K5NA - Richard King - Manor - USA

[4L5A]

Richard L. King, K5NA ex KN5PFL, K5PFL from Manor, Texas, USA passed away, according to information received from YV5OK died in a tower accident.
He was active Radio Amateur, active DXer and Contester.
Richard was member of the Central Texas DX and Contest Club.
Information received from Greg, YV5OK.

[4L5A]

Information from Bernie, W3UR Daily DX:
K5NA, Richard L. King, died yesterday in a "terrible accident" as he was helping someone take down a 40 meter Telrex Yagi and was electrocuted. Richard jumped in at the last minute to try and keep the antenna from getting "snagged on a guy wire". The antenna hit a nearby powerline. Two local neighborhood nurses arrived within a few minutes and began CPR continuing until EMS arrived. Richard died on the way to the hospital or shortly thereafter.

Richard was a longtime DXer and Contester and one of the best at both!
K5NA had 340/374 (current/total) confirmed in the ARRL DXCC Mixed Standings. He had 3167 confirmed in the ARRL DXCC Challenge of which
321 were on 160 meters.

On a personal note your editor first met Richard about 20 years ago.
He picked me up from at the airport. I was a speaker for a DX convention. He introduced me to Texas BBQ and drove me to a few of the Big Guns in the Austin Texas area, including a visit to K5NA. From that point on Richard and I had a wonderful kindship always comparing our Topband, Challenge numbers and talk about BBQ! He always had a smile on his face and was always with his wife K5DU, Susan.

My sincere condolences to Susan, another serious DXer and Contester.
Bernie, W3UR.

[4L5A]

From Alex, KU1CW:
Horrible news - K5NA became a Silent Key in tragic antenna accident.
I met Rich few times, visited his and K5DU, Susan home. Went to dinner together.
Supposed to meet him in Italy WRTC - Rich was selected as a referee.
Hard to believe!
R.I.P. Richard
KU1CW.