Milestones: Former CQ Publisher Dick Cowan, ex-WA2LRO, SK

We recently learned of the passing last year of former CQ Publisher Richard A. "Dick" Cowan, formerly WA2LRO. The son of CQ's founding publisher, Sanford Cowan, Dick took on the responsibilities of publisher in the late 1950s, even though he wasn't listed as such on the magazine's masthead until mid-1967. In 1979, Cowan sold CQ to current owner Dick Ross, K2MGA, and former Editor Alan Dorhoffer, K2EEK (SK).

Recalling their relationship in the 50th anniversary issue of CQ in 1995, Ross noted that Cowan "was always extremely fair to me and … gave me the most important thing ever – freedom. Freedom to learn and explore and see how things happened and to become part of making them happen."

Cowan was also founder and publisher of S9 magazine in the heyday of the CB boom, as well as several others, including Solid State Technology and, more recently, Vacuum Technology and Coating. According to family members, he had been battling Alzheimer's disease for several years and passed away in June, 2020 from complications of Covid-19. Our belated condolences to the Cowan family.