THE HISTORY OF CSRA

A LOOK BACK AT THE RICH PAST OF THE CHICAGO SUBURBAN RADIO ASSOCIATION
The very first CSRA Meeting was held on Friday November 28, 1924 The first meeting of the Chicago Suburban Radio Association was held on Friday November 28, 1924 at the home of Laddie Smach U9CYD, on Ridgeland Avenue in Berwyn, IL. At that time all amateur calls were preceded by the letter “U.” Present at the meeting were the following: 9APY Fred Hinds 9DDS James Troyer (later W9GIC and N9GI) 9BFF Lawrence Pelletier 9DU Dallas Wilder 9BKS George Chesky 9EIN John Martin 9CRP George Myers 9CE Thomas Filas 9CYD Laddie Smach (later W9CYD) 9QD Lawrence Prazak 9QD Raymond Prazak At this organizational meeting, the consensus of opinion expressed was to name the club “The Chicago Suburban Radio Association.” The first president of our club was Raymond Prazak. The vice-president George Myers and the secretary-treasurer was Lawrence Pelletier.
Here's a look back at some CSRA moments....
		Jim Troyer was one of the founding members of CSRA. To the left is his photo from the mid 1970's. To the right are his original license, granted by the Department of Commerce in 1925 as well as his QSL featuring original callsign 9DDS. Also is a 1933 license, issued by the FRC with Jim's new callsign W9GIC. He later changed it to N9GI. .... Click on the images for larger versions.



		Jerry Cerny W9LOJ

	Jerry Cerny W9LOJ was a charter member of the Chicago Suburban Radio Association, joining the group in 1925. Jerry radio pioneer in ham radio and broadcasting. Jerry and his wife Blanche were owners of DeKalb, Illinois stations WLBK-AM & WDEK-FM from 1965-1998. After moving from DeKalb in 1982 they lived in Sarasota Florida and Traverse City Michigan. Jerry passed in 2007.


CSRA Members volunteering communications for the River Forest 10,000 Meter Foot Race on September 16, 1979 (L-R) Harold Blesy KA9AEK, Carlie Craig AD9S, Dan Emmett WD9HNQ, Betty Reich WD9GQV (now K9QV), Frank Stankiewicz WA9DLI, Marianne Bergren, Bill Stankiewicz WA9DLH, Ray Morales WD9CIB (now AK9B), Jodi Henderson WD9GQW (now KA9W), Howard Goode W9DYP, Bill True WA9ASD, John Ault WB9AJB, Steve Goode K9NG. 1980 CSRA crew for the River Forest 10,000 Meter Foot Race (L-R) Eddy Blesy, John Ault WB9AJB, Jerry Posluszny KA9BFG, Liz Harris, Bob Kriegeis WB9VGO, Bob Langsfield WB9TZC, Carlie Craig AD9S, Tom Mihm N9TM, Frank Stankiewicz WA9DLI, Mike Herman WB9SPV, Bob Drapeau K9AJW, Dan Emmett WD9HNQ, Joan White N9BHL, Morgan Herman KA9ERZ, Roger White N9BFS, Harry Blesy KA9AEK. CSRA Old Timers Night - July 14, 1982 Click on the picture for a larger photo. Standing left to right: Don Harris W9GUM; Howard Goode W9DYP; Irwin Mellman W9TXT; Jim Troyer N9GI; Bob Cresap W9LRI; Leo Gizynski W9AHK; Harold May N9BAT; John Matazel W9USJ and Stan Hails W9ZGV. Front row left to right: Bob Drapeau K9AJW; Allan Marco W9OMC; Doug Henning W9PBJ; Stan Carlson WA9AUG; Joe Harrant W9FLA and Bob Orwin W9YKA. N9BAT SPECIAL EVENT STATION For many years, CSRA held it's special event station at Brookfield Zoo, featuring the callsign of longtime member Harold May. The station was operated in conjunction with Scout-O-Rama. Click on the QSL cards for a larger view.

		1986	1987	1988	1988 back
If you have items, pictures, stories, etc from CSRA's long and rich past, they are sought for the History section! Please contact SCOTT CHILDERS W9CHI with any items that you'd like to share or lend. They will all be handled carefully and returned promptly! Call the CSRA Ham HotLine at 630/575-9650 or CHICAGO SUBURBAN RADIO ASSOCIATION Post Office Box 7898 Westchester, IL 60154-7898
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