SB SPCL @ ARL $ARLX011
ARLX011 Former ARRL General Manager and IARU President Richard
Baldwin, W1RU (SK)
ZCZC AX11
QST de W1AW
Special Bulletin 11 ARLX011
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT June 26, 2012
To all radio amateurs
SB SPCL ARL ARLX011
ARLX011 Former ARRL General Manager and IARU President Richard
Baldwin, W1RU (SK)
Richard "Dick" Baldwin, W1RU, of Damariscotta, Maine, passed away on
Thursday, June 21, after a long struggle with Parkinson's Disease.
He was 92. An ARRL Charter Life Member, Baldwin capped a long career
on the ARRL staff with service as General Manager from 1975 until
his retirement in 1982. He served as Secretary of the International
Amateur Radio Union (IARU) from 1976-1982. After retirement, he
continued his involvement as a volunteer, serving as IARU President
from 1982-1999 and as ARRL International Affairs Vice President from
1982-1986.
According to his daughter Judy, Baldwin's life revolved around
telecommunications. He first became licensed in 1934 as W1IKE. An
Amateur Extra class licensee, he earned DXCC, WAS and WAC, as well
as membership in the ARRL A-1 Operator Club. A graduate of Bates
College in Maine, he earned an MS in Physics from Boston University
in 1948. Baldwin spent five years in the US Navy during World War
II. In March 1943, while serving as Communications Officer aboard
the USS Coghlan, he participated in the longest American naval
daylight battle of the war: the Battle of the Komandorski Islands.
After the war he served in the US Naval Reserve, achieving the rank
of Commander.
Baldwin began his career at ARRL Headquarters in 1948 as an
Assistant Secretary. After a brief hiatus to work in the private
sector in the early 1950s, he returned in 1956 as Managing Editor of
QST, where he was responsible for production of the monthly member
journal and all ARRL publications. In 1963, Baldwin became Assistant
General Manager and almost immediately got involved with
international matters. Dick organized the Intruder Watch one year
later, and served as the ARRL Liaison between the amateurs who
monitored the bands and the FCC. He was named by the ARRL Board to
succeed John Huntoon, W1RW, on Huntoon's retirement as General
Manager, the position now titled Chief Executive Officer, in 1975.
In total, Baldwin wrote 234 articles and columns for QST.
ARRL Chief Executive Officer David Sumner, K1ZZ, who succeeded
Baldwin as General Manager in 1982, observes that Dick is
responsible for much of Amateur Radio's success in retaining and
expanding its international frequency allocations. "Beginning in
1964, strengthening our position at the International
Telecommunication Union in preparation for what ultimately became
the 1979 World Administrative Radio Conference, was a major
preoccupation in Dick's life. He played a key role in developing and
implementing the strategy that led to success. Sitting at Dick's
elbow in the years leading up to WARC-79 was an extraordinary
learning experience for which I will always be grateful."
As IARU President, Baldwin led the development and adoption of a new
IARU Constitution and oversaw the continued strengthening of the
IARU as the spokesman for Amateur Radio at the ITU and in regional
telecommunications organizations. In 1999, he was named IARU
President Emeritus for his service to the IARU and the Amateur Radio
Service.
"I was saddened to hear of the passing of IARU President Emeritus
Richard Baldwin," said IARU President Tim Ellam, VE6SH. "Dick was
instrumental in securing new HF allocations at 10, 18 and 24 MHz
during WARC-79. He was a key figure in the work of the IARU, and the
Amateur Radio Service is in a better place today because of his
leadership."
Upon his retirement in 1982, Baldwin and his wife Phyllis moved to
Maine where he became immersed in the local community. He was active
in the Pen Bay Amateur Radio Club, the Bremen Historical Society and
the Bremen Fire Department. He was also the Past President of the
Maine Wood Carvers Association. Baldwin was a fan of Dixieland jazz
-- particularly the music of Louis Armstrong -- astronomy and
sailing. Sailing in his 35 foot ketch Endurance, named in honor of
his hero Sir Ernest Shackleton, he taught himself how to navigate
using a sextant. Baldwin also climbed Mt Katahdin many times.
In 1991, Baldwin received the Hall of Fame Award from the Quarter
Century Wireless Association (QCWA). In 1992, he was named the
Dayton Hamvention Amateur of the Year. In 2003, he was inducted into
the CQ Amateur Radio Hall of Fame.
Baldwin is survived by his wife Phyllis, daughter Judy and son
Glenn. A memorial service is planned for 11 AM Friday, June 29 at
Second Congregational Church in Newcastle, Maine. In lieu of
flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to
the ARRL Second Century Fund, c/o ARRL, 225 Main St, Newington, CT
06111 (please contact ARRL Chief Development Officer Mary Hobart,
K1MMH, for assistance via e-mail or by phone at 860-594-0397) or to
the Maine Wood Carvers Association, c/o Barbara McCutcheon,
Treasurer, 13 Liberty St, Fairfield, ME 04937.
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/EX
