Robert "Bob" Boyd
W4OVG / SK


Robert B. "Bob" Boyd, 89, of Athens, died Thursday morning, Nov. 10, 2005, at Athens Regional Medical Center.  A son of the late William R. and Sally Pace Boyd, he was a native of Covington, TN, and a former resident of Chattanooga and the Washington DC area.  He was a member of Sweetwater First Presbyterian Church, and was a former employee with the TVA and had served on the Federal Power Commission.  He is preceded in death by his wife, Bobbie Smith Boyd.

Survivors include one son, Robert C. "Buzz" Boyd of Fayetteville, Ga; one granddaughter, Kim Von Drehle; one grandson, R. David Boyd; 6 great-grandchildren; and two sisters and one brother-in-law, Mary Will and James Mays of Mechanicsville, Va., and Doris Boyd of Memphis.

Bob was a member of the MCARC when it was in it's infancy, known then as the Athens Area Amateur Radio Club. Bob was instrumental in helping the club grow to what it is today. He was an avid experimenter, and worked digital modes using Commodore computer equipment, building many of the interfaces and other equipment he needed.

Upon his death, Bob's family donated his entire amateur radio estate to the MCARC. Many members now use equipment that Bob had, and other items were sold and the funds used to further the mission of the club. One item, a Speed-X bug, was used by the Trophy House to make a MCARC Silent Keys plaque, and the bug is affixed to the plaque, along with the names and call signs of the MCARC members who are now silent keys. This plaque is installed in the MCARC Communications Trailer for the public to see when the trailer is deployed, and to remind our members of the gifts and sacrifices made by our silent key members.

In the MCARC Club Shack at Athens City Hall, Bob's WAC (Worked All Continents) award is displayed on the wall to honor one of his early accomplishments as an amateur radio operator. We thank Bob and his family for their contributions to the MCARC!