At the request of Ellen White, W1YL, the W1CW/K4OJ Memorial Fund, which is administered by the Florida Contest Group, has made a donation to the Radio Amateur Society of Thailand's Tsunami Relief fund.

Find out more, by visiting the Radio Amateur Society of Thailand's web site.

To honor FCG founder Jim White, K4OJ (SK), FCG members signed "OJ" during the CW and SSB versions of the North American QSO Party in August, 2004.

Following the W1CW-W1YL move to the Tampa area, after Hurricane Andrew in 1992, W1CW, along with his son K4OJ, worked hard on developing a contest-worthy multioperator station. Their dream was to create an environment, along the lines of the traditional northern contest clubs, which could better educate contesters by allowing them a chance to operate in real time. In a contest weekend a newcomer, side by side with a seasoned contester, can learn what it might take him years to absorb on his own.

The daily maintenance of this station was a major portion of Bob's life during his final years, truly a labor of love, providing him with some of his happiest years in the hobby he so closely shared with his wife and son.

Many "Top Ten" and "Firsts" have been made from the station Bob built. The peak, perhaps, when under the stewardship of K4OJ, the station served as the hub for the Florida Contest Group's activation of the W1AW/4 ARRL Hq. Station during the 2000 IARU Radiosport Competition. The club's record score, with over 11,000 QSOs made from six stations throughout Florida still stands today.

In addition to being employed at the ARRL for over 26 years, Bob was the man who piloted the DXCC program during the heydays of the 60's and the 70's when DXpeditioning came to be. His even-handed running of the popular DXCC program, along with his eye for detail, made it into the most sought after of ham radio milestones. Thanks to Bob's stewardship of this valued ARRL award, achieving the DXCC and adding on to your credits was a sign you had achieved something worthwhile within the hobby. This was recognized by CQ Magazine, inducting Bob into its DX Hall of Fame. Bob became a Silent Key on November 22, 2002.

Jim White, K4OJ, founded the Florida Contest Group and was its first president. His father, Bob White, W1CW, was one of the original members of this once small club.

K4OJ was first licensed at age 14 while in Connecticut as WN1NNC – later WA1NNC – still later K1ZX and then the famous K4OJ. At a very early time in his life he became interested in contesting through the Connecticut Wireless Association and the legendary W2PV operations. Early in his ham life he worked at ARRL Hq., and became proficient at contest reporting. In the early 90’s his enthusiasm and abilities spurred Florida hams into forming the FCG.

The remarkable outpouring of sentiment following his untimely death February 12, 2004 is a testament to his enthusiasm, friendliness, writing and operating abilities and humor. Jim was the quintessential Contest Ambassador. It is the wish of Ellen W1YL, W1CW’s wife and K4OJ’s mother, that the K4OJ-W1CW Memorial Fund be supportive of the Florida Contest Group - a group which both were proud to be members of. Should you wish to contribute to this fund, please direct your contributions to

The W1CW/K4OJ Memorial Fund
c/o Fred Perkins, K4LQ
3437 Lake Josephine Dr.
Lake Placid, FL 33852

Questions can be sent to Fred K4LQ.

As a tribute to his late father, Jim White, K4OJ, along with other members of the Florida Contest Group reactivated Bob's callsign, W1CW, for a multi-multi effort during the CQWW CW DX Contest in November, 2003. The Tampa Tribune ran an article on this operation on December 12, 2003.

View online article (minus photo). View original article with photo.

Several FCG members activated "FCG" callsigns during the 2003 November Sweepstakes, SSB weekend! The "FCG" calls were operational from all three Florida Sections, W4FCG (North Florida/Panhandle by NF4A), K4FCG (West Central Florida by K4OJ), and N4FCG (South Florida by N4BP). Expect the "FCG" calls to be activated from time to time.

The Florida Contest Group, with a donation made through the "W1CW Memorial Fund", has become one of the first major contest clubs in the country, to contribute to the ARRL's special Spectrum Defense campaign against Broadband Over Power Lines. BPL is a serious threat to the future of Amateur radio, and in fact, all users of the radio spectrum.

View current list of contributors. View certificate.

Florida Contest Group members were out in force in Dayton, making a big impression wearing their Orange Club shirts. Our new club banner made it's debut in Dayton, hanging near the Contest Super Suite on Saturday night. Pictured with the banner (from left to right), are FCG members KE1F, K4LOG, WD4AHZ, K4OJ, NF4A, and N4OO. (photo courtesy K8CX)

You can view more Dayton photos at www.hamgallery.com.

Bob Cox, K3EST, (right) Chairman of the CQ Contest Hall Of Fame, presents Florida Contest Group President, Dan Street, K1TO, with his CQ Contest "Hall Of Fame" plaque during the 11th Annual Dayton Contest Dinner on Saturday, May 17, 2003. Several FCG members were in attendance.

Dan joins FCG Members Dale Strieter, W4QM, Ed Bissell, W3AU (SK), and Bob White, W1CW (SK), who are also members of the Contest or DX Hall of Fame.

Honorary FCG Member Ed Bissell, W3AU, became a "Silent Key" on Saturday May 10, 2003. Ed, CQ Contest Hall of Fame Member #10, touched the lives of quite a few of today's active contesters, giving a number of them their first chance to enter the world of big-time multi-multi contesting. He will be missed by all those whose lives he has touched.

The Florida Contest Group was well represented during WRTC-2002. Capturing his third WRTC Championship title in a row, was FCG President, Dan Street, K1TO, with his team mate, Jeff Steinman, N5TJ, pictured left.

FCG member Dave Mueller, N2NL, and his team mate Dan Craig, N6MJ, finished fourth at their first ever WRTC event.

Florida transplant, and now FCG member, Jim Roberts, VE7ZO, and his team mate John Sluymer, VE3EJ, finished in sixth place as Team Canada.

FCG member Jeff Bolda, WC4E, a past WRTC participant, this time took his seat behind the radio serving as a referee for Team Austria.

Visit the WRTC-2002 Web site for more information.

The Florida Contest Group had the honor of representing the ARRL's Headquarters station, by operating W1AW/4 during the IARU Contest in July 2000. Using six stations from around Florida, FCG members put the ARRL multiplier on the air and racked up an impressive 11,376 QSO's.

You can read more about the operation in the July/August 2001 issue of NCJ Magazine. [pdf version].