nofars.net

From December 2015 Balanced Modulator

AL ELMORE, WA4RGO/W4FHP:  From current Duval County Emergency Coordinator John Reynolds, W4IJJ...."Several days ago, I advised that our EC Emeritus had been placed in hospice care as his health was failing at an accelerated rate. Sadly, I must inform you that Al became a silent key Saturday.(Nov. 21st)

"Al made many friends along through the years, he successfully formed and led the Duval ARES program. Al worked tirelessly at making our ARES program successful. Additionally, I'm told Al volunteered with the FL Highway Patrol, obtaining the rank of Major prior to his retirement."

Miller Norton, W4EMN works with Duval County Emergency Management.  He is a past Duval EC and one of Al's colleagues.  

Miller writes "We have lost a legend. Al was my mentor in the Amateur Radio Emergency Service organization. I remember your (N4UF) encouragement for me to take the EC position soon after I retired from Palatka PD and moved back home. I agreed to take it but insisted that Al come out of retirement to train me on Jacksonville protocol.

"We did a 'Co-EC' gig with your approval that first year in the Duval County ARES. As Emergency Coordinator, Al developed a team of 25 volunteer communicators he referred to as the Quick Response Team, or QRT for short. On the night of the dreaded 1999 to 2000 Y2K conversion when it was feared many computer systems would crash, Al orchestrated emergency communications teams at all hospitals and public safety answering points in case their computer aided dispatching systems failed. 

"This was nothing short of magnificent considering no one was paid to do any of this but every position was covered. Al had an infectious ability to make volunteers want to serve. One of them once said that Al 'could sell ice to an Eskimo'. He was that good of a salesman. 

"The volunteer organization he shaped is still committed to providing back-up emergency communications to the citizens of Jacksonville and Duval county. I am grateful for having had the opportunity to work with this wonderful individual. He did all of the hard work. All I had to do was keep it fluid.   "Al will be sorely missed, but never forgotten."

MORE ABOUT AL ELMORE:  When I (N4UF) took office as ARRL Northern Florida Section Communications Manager in 1980, one of my early actions was to appoint Al as Duval County Emergency Coordinator to replace retiring Duval EC Harold Hobbs, WA4VZF.  
Harold's dedicated devotion over the previous decade set the stage.

Al was just getting active again after being away from ham radio for ten years or so.  Choosing Al to succeed Harold was somewhat of a gamble.  He did not disappoint!!!

Al was a dynamo, selling Amateur Radio's capability to local officials.  Under Al's leadership, Weds. night Duval ARES net check-in totals exceeded 100. Al served as Duval EC on and off until he moved south to be near his family around 2003.  

He was a NOFARS Life Member and the first person honored as Greater Jacksonville Amateur Radio Operator of the Year when that award began in 1993.  In addition, he served as Radio Officer for the Northeast Florida American Red Cross.