Rodney Pratt

Rodney Pratt was among six people inducted in a ceremony at Air Force Space Command Headquarters at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado. In all, just 36 individuals have received this honor, which recognizes individuals who played a significant role in the early history of Air Force space and missile development."

Links with more information:

www.clarkson.edu/alumni/stay_connected/magazine/04fall/pratt.html - AF Award story from Clarkson University

AF Missileers Newsletter September 2004
            (PDF file, see pages 8 and 9)

http://www.afspc.af.mil/heritage/spacemissilepioneers.asp - Air Force Space and Missile Pioneers

http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/Xplore/login.jsp?url=http%3A%2F%2Fieeexplore.ieee.org %2Fstamp%2Fstamp.jsp%3Ftp%3D%26arnumber%3D248333%26isnumber%3D6359&authDecision=-203

 

Rod and his wife Phyllis getting together at a dinner of
the "Roaming Romans" ham radio net, in August 2005.

After retirement Rodney would talk on his ham radio with his friends who retired from work on the "Roaming Romans" net. It started as a weekly net about 1968. After most members finally retired it became a daily net. It continues, according to his friend Ralph Dieter, K1RD, "It goes on today after 45 years - with the survivors."

Ralph Dieter also said this of Rodney, "Rod was on the air the morning he died, he was talking to us on the usual morning net and went for a cup of coffee - he did not return. … Rod was one of the "old fashioned good guys!"

Echo-1 Satellite

Rodney's Prized Microphone

 

Inside showing amplifier tube

 

Opposite side showing parts

 

 

Link to 600K PDF file showing original
November 1932 QST article.
It was written by Howard Anderson, W1BVS.
(permission from QST magazine)