|
Edwin A. 'Ed' Andress Poway, CA QCWA # 22008 Chapter 7 |
 FROM England-Edwin Andress, son of Mrs A. M. Hamilin, Fresno, and the late Ernest Andress of Isabella, wrote his mother from "somewhere in England," where he is with the A. E. F., that equipment to fight the war is needed. He likes intensive training he is receiving. |
 Capt. Edwin A. Andress, Fresno State. '40 |
Ed was born in Isabella, CA and later moved to Fresno, CA. Ed graduated from Cal State Fresno, with a degree in physics and minors in chemistry and math. While in high school he received his first Amateur Radio FCC license as W6KUT on May 25, 1934.
Ed served his Country during WWII joining the U.S. Army Signal Corps on December 5, 1941 and they gave him a direct commission as 2nd Lt. In Scotland, Ed was assigned to the RAF; he helped develop a new RADAR Fighter Control System, which improved shore RADAR defenses. He served during the Normandy invasion. Ed further commanded the RADAR Company through the Battle of the Bulge.
For his outstanding work in the war, Ed was awarded the Order of the British Empire, OBE (MBE class) and the Air Force awarded him the Legion of Merit.
The Air Force recalled Ed for two years in the Korean War.
In the 50s, Ed was a partner and Chief Engineer at radio KERO - Bakersfield. They obtained another license for KERO-TV. This was to become Bakersfield's first major network television affiliate.
During the 1960's, 70's and the 80's Ed's career turned to Aerospace Manufacturing and Sales. He enjoyed many years working for Ling Electronics in Anaheim and Spectral Dynamics in San Diego. He was well respected by his co-workers and met many lifelong friends.
Late in life, Ed went to sea as a Merchant Marine Radio Officer. He sailed with Chevron and later sailed the Indian Ocean via the USNS Regulus numerous times during Desert Storm.
Ed was widowed in 2000 with the passing of his wife, Betty Jean "Liz".
He is survived by his three children, son, Kurt and his wife Sharon; daughter, Anna Catherine and her husband, Donald and their daughter, Kimberly; seven grandchildren, Alissa and her husband Joe, Summer and her husband Joe, Brianna and her husband Will, Ryann, Christiana, Shea and Alexis; five great-grandchildren, Alexander, Brennan, Keaton, Joseph and Elijah. He is also survived by his loving companion, Diane.
A "Celebration of Life" will be held at his Poway home on July 4, 2009. No other services are planned.
RIP Ed Andress, W6KUT-A great Patriot of the Greatest Generation!
Published in Fresno Bee on 6/21/2009
The San Diego DX Club
Bulletin from June of 2009 has several items about W6KUT
W6KUT - elected to the club's DX Hall of Fame in 1995
W6KUT's biography
 FROM: https://k7nv.com/id27.htm - Station #1 - TS930 & Ten-Tec Titan The Ameritron RCS-8V antenna switch control box, above the rig, is not currently used. The top rotator control box is for the TH7, the lower one is for the C3. The box on top of the amp has switchable coax stubs between the transciever and amp. The box on top (right) is a homebrew 10-160 set of selectable receive bandpass filters (W3LPL design) with an 20 db, low noise figure, preamp. To the left of the keyboard is a left handed Vibroplex key. The little box to the left of the TS930 is where the headset is plugged in. This station is the preferred one for running due to the narrower International Radio CW filters in the 930, which used to terrorize the bands at W6KUT's place. The amp also used to belong to W6KUT. It saw its share of abuse, and the tubes are really dark, but still put out full power. I blew this amp up in the 2003 ARRL DX contest. W6ZZ & W6KUT got it running again and it has done well in the contests this year. |