An "old" friend of mine died this morning. I mean that in both the most literal and endearing ways possible. Bob Baird W9NN became a Silent Key at age 96. It took a disease the magnitude of leukemia to do it. When a recent diagnosis confirmed his condition, he declined chemotherapy and reportedly said, "Well, what the hell, I had a good run for it."

He died at his home, peacefully in his sleep, with friends at his side.

Most of us in this area got to know Bob when he moved to Plover after his retirement. He was a broadcast engineer for WGN in Chicago for 44 years. He was nearing his 70's then, "old" by actuarial standards. Those of us fortunate enough to have had the opportunity to work with him knew differently. Bob was full of fire. He was instrumental in starting a local chapter of the Quarter Century Wireless Association. He had helped found the national QCWA a few decades earlier. He was a supporter and avid volunteer each year at the State Summer Games of the Wisconsin Special Olympics held in Stevens Point. He was an active member of the Central Wisconsin Radio Amateurs at UWSP, where he did not hesitate to speak his mind or if necessary, step on some toes. He was a continuous member of the Rib Mountain Repeater Association. In these clubs he often urged the "dead wood... to get out of the way and make room for some younger blood and ideas."

He always had time for the young members of the group. On more than one occasion I recall seeing kids and adults alike held spellbound by Bob's storytelling of the early days of Amateur Radio and the high jinks he pulled to obtain equipment. How many of these stories were true? Embellished? I really don't want to know. Because... that was Bob.

Bob's tenacity at the business table will be remembered. But it was his social antics that will immortalize him in my memory.

I remember an "after meeting" gathering at a local watering hole that Bob was late in getting to. When he walked in, the group of about 20 Amateurs stood and applauded his arrival to razz him. He calmly walked to the head end of the table, raised his hand to quiet the crowd and announced, "I suppose you're wondering why I called you all here. Well, you're all FIRED!"

Bob was rarely seen without his trademark pocketful of cigars. When asked what kind he smoked, he'd often reply, "They're baseball cigars. They're called 'grounders'. I pick them up off the ground after following the dog!"

Around age 80 he needed a new car, so he bought a new Ford Probe. I remember him complaining that it was "...a little light on the 'zip' for me."
(Wayne Johnson K9MIF reminded me a the memorial service that that car also had a sign in the back window that said, "Get in... Buckle-up... Shut Up... and Hang-on!".)

For most of those retirement years he wintered in Florida. He was fond of returning in spring sporting a new "Miami Vice" baseball cap and passing around pictures of his girlfriend, a woman in her 50's. (Strange how it never seemed to be the same woman twice.) The indefatigable Bob attended one year's CWRA banquet escorted by a date 40 years his junior.

He had a way of impressing my girlfriends as well. I remember one CWRA banquet where the MC was having everyone stand and introduce themselves. When it was Bob's turn he arose, looked at my date and said, "I'm Bob Baird W9NN, and I'm the illegitimate son of K9DB."

Thank you Bob for sharing with us a side of Amateur Radio few more will ever know.
Thank you Bob for showing me I don't have to be afraid of living into my 90's.
Thank you for taking "One hell of a good run for it",

...old friend.

Paul Nelles K9DB

My gratitude to Wayne and Betty Johnson (K9MIF and WD9AUC) for extending to me the honor of asking me to read this at Bob's memorial service.
K9DB
7 Aug 2002

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