Carol McGee Honored as 2014 Legacy Award Winner
 2014 Legacy Award winner Carol McGee along with
Liz Bigley (l), Mary Meiner (c), Judy Carpenter (r)
Carol McGee of Reno, Nevada has been named the recipient of the 2014 Legacy Award, presented by the Sisterhood Of Amateur Radio (SOAR), a worldwide organization dedicated to the advancement of amateur radio among women.
The annual award honors a woman who through her actions has helped to ensure that Amateur Radio continues into prosperity. Mrs. McGee, who will turn 95 in a few weeks, was first licensed in the 1930's as W8UCY. McGee received the award on December 12th before a capacity crowd at the University of Nevada Radio Pack and Quarter Century Wireless Association annual dinner in Reno, Nevada. A contingent of SOAR officers made the 450 mile trip across the state from Las Vegas to make the presentation. These officers included President Elizabeth "Liz" Bigley KD7RIN, Vice President Judy Carpenter KC7ZEV, and National Programs and Activities Director Mary Meiner KE7HKL |
 2014 Legacy Award
Before presenting the award, Liz Bigley spoke about the "Spirit of Amateur Radio" and how it is the foundation of what ham radio is today. She told about the origins of SOAR and how this spirit caused their group to come into existence.
"At SOAR, we believe that the spirit of amateur radio is perpetual, and is a gift from those hams who have came before us", said Mrs. Bigley, "it is these pioneering men and women who gave us the foundation and created the legacy which has made amateur radio what it is today". Mrs. Bigley then related how at age 19 this young YL went to nursing school for 3 years and then shipped off to serve her country as a U.S. Navy nurse in World War II. This caused young Miss Conner's ham radio career to be put on hold. |
W8UCY Operating in 1930's
(note picture of Hiram Percy Maxim on the wall)
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Her military service, coupled with a post war marriage to a Marine Corp pilot, put Carol McGee at base housing in Virginia, North Carolina, Texas, Florida, and Maryland. In time three children also came along.
Her husband John left the Marine Corp and began flying for American Airlines, relocating the family to his home town of Reno. Seven decades would pass before a recent, chance conversation at church between Mrs. McGee and Nancy Holder KF7YFT landed on the topic of ham radio. Since that time Carol McGee has had a renewed interest in amateur radio and hopes to be relicensed. "More than 70 years after she traded her Morse Code key for a stethoscope, Carol McGee has recently returned to ham radio" Bigley told the audience. "Of course, ham radio was here waiting...bigger and stronger than ever...thanks to the foundation given to us, in part, so many years ago, by a pretty young YL who went off to serve our country". |
 Carol McGee operating 40 meter CW
Interestingly enough, Carol McGee, a CW operator, has never spoken a single word over amateur radio and only recently held a portable radio for the first time. That is certainly about to change because at Saturdays dinner she won a handheld radio.
Also she will take the microphone for the first time on Monday December 14th when she assists Control Operator Nancy Holder in calling the Northwest Nevada Hospital Net from Renown Hospital-South Meadows. |
