Jen Albright, KE0VFG, Just Outside the Ensor Radio RoomThirty years after her death at the age of 87, radio station W9UA crackled to life on Saturday, September 11 at Ensor Park and Museum to honor the life and legacy of Loretta Ensor.
Loretta (April 22,1904-September 7, 1991) was assigned call sign 9UA upon passing her examination for an amateur radio license in April of 1923. The Radio Act of 1927 dictated that another letter be added to a call sign and placed in front of the number for the zone, so when Loretta renewed her license at some point between 1927 and 1933, she automatically became W9UA.
Loretta was an early YL (Young Lady) a la the lingo of ham radio. In fact, she was the first female amateur radio operator in the Midwest and in the 1920s achieved a certain level of "fame," if you will, when a ham in Australia wrote her telling her she was the "first woman to cross the Pacific by radio waves!"
A capable substitute for her older brother and "Teaching Radio by Radio" instructor Marshall Ensor, W9BSP, Loretta was a charter member of the Young Ladies Radio League, which was organized in 1939. She was an inspiration to other YLs to get involved in amateur radio then and she very much remains an inspiration to women and girls today.
"Although Loretta is gone now, her call sign lives on under the trusteeship of SFTARC member Joe Krout, KR0UT, and that makes it possible for us to let Loretta and W9UA roam free by radio waves," Marty Peters, SFTARC secretary-treasurer, said recently.
Marty, an OM (Old Man), was one of two OMs who took part in the September 11 special event organized in memory of Loretta, the other being SFTARC member Bob Shaumeyer, KC0TZX. Fittingly enough, they were joined by two YLs, SFTARC member Peg Nichols, KD0VQO, and Jen Albright, KE0VFG, president of the Raytown Amateur Radio Club.
"As fate would have it apparently, Mom's first two contacts were people she also knows through church, Gary Auchard, W0MNA, and his wife Marti, W0ERI," SFTARC member Rick Nichols reported. "They were down in Arkansas operating as a Summits On The Air station."
Between the four operators they made 29 voice contacts and one contact using the Morse code. The 30 stations worked between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. were located in 11 different states ranging from Minnesota to Ohio to Texas to Colorado, going around the points of the compass, or clockwise, if you prefer.
"The stations contacted were very interested to hear about the pioneering radio activities of both Loretta and Marshall, and they were pleased to know that the Ensor legacy is preserved at Ensor Park and Museum," Marty reported, adding, "The special event that took place at Ensor Park and Museum was an excellent way to honor Loretta 30 years after her passing."