W8RHZ - Harry Lewis Steffan, Twinsburg, Ohio *1893-1975* - Roots in Missouri as well as
his wife Winefred. Enlisted in the Army Infantry September 1917 until 22 July 1919 honorable
discharge in St Louis. A business man operated a professional printing company from the 1930s Always would remember Harry and Winnie - They had their tragedy in life, sudden loss of son HarryJr., age 7 in 1934. Siblings Grace and Gordon. Eventually locates to Twinsburg - Summit Ohio
Mr. Steffan had the antenna and power to be heard all over the region and then some. The ‘50s whenI was a kid in Cambridge, SE Ohio, the W8RHZ signal would easily block my Hallicrafters receiver
week nights. He was approachable and had been friendly to all visitors young and old alike.
Harry was well spoken, had interesting things to say over the air and held nightly schedules on 3955.
He sometimes lamented about 160M – how communications were splendid during the war times.
When I moved out to N.J. with my mother in 1956, Harry still blocked the old favorite S38D andI was using a 20M folded dipole that I won in a SWL contest with the Boy Scouts.

Harry had a QSL card collection and sometimes would rail on the Twinsburg Post Office, they hada habit of marking his incoming QSL’s and defacing both sides. He was furious and you could counton him blasting the local post office. His love was wife Winnie, she had a hobby too, clipping
articles out of the news papers & magazines making up her scrap books. Harry had not a bit oftrouble making QSO’s. I too had a QSO with him after I got my general class in Trenton, W2RIE,
using an 807 and a WRL screen grid modulator. He had some problems hearing me but acted as if
I was an old friend. Mr Steffan sent a fine two folder QSL that was has been lost over the years
however, I found one on the internet and copied it. Continued on page two.

W8RHZ had the very best equipment available and had the means for someone to come in andmaintain his high powered station.
Our subject had 4 half waves in phase on 80M and you can imagine how well it radiated. Theantenna was stretched out from the barn out into the expanses of Twinsburg. It appeared that he wasin the printing business and had W8RHZ print. He mentioned about his son helping out.
I had another chance contact with Harry when I was in the Coast Guard out in the Atlantic. We wererunning phone patches out in the Atlantic and he was CQ’ing, I advised Harry of the interference andhe acknowledged it and simply turned the 20M beam the opposite direction, he was then S8 fromabout 40 over 9. Not a bright move, but that was power hungry 20Meters. I wondered how he would
feel overseas, attempting to talk home and being
interfered with.
My neighbor at Phalanx Mills W8SHR, Phalanx
Dale advised me he worked on Harry’s equipment
frequently and the house was well lived in. They
had animals all over the place and he recalled oneof the cats got into the heavy duty power supply
and they never saw the cat again. The radio shackpicture is quite revealing of Harry’s and Winnie
love for family pets.
Harry was a staunch AM guy and was holding on
to AM as long as he could! He would eventually
succumb to SSB and would be found in later years
on 3850 or there abouts on the 75Meter band. We
can see by the QSL and the Cover of Electric radio
Harry was a Lodge Member.
I hear comments still in 2005 about Harry Steffanand everyone agrees his signal was a barn burner.
He & Winnie appeared on Electric Radio’s coverin 1990. Many including myself call Harry a real
influence in getting those interested in ham radio.
Winifred hung on to life a lot longer that Harry did.
She expired in Aurora, Ohio - Portage County
the year 1995.
The type of conversation those folks werecapable of in those days had not been matchedsince. Times have changed..
www.hamgallery.com
Side view W8RHZ Print from Steffan Print
Shop circa 1930's. Note; a son Gordon M.
Steffan 1930-2007 resided in Euclid, Oh Page three continued.

Fold out sample from W8JYZ files.

Son Gordon M. Steffan 1930-2004 ofEuclid Ohio, will be very difficult tolearn anything else about the family since
his son expired in 2004.

W8SU 2008 added 2010 and 2013