WILLIAM
(BILL) DEACON – VE3UD QCWA # 14537 (SK)
Education / Employment History
1930 - Bill graduated with “Certificate of
Proficiency in Wireless Telegraphy” from Vancouver High School of Commerce
“Room 19”
1930-1939 - Bill served as a commercial radio
operator aboard 26 vessels from deep-sea tugs to trans-Pacific Empress liners,
many of which used spark rigs. He also spent 10 months at a logging camp in the
Queen Charlotte Islands during which radio operating was only a minor function.
1939-1964 - Bill joined Trans Canada Airlines (now
Air Canada) initially as a radio operator. He served on air/ground and point to
point position in Vancouver and Winnipeg and also was posted by TCA to
Lethbridge, Alberta and London, England. From 1950-1964 Bill was at TCA HQ in
Dorval where he eventually became responsible for all overseas
telecommunication services as well as air/ground, teletype switching centre,
700-line switchboard, TV displays throughout the terminal, and VHF equipment in
various mobile units.
Amateur Radio History
1933 - Bill was first licensed as VE5KU, and
operated using a breadboard 245 tube in TNT circuit.
1934 - When his call sign was cancelled for failure
to renew on time, Bill was issued VE5KQ, which he held until WWII broke out.
Successive call signs held after the war were:
1946 - VE6FO Lethbridge
1949 -
G3FFO Cranford, Middlesex near London Airport
1950-1964 - VE2KZ Dorval, Quebec
1964 - VE3BBR Ottawa (inactive)
1979 - VE3BDO Ottawa
1984 - VE3UD (following the death of Bud Punchard
VE3UD)
Bill obtained DXCC as VE2KZ while at Dorval.
He was a member of Society of Wireless Pioneers, CRRL, CARF, Champlain Repeater Association and Kingsmere Park-Gatineau Amateur Repeater Association. He was also a member of OARC and served as Groundwave Editor (1983-1985).
Bill spoke at several amateur radio meetings and
wrote several articles concerning his interesting experiences.
He was also a member of QCWA and served as
President of Chapter 70 (as VE3BDO) 1981-1982.