reed O. Russell W8KM - 1916-1988 - Born 7 Mar 1916 atAnmoore, WV near Clarksburg, Russ became a ham at an earlyage. His father, Brown H. Russell, was an electrician atWestinghouse in Fairmont, WV. Attending high school in Bridgeport WV,
he played football four years. He attended Alderson Broaddus College,
Phillippi WV for one year aiming at a course in chemistry. In June of 1938
he completed a course in Marine, Police and aviation radio at Valparaiso
Technical Institute, Valpo, Ind. The same year obtained first classradiotelephone and second class radiotelegraph FCC licenses, & a Class A Amateur License earlier.

CIn April 1939 our subject was employed by the West Virginia Dept of Public Safety, Russ was thethird man employed at the beginning of their first radio system. The Moundsville station was the firstto go on the air. In 1945 he found himself deferred from the military service, without requesting it
and serviced the 1 kw RCA AM Phone transmitters and maintained radio gear in Charleston,
Beckley, Elkins and Logan areas of WV. All cars used AM receivers tuned to the 1626 Kilocycle
broadcasting frequency. While in these areas he instructed personnel on operating procedures, FCCRegulations and the importance of taking meter readings. The finals and modulator tubes were scarce
as well as expensive so it was important to know any deviation in the meter readings.
Late 1945 Russ went to work for Federal Radio and Telephone, Newark, NJ where he worked in thelabs with engineers who were developing a line of mobile equipment. He returned to West Virginia
in early 1947, continuing with the WV. State Police Department Public Safety as Chief RadioTechnician for Company “D” area. The FCC had granted frequencies in the 72-76 Mhz band forcontrolling unattended mountain top repeater stations, through carrier operated relays. It took many
repeaters, but soon the mountainous terrain was extensively covered with narrow band FM .
In 1955 with his own business “ABCO Electronics.” and now a Motorola two way radio service
center, they installed a 6000 Mhz (on WV Turnpike) Philco Microwave line and in 1960 it waschanged to a 960 Mhz with the 155 Mhz mobile units working into the three mountain top repeaters.
One of the problems of the system was “Phasing areas” caused by overlapping signals from repeaters
and power and antenna adjustments were used to place these areas where they would least effectcommunications. Russ retired from the Dept of Public Safety in 1958.
After Mr. Russell’s wife Mary expired in 1977, Russ needed something to fill the sudden void in hislife and at the age of 64 enrolled at West Virginia State College at Institute WV, where he graduatedin 1980 MCL, majoring in Spanish. In 1971 he sold his business and retired. He spent time working
fast morse on C.W. in the ham bands as W8KM. His only son, Michael Russell resided with him atGlen Morgan, WV at the time of Russ’s death December 1, 1988.
A review of the careers of Creed O. Russell W8KM and the late Emory Wright W8RUO, Chief
Engineer, Communications Division of the West Virginia Dept. of Public Safety. This could wellserve as a history of the way State Police evolved from one way AM transmission to the present day
modern systems now in use. Hired about the same time, Emory Wright in 1940, remained closefriends with Russ during their life time. Emory, at his death 8 Feb 1985 had 44 and one half years
with the Department, although a civilian employee, Governor Arch Moore authorized a military
funeral for him and all who had known Emory were grateful to Governor Moore for his memorable
act. We sure miss both of these long time Amateurs and friends. Sincerely,
Shirley (Red) M. Devores, W8LYV Beckley, WV 25801
WV DPS Technician 1955-1985 Retired. - Via W8SU 2005