Robert L. (Bob) Shrader, W6BNB, author of 10 QST articles, died April 11 at age 98. He was a long-time resident of Sebastopol, California. His most recent QST article was "Using Mechanical CW Keys" in the February 2010 issue. A prolific author at an age when most settle into retirement, he also published articles in Ham Radio and CQ. He was inducted into the CQ Amateur Radio Hall of Fame in 2004.

At a young age, he was hired as a shipboard radiotelegraph officer for the Dollar Lines, and sailed around the world six times. During his long and prolific lifetime, Bob served as a deputy sheriff, radio and electronics instructor, and chief of the Freestone (CA) fire department. His textbook, Electronic Communications, was published in 1959 by McGraw-Hill.

For more information on Bob's fascinating life, see his online reminiscence.

Bob is survived by his wife Dorothy, W6ECU, a son Doug, KJ6TEJ, and daughter Patricia. There will be no services. The family suggests making a donation in Bob's memory to Mid-Florida Multiple Sclerosis, 2701 Maitland Center Pkwy, Suite 100, Orlando, FL 32751. -- thanks to the PressDemocrat, Santa Rosa, California, and David J. Ring Jr, N1EA