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       #Post#: 5452--------------------------------------------------
       Bob Heil, K9EID, Silent Key
   DIR By: ke5cdk
       Date: March 27, 2024, 1:28 pm
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       Bob Heil, K9EID, Silent Key
       The man who defined the sound of live rock ‘n’ roll music and
       brought audio engineering principals into mainstream amateur
       radio use, Dr. Bob Heil, K9EID, has passed away at the age of
       83. He was an ARRL Life Member and in the ARRL Maxim Society. A
       Facebook post from Heil Ham Radio paid tribute to their founder:
       “Bob fought a valiant, yearlong battle with cancer, and
       passed peacefully surrounded by his family.”
       — Family Annoucement on Facebook
       Heil founded Heil Sound in 1966, through which he created the
       template for modern concert sound systems for musicians like the
       Grateful Dead, The Who, Joe Walsh, and Peter Frampton. The talk
       box used on iconic live record Frampton Comes Alive! was of
       Heil’s design. His audio engineering products have been featured
       in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and he was honored in 2007 with
       the Parnelli Audio Innovator Award for his impact on the live
       sound industry.
       “My life has been about achieving great sound, whether on
       the concert stage or in the amateur radio world. I’ve watched
       Heil Sound go from a regional sound company to a world-class
       microphone manufacturer. This company has been my passion”
       — Bob Heil recounted in 2022
       Parallel to his commercial and artistic success in live music,
       was his passion for amateur radio. He was active in ham radio
       from a young age and merged his expertise in audio engineering
       with his love for radio. Heil Ham Radio was founded to produce
       microphones, headsets, and other gear for radio amateurs with an
       emphasis on high-quality audio.
       Heil was known as a mentor who enjoyed helping others find
       success in ham radio. Recently, his grandson Charlie Hartley,
       KF0OOP, became a licensed ham to surprise Heil for his birthday.
       The pair attended the ARRL Midwest Convention/Winterfest in St.
       Louis, Missouri, on 27th January 2024.
       Heil was a generous donor to amateur radio organizations,
       including ARRL. Recently, he donated a host of new audio gear to
       the Hiram Percy Maxim Memorial Station, W1AW.
       “Bob was a titan in many areas. He was generous with his
       time, offered keen insights, and had the heart of a
       philanthropist in the ARRL Maxim Society. He was a gentleman to
       his core, making friends easily and everywhere he went, from
       rock stars to captains of industry. I consider it a real
       privilege to have become a friend to him, too, all because of
       amateur radio.”
       — ARRL Director of Development Kevin Beal, K8EAL
       Heil was known for his passion for AM operations. He served for
       many years as an on-camera host of the Ham Nation podcast.
       Tributes to Heil have been flooding social media, including from
       his co-hosts.
       “Bob Heil’s technical achievements that brought high-quality
       audio to amateur radio pale in comparison to his generosity and
       willingness to help his fellow ham. He’s long been known as
       someone eager to help mentor and teach. His legacy on our hobby
       will be long-lasting. Our thoughts are with his loved ones.”
       — ARRL President Rick Roderick, K5UR
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