August 28, 1935 - March 28, 2012

Fred was a leading amateur radio journalist for nearly 35 years and a pioneer of the volunteer examining program adopted by the FCC in 1984. Fred was a prolific author, focusing his writing skills on the amateur and commercial radio industry. For 25 years, Fred published "The W5YI Report," dubbed "America's Oldest Ham Radio Newsletter," from 1978 to 2003, and has been a CQ contributing editor since 1985. His regulatory affairs column, first titled "Ticket Talk," then "Washington Readout," offered news and perspective on FCC Regulations and ITU actions, and helped untold numbers of hams find their way through often-confusing mazes of the VEC licensing, FCC rules and the vanity call sign systems. His final "Washington Readout" column will appear in the May 2012 issue of CQ.

When the FCC adopted a volunteer examining for all levels of amateur radio licensing in 1984, Fred applied to be a national Volunteer Examiner Coordinator (VEC). In doing so, he was the first VEC appointed by the Federal Communications Commission. Fred subsequently founded The W5YI Group in 1986 to develop, publish and sell amateur and commercial radio license study materials. In the realm of FCC commercial radio licensing, Fred formed National Radio Examiners to provide examination services as a COLEM. He also was the author of GROL-Plus, a commercial radio licensing study manual that he co-wrote with Gordon West, WB6NOA.

Fred founded and served as President of the W5YI-VEC until his retirement in October of 2000 when he sold The W5YI Group study material products business to Master Publishing, Inc. The W5YI Group retail operations were purchased by General Manager, Larry Pollock, NB5X, newly appointed President of the W5YI -VEC and National Radio Examiners organizations. Fred continued writing "The W5YI Report" newsletter until July, 2003.

Fred was a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Radio Operators School and avid CW amateur operator. Fiirst licensed as a teenager as W1NTK in Brockton, MA., where he grew up, then later licensed as W5UTT, he held DXCC-CW and EU-PX-A CW -100+ awards.   He was a member of QCWA and life member of the ARRL. As a leader in the amateur radio community, Fred was instrumental in proposing many rules changes to the FCC that have had a major impact on ham radio over the years. He proposed the creation of the Technician Class no-code license, adopted in February, 1991. Fred was involved in proposals to restructure FCC amateur radio licensing, which led to the 2000 adoption of the current system of 3 license classes. After ITU Regulations changed in many foreign countries around the world, Fred proposed the elimination of Morse code testing requirements in the US for all amateur radio licenses, which the FCC implemented in stages, reduction to 5wpm in 2003 and complete elimination in 2007.

For several decades, Fred also served on the National Conference of Volunteer Examiner Coordinators (NCVEC), as a long-term member of the Question Pool Committee that oversees the development and maintenance of the amateur radio license examination question pools.

Fred will be remembered and missed as was one of the most active personalities dedicated to growing the hobby of amateur radio.