HAL Communications Co-Founder Bill Henry, K9GWT, SK

Bill Henry, K9GWT

A major player in early amateur radio digital communications hardware and software - and a longtime friend of CQ - has become a Silent Key. George W. "Bill" Henry, K9GWT, passed away in mid-July at age 78.

Henry was co-founder of HAL Devices in the mid-1960s and eventually became president of HAL Comunications Corp. The company's first major success was a RTTY demodulator, followed by a long line of digital devices and software, including CLOVER. Henry sold HAL to Australia-based Barrett Communications in 2012.

A lifelong resident of Illinois, Bill graduated from the University of Illinois at Champaign/Urbana with a master's degree in electrical engineering. In addition to amateur radio, Bill played the clarinet, enjoyed model railroading and held a private pilot's license.

Bill lived in Monticello, Illinois, and is survived by his wife, Linda; one daughter, three step-daughters, 10 grandchildren and one great-granddaughter, as well as his sister, Diana.