VWOA Awards

The VWOA has several standing awards with which it recognizes exemplary achievement. Awards recognize heroism, lifesaving skill, innovation, invention, community service, leadership, and long-time service. The major VWOA awards are:
 

In addition, the VWOA, also issues two certificates to recognize long-term service to the communication industry:

1998 VWOA Award Recipients

Alan M. Ehrlich  received the DeForest Audion Memorial Gold Medal of Dedication "in recognizing his outstanding dedication to the Veteran Wireless Operators Association."  Mr. Ehrlich is the current president of the VWOA and has served for many years on the VWOA board of directors.  He holds amateur radio callsign WA2GDQ and is the trustee of the Seaman's Church Institute amateur radio club.  A Navy veteran, Mr. Ehrlich is employed by the New York City Transit Authority.

Douglas S. Stivison  received the DeForest Audion Memorial Gold Medal of Dedication "in recognizing his outstanding dedication to the Veteran Wireless Operators Association."  Mr. Stivison is the current vice-president of the VWOA and has served on the VWOA board of directors since 1986.  He is a management consultant with the Solutions Through Technology practice of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.  He holds amateur radio callsign NR1A and is a well-known author of many books and  magazine articles about technology.

Herman Arond  received the David Kintzer Memorial Award Plaque in recognition of his 16 years of service as Treasurer of the VWOA.  The citation recognized his "avid, unselfish cooperation while maintaining high standards of integrity."  The award was presented to Mr. Pleuler by Mrs. Jolanda Kintzer, widow of David Kintzer. Mr. Arond is a retired radio officer and high school mathematics teacher. In 1989 Mr. Arond was awarded the VWOA's highest award, the Marconi Memorial Gold Medal of Service,  to honor him for his 24 years as a radio officer in war and peace.

Francis T. Cassidy received an Honorary Life Membership in the VWOA in recognition of his tenth year as Chairman of the VWOA Board of Directors.   In 1976, Mr. Cassidy was awarded the DeForest Audion Memorial Gold Medal  in recognition of his engineering achievements, patents in cable transmission technology, as well as his distinguished business management career with ITT.  Currently Mr. Cassidy is one of the driving forces building the new communications infrastructure in the former Soviet Union.

1997 VWOA Award Recipients

Edward F. Pleuler, Jr received the David Kintzer Memorial Award Plaque in recognition of his 15 years of service as Secretary of the VWOA and as editor of the VWOA newsletter.  The citation recognized his "avid, unselfish cooperation while maintaining high standards of integrity."  The award was presented to Mr. Pleuler by Mrs. Jolanda Kintzer, widow of David Kintzer. Ed confesses that he enjoys the Secretary's position and, "Feel I know each and every member as a brother in the communications field."

Samuel Margolis  received the Marconi Memorial Gold Medal of Achievement, "in h0noring  a U.S. Merchant Marine Officer and his techncal operations ashore."   Sam is a past president of the VWOA having held that office from 1988 through 1991. He first went to sea in 1934 abourd the S/S Melrose and remained at sea throughout WW2.  In 1946 he "came ashore" and joined coastal station WSL.  From 1954 through 1979 he started and ran Southhampton Electronics providing products and services to the marine and public safety community.  Following the death of his wife in 1979, he sold the business and returned to sea as a Radio Officer until 1992.

Robert H. McNamara received the Marconi Memorial Gold Medal of Achievement, "in honoring his past services as Chief of the FCC Private Wireless Division."

Earl Korf received the Marconi Memorial Gold Medal of Achievement, "in honoring a Radio Officer on land, at sea and in the air."

Alexander Zimny received the Marconi Memorial Gold Medal of Achievement, "in honoring his important FCC Government Services."

1996 VWOA Award Recipients

Henry Paulisen received the David Kintzer Memorial Award Plaque in recognition of his many years of service to the VWOA. Mr. Paulisen had been honored with the Marconi Memorial Gold Medal of Achievement in 1969 in recognition of his service as FCC Engineer in Charge of New York.

Wendell R. Benson received the Marconi Memorial Gold Medal of Achievement, "to honor a U.S. Merchant Marine Radio Officer and his technical operations ashore..." Mr. Benson's career included service in the Naval Armed Guard in World War 2. He later served as a Navy radioman and, for many years, a shipboard radio officer aboard merchant ships. He served ashore in the airline industry as well as a marine coastal station operator and supervisor, most notably with the well-known New York harbor station, WSF.

Al Gross received the Marconi Memorial Gold Medal of Achievement "to honor his important work in Radio Communications and engineering." Mr. Gross can rightly be called the father of personal communications. Prior to World War 2, he developed a hand-held, high-frequency transceiver--possibly the world's first "walkie-talkie." In World War 2 he developed miniature radios for the Office of Strategic Services as well as the earliest military walkie-talkies. After the war he went on to develop many other personal communications devices including the world's first pocket-pager ("beeper").

Walter H. Prang received the Marconi Memorial Gold Medal of Achievement, to "honor a U.S. Merchant Marine Radio Officer and his technical operations ashore..." Mr. Prang began his seagoing career in the engine room, before becoming a Radio Officer. After serving at sea as a Radio Officer, he came ashore to spend the rest of his career training countless Radio and Electronics Officers in the increasingly complex world of communications and navigation equipment. Along with fellow VWOA member Paul Anselmo, he helped establish and expand the training operations of the American Radio Association.

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