1st Jim Bailey KB4ZIN Memorial Award Presentation

At the 2018 WAARC Club Dinner the first Jim Bailey KB4ZIN Memorial Award was presented. This award was developed to honor a local ham that has made a significant contribution to Ham Radio recently. The honoree receives a plaque that has their name listed and the year they won it, as well as a small trophy with a microphone. The trophy is theirs to keep, however the plaque is returned after a year to be presented to the next honoree.

The 2018 honoree is Chris Courson, KC4CMR. Chris was blessed to enjoy a decades long term friendship and collaboration with Jim.  He was personally committed to the dependable operation of Jim’s extensive system of repeaters, was directly involved in planning numerous upgrades, enhancements, and when required even coordinated the relocation of these invaluable community resources.  His commitment to continue the stewardship and dedication to the dependable operation of the repeaters is unmatched.  Chris was always willing to sally forth regardless of the hour or weather, responding to keep the repeaters in service.  Often offering more than advice, he lent time and equipment to help someone get on the air and introduce them to the local on-air community.

Chris spent hours upon hours of his personal time and energy organizing the innumerable ARES-supported community races and charitable events.  Local Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) course graduates have benefited by his involvement with the program, as have the programs themselves.  Chris’s great sense of humor, wide friendships, and commitment on so many levels, all speak to his personal character.

All this in addition to serving since 1990 as the James City County ARES Emergency Coordinator where through the years he attended and represented ARES at scores of meetings and overseeing emergency events in that capacity.   With few exceptions, he has served every Wednesday evening, for decades, as the net control station for the Amateur Radio Emergency Service’s (ARES) 2-meter net.  His diplomacy and patience with those struggling in some manner is an exemplar of the radio art.

Please congratulate Chris for this great honor and his continued efforts to support the local Ham Radio community