November 21, 2008 [Puyallup, WA] - As the second
year of the exciting ultralight radio (ULR) hobby begins, it's fitting to honor
the DXer who started it all - Gary DeBock of Puyallup, Washington. On Friday night, Gary was the surprised recipient of an
attractive, framed "Founders Award", beautifully designed and framed by John
Bryant and presented by Guy Atkins on behalf of all ULR enthusiasts.
Gary's initiative, drive, and enthusiasm has given
dozens and dozens of DXers new-found excitement for DXing. His reception of
Japanese stations JOIB (747 kHz) and JOAK (594 kHz) in Puyallup on November 20,
2007 lit a fire in Gary, and he's done all he can to share the excitement with
others since then. Gary's numerous articles on ultralight radio and many upbeat,
helpful forum postings and emails have encouraged DXers to push the boundaries
of what UL radios can accomplish. His discovery of the "slider coil" technique
provided a simple way to greatly boost the sensitivity of small radios,
helping to make them capable of eyebrow-raising DX formerly expected
only of communications receivers.
Gary, thank you for almost single-handedly
starting a new niche of the DXing hobby, and for your enthusiasm that
has spread around the world in only a year!
Gary DeBock (right) receives Ultralight Radio
Founder's Award from Guy Atkins