elen H. Cloutier Schmock*1909-2002* — Our W8GJX
ex W9GJX Tribute. This story hastaken a long time to organize
because of this very talented pioneer
radio lady. Her life’s
accomplishments are many andunlimited talent.

HBorn Helen M. Hargreaves at
Manistique Michigan in 1909 toHenry (railroad Super.) and Carolyn
Hargreaves. Helen was the middle ofthree children and the only survivor.
She would take the place of the son
her dad always wanted. Helen
adored her dad who would become
W8ZKR.
As she stated “Her 17 careers, any one of which could have been a life’s work.” A dancer, hairdresser, amateur radio operator, author, commercial radio ticket, free-lance writer, commercial radio
broadcaster, photographer, educator, teaching, painting – College Grad, Motorola writer & music.
Helen studied music, the pipe organ (which she played at the local theater all during high school,)and dancing in Chicago and Detroit with many noted radio and theater artists each summer. For six
years after moving to Escanaba Michigan she had a dancing school (plus running a beauty shop.)
One of her students, Kenneth Owens, has been very successful in the theater, he traveled the country
with the shows Oklahoma and Up in Central Park, Helen said.
The year 1929 during the summer Helen managed a beauty shop in Frankfort Michigan where she
also was able to attend a radio school in the evenings and by September she obtained her commerciallicense. She operated a low powered transmitter at the school which gave her plenty of practice inprocedure and transmitter quirks, plus a bit of student operating at WFK. When she returned home
she immediately went on the air with her firststation, W9GJX. Hargreaves is especiallypleased with being the first lady operator
accepted to membership in the world wide
Quarter Century Wireless Association as hamradio became an integral part of her life.
Our subjects first station consisted of a Hartleytransmitter, about 15 watts on all bands, a Silver
Marshall receiver and a doublet antenna. With
that station she worked all states and plenty ofDX and during those first few months spent ten hours a day on the air.
During WW2 Helen taught radio for the Armed Forces. Continued

She also took some ground work and did some flying. When the war ended the Civil Air Patrol
started to train students and she was asked to teach radio. W9GJX (pre-war) was put back on the air
too, only now W8GJX due to district boundary changes.
Ms Helen had been writing since 1940 and attended Northwestern University’s writers conferenceeach summer. She added “I’ve written 6 books.” Plus a series of children’s publications.
She was then doing free lance magazine and newspaper writing with photography. She has her own
dark room, combined with writing, it has threatened to become her vocation. All of this plus raising
two boys, getting three meals a day has kept her busy.
A few years ago your author received Helen’s biography of 410 pages from her son Charlie Cloutier,titled “I Never Shot A Rabbit” It was a good read and he had stated Mom just recently entered anursing home and was still in reasonably good health at 91 years young. Charlie said “She isshooting for 100" Ham radio was her life for so many years. Mostly now, she enjoys the present,
helping the old people at the facility as she puts it. Quite a gal and we’re proud of her.
Concerning Helen’s Quarter Century Wireless Association membership, she was bestowed the “JohnDiBlasi Award” this was an honor bestowed to her via the QCWA who has over a long period oftime made an outstanding
contribution to the honor andpreservation of ham radio. Thisis the third highest award givenby the QCWA.
One of Helen’s early books thatreceived recognition was “Isleof Royale Calling” A radio
adventure that was a goodseller. It meant a lot to yourauthor because of sailing on
Lake Superior and working aids
to navigation there at thatwonderful place “Isle ofRoyale.” The Governor ofMichigan - G. Mennen Williams, who publicly endorsed Helen’s “Isle of Royale Calling” - Isle
Royale, then Michigan’s only state park, is one of the Governor’s favorite projects.
RIP Helen 21 Sept 2002 rests at Manistee, Michigan (Ironic that she was born in Manistique onMichigan’s Upper peninsula.) Cards courtesy of www.w8jyz.com
w8su 2008