MARITIME CW EVENT REMEMBERS STATION'S 1ST WOMAN TELEGRAPHER

For just a day, Morse Code enthusiasts can forget that the last maritime radio station in the US has gone silent. Every July 12th, on the anniversary of the day that the California station signed off, the Maritime Radio Historical Society, K6KPH, returns the Morse Code tradition to air as KPH/KFS springs back to life.

This year the historical society is keeping that tradition while grieving a Silent Key. Denice "DA" Stoops, KI6BBR, had been a vital part of the station's commercial operations and later, was a big supporter of the historical society's effort behind Night of Nights, as the July 12th commemoration is known. In 1979, Denice became the first woman to be hired as a CW operator at KPH.

According to the historical society and several social media posts, Denice died within the last few months.

The Night of Nights tradition continues. For times, frequencies and QSL information about the event, visit the Maritime Radio Historical Society website at radiomarine.org.