At his 80th birthday party held in Tuxedo Park, NY, Dick Ross, K2MGA announced the founding of the CQ Contest Hall of Fame. The first Hall of Fame inductee was K2GL. Since that day in September 1986, 45 members have been inducted. Just how did it all happen?

• HISTORY
   

  Buz Reeves, K2GL 80th birthday would be arriving soon. Since this event only happens to some of us, a celebration was in order. Doug, KR2Q thought it would be nice to gather together at a party all of operators who had operated at K2GL over the years. A party was going to be a tough thing to put together and the current op's at K2GL were concerned how they could pull this thing off FOR Buz, but without intruding ON Buz. They couldn't exactly have a surprise party and have him signing some business deal in W6-land.
   

  KR2Q told Buz that the operators wanted to celebrate his 80th Birthday with him. Doug's plan was to have a BBQ at Buz's QTH in Tuxedo Park, NY. The operators would buy the hamburgers and hotdogs. When told of the plan, Buz said (without skipping a beat) that the party could take place at the Duck Cedar Inn (Buz's own restaurant in Tuxedo, NY), and that additionally, we should invite ALL M/M op's who operated WITH him and ALL M/M op's who also operated AGAINST him.
   

  This was a daunting task. KR2Q contacted Gene, N2AA to help find the names of some previous op's who had "vanished". They split up the list with Gene asking Frankford (FRC) contesters and Doug trying to find the rest. KR2Q called all over the US trying to locate previous K2GL op's and competitors. Buz's western competitors, W7RM, K6UA and N5AU were contacted. Unfortunately, for most operators outside of the YCCC, FRC & PVRC area, it was simply too far and expensive to attend. But all were invited.
   

  While putting the celebration together, KR2Q tried to figure out a way to honor Buz for his ham accomplishments. There was a Ham of the Year award and there was the HamVention (R). There was a DX Hall of Fame and the Visalia DX Convention. Why not a CONTEST Hall of Fame?
   

  KR2Q called Dick Ross, K2MGA the president of CQ Publishing and told him of the plan for the birthday party and the possibility for the creation of a CQ Contest Hall of Fame. Dick thought it was a great idea and endorsed it on the spot.
   

  Buz's great contributions to contesting included not only the spawning of top operators' (in that day), but the ACTUAL creation of the M/S and later the M/M categories. K2GL's history of wins is still unmatched. K1AR even described the K2GL saga of win's as a dynasty.
   

  Most of the attendee's that can be identified from photos taken at the party are:
  K1DG, K1KI, K1VR, K1ZM, K2GL, K2GM, K2MGA, K2NG, K2RR, K2TR, K2TT, K2TW, K2UU, K3DI, K3EST, K3JJG, K3JLA, K3LR, K3ND, K3NZ, K3OO, K3RV, K3UA, K3WW, K3ZUF, K5NA, K5ZD, K6SSS, K6UA sent a gift, KC8C, KR2Q, KT3M, KU2M, KU2Q, N1XX, N2BA, N2NT, N2WT, N3AD, N3RS, N4IN, NF2L, NT2X, VE3BMV, W1WY, W2AO, W2GD, W2RQ, W2SKE, W3AZD, W3BGN, W3FV, W3GM, W3GRF, W3LPL, W3MM, W6AXX, W7RM sent a card, W9LT, WA2DHF, WB2BHC

   

  The Present CQ Hall of Fame
  

• Who can nominate?
  The person must be nominated by a well known club or national organization. The nominee does not have to be a member of the nominating group. The nominating group should submit a complete summary of why their nominee is worthy of induction into the CONTEST or DX Hall of Fame. The letter of nomination must be written on club stationary or submitted via internet under the signature of a club or national organization officer.

   

• Guidelines
  The nominee must have contributed on a broad basis to the sport of Contesting or DXing. Being very active in contests and DXing are only part of the pre-requisites. Since each person has unique qualifications it is difficult to specify what constitutes contributions on a broad basis. As a partial guideline to nominating clubs or national organizations, persons who have been inducted in the past into a Hall of Fame have contributed in some or all of the following ways: brought new people into the hobby, formed radio clubs, organized DX funding, written books or articles about the sport, unselfishly given their time to judge contests, acted in a leadership role to organize DXpeditions, pioneered the early developed of the sport or acted as an acknowledged role model for their sport.
     All nominations should be sent to:
  CQ Hall of Fame c/o BobCox, K3EST,
   or
  Email: k3est@cqww.com

• Deadline
  The deadline for nominations is JANUARY 1. Nominations received after the deadline will be held over to the next year. Successful nominees will receive their plaque of induction into the CQ Hall of Fame at the Contest or DX Banquet held at the Dayton Hamvention.

Here are the members:

The following are members of the CQ Contest Hall of Fame. All have contributed to amateur radio in many ways. The first Hall of Fame inductee was K2GL. At his 80th birthday party held in Tuxedo Park, NY, Dick Ross, K2MGA announced the founding of the CQ Contest Hall of Fame. Since that day in 1981 there have been 45 members who have been inducted.

   The following are all the members of the CQ Contest Hall of Fame. All have contributed to amateur radio in many ways.

1. Hazzard "Buzz" Reeves, K2GL Sept. 1986
2. Katashi Nose, KH6IJ Apr. 1987
3. Al J. Slater, G3FXB Apr. 1988
4. Martti Laine, OH2BH Apr. 1989
5. Bernie W. Welch, W8IMZ June 1989
6. Leonard Chertok, W3GRF Dec. 1991
7. W. Gerry Mathis, W3GM Dec. 1991
8. Frank Anzalone, W1WY Apr. 1993
9. Jim Lawson, W2PV Apr. 1993
10. Ed Bissell, W3AU Apr. 1993
11. Fred Laun, K3ZO Apr. 1993
12. Vic Clark, W4KFC Apr. 1993
13. Rush Drake, W7RM Apr. 1993
14. John Thompson, W1BIH/PJ9JT Apr. 1994
15. Atilano de Oms, PY5EG Apr. 1994
16. Herb Becker, W6QD Apr. 1994
17. Ken Wolff, K1EA Apr. 1995
18. Dick Norton, N6AA Apr. 1995
19. Jim Neiger, N6TJ Apr. 1995
20. Tine Brajnik, S52AA Apr. 1995
21. Ville Hiilesmaa, OH2MM May 1996
22. Lew Gordon, K4VX May 1996
23. Bob Cox, K3EST May 1996
24. Carl Cook, AI6V May 1997
25. Gordon Marshall, W6RR May 1997
26. John Devoldere, ON4UN May 1997
27. Jorge Humberto Bozzo, LU8DQ May 1997
28. John Dorr, K1AR May 1997
29. Eugene Walsh, N2AA May 1998
30. Roger Western, G3SXW May 1998
31. Glenn Rattmann, K6NA May 1998
32. Richard Frey, WA2AAU May 1998
33. Francis Donovan, W3LPL May 1999
34. John Crovelli, W2GD May 1999
35. Larry "Tree" Tyree, N6TR May 2000
36. Walter Skudlarek, DJ6QT May 2000
37. Algis Kregzde, LY2NK May 2001
38. Ron Sigismonti, N3RS May 2001
39. Leif Ottosen, OZ1LO, May 2002
40. Ken Keeler, N6RO May 2003
41. Dan Street, K1TO May 2003
42. Steve Bolia, N8BJQ May 2004
43. Trey Garlough, N5KO May 2004
44. Rusty Epps, W6OAT May 2005
45. Jeff Briggs, K1ZM May 2005
46. Tim Duffy, K3LR May 2006
47. Bill Fisher, W4AN May 2006
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