Wednesday Evening, May 31, 1995, my friend and mentor, George Shaver, K4HXD became a silent key after suffering a massive heart attack.  He was 52 years old and he is survived by his wife, Kathy, and two sons, George III and Mike. 

      Many newer Hams cannot understand George's impact on our hobby without a little history lesson. In 1967, George placed the FIRST two-meter repeater on the air on 146.34/94. At that time, there were no synthesized solid-state radios, and no "ready-out-of-the box" repeaters. George shared his mastery of commercial two-way radio and pioneered the way for the very small number of hams at that time to enjoy a new, reliable, and high-quality means of local and regional communication from the dynamotor-driven, tube-type radios in their vehicles..or even a more novel idea-from their hand-carried units! These "portables" resembled more of a suitcase than a version of today's cigarette-pack sized radios and had large batteries to power the tubes. 

      In the early seventies, George also led the way with the FIRST 440 mhz repeater in East Tennessee on 444.300 mhz. He also placed the FIRST six meter repeater on the air on 2.76/52.525 Mhz. In addition, George placed the FIRST privately-owned open autopatch repeater on the air on 147.075 Mhz. 

      In recent years, George served as the "Shaver Store" for those of us who needed parts, advice, or just a place to go spend some time to watch someone who was a master of the radio art. From 160 meters to Amateur Television, George mastered it all. Packet, computers, low band DXing, video... all of these were subject to George's mastery...and innovation. There was no piece of radio equipment which George could not improve. His well-stocked basement was the standard of reference for many who came to drool...and to learn.  K4HXD's DX  accomplishments were honored by the ARRL with three active awards: 10 meters (114 countries), and Phone and Mixed (284 countries). 

      From that handful of hams that George served in the early seventies to the hundreds of hams who are on the air in the area today, one thing remains constant: if you use two meters or 440 Mhz today, you owe a small "thank you" to K4HXD. He is the one who started it all, and he helped several others get their repeaters started, as well.  One of these included a fifteen year old new ham who wanted to see what a repeater was all about. Later, that same new ham would take George's guidance, encouragement, correction, and criticism to form his own career.  A single repeater that George helped this one ham build in 1981 would grow into five repeaters on two meters and one on 440 in 1995. However, none of these repeaters were complete until they had the "Shaver Touch". In 1973, that new ham was WB4GBI. 

      Today, K4HXD's original repeaters live on as a testament to his knowledge and service, and I operate them in his memory. 

      In Heaven, any radio equipment that the Lord needs tuned up will now benefit from George Shaver's arrival. 

73, George. Thank You. I miss you. 

Tim Berry, WB4GBI