selfless, loyal, gracious, upbeat, willing and eager to help whenever and wherever needed and, above all, as an asset to Amateur Radio in general and to the ARRL in particular.
"The world is a better place because of John, and a sadder place without him," said Senior Assistant Technical Editor Larry Wolfgang, WR1B, who worked with Hennessee on numerous publications. Former ARRL staffer Brennan Price, N4QX--now an attorney and an ARRL Volunteer Counsel--credited Hennessee with teaching him "everything I know about Amateur Radio regulation."
Former ARRL Field and Educational Services Manager Rosalie White, K1STO, was Hennessee's supervisor during much of his HQ tenure. "John gave his all to ARRL Headquarters and to the League´s members," she said. "I was proud to supervise him. He would focus on a problem and let nothing distract him until he found the answer."
ARRL staff members gathered this week at Headquarters to reminisce about Hennessee. "I like to think ARRL provided him with an outlet to share his gifts with the world," Sumner observed. "Let's celebrate that this South Carolina boy improbably found a home in Newington, Connecticut."
Survivors include his mother, Carole Hennessee, two sisters and his beloved cat, Darlene. A service will be held Thursday, March 9, 11 AM, at First Methodist Church, Cheraw, South Carolina. Visitation begins at 10 AM.
