 The True History of theMDXA The actual roots of theMDXA can be traced to Vic West (then WA5SUE), N5YY, and Lee Turner, WA5EZQ (nowSK), who lived within a few blocks of each other outside Keesler Gate Sevenduring the late sixties. They met eachother on the air, and started assisting each other in their pursuit of DXCC viatelephone calls and 2 meter AM contacts. They each attained DXCC during early 1971. Local hams gathering at Vic’sand John’s (W5PDG) QTH’s during this period led to the birth of the MCARAduring late 1971. Once the MCARA wasformed, a group of DXers started to come together to aid each other via oneringers (telephone calls), need lists, and 2 meter nets. This was a DX group within the MCARA. The beginning of the MDXA was bornout of a 1972 rule change with regards to voting membership requirements of thethen newly formed Delta DX Association in Louisiana (founded in June of 1971).Bill Appleby, WB5DCY/KB5MZ made a substantial monetary donation to the DDXA fortheir 2 meter DX Repeater. Several DX’ers from Mississippi, all being membersof the MCARA in Mississippi at the time, joined the DDXA. Shortly afterward,the DDXA put a 70 mile limit from New Orleans as criteria for votingmembership. Floyd Gerald WB5HVY/N5FG, Lee Turner WA5EZQ, Joe Butler K6CAZ/K5OS/K5JB and Bill Appleby quit theDDXA and discussed forming a new club for Mississippi DX’ers. All of the founding members of theMDXA were members of the MCARA at the time and discussions about forming aMississippi based DX club were brought up over the next few years but nodefinitive action was ever taken. A group of local DX’ers, including the abovementioned Hams (excluding Vic West due to his work schedule) were sitting onFloyd’s N5FG back porch on Washington Avenue in Gulfport (in October of 1978),where discussions concerning the creation of our own club started up again.George Bethea WN5IJZ/K5JZ said, “Let’s quit talking about it and do it… all infavor”? The MDXA was officially born that day. That evening, George K5JZ was onthe phone with Floyd discussing names for our new club. We wanted a name thatwould be associated with Mississippi… George said, “We can’t call it the TurkeyDX Association so how about “Magnolia DX Association”, due to the fact that weare known as the Magnolia State”? Floyd liked the name very much as did Sherry,his wife… we had a name! Several members over the years, drew up Magnolia logosfor the club, with the final logo in use today being drawn by Sam Greene KB5LIYand his wife Rhoda KB5OLN. The following weekend (after the clubwas officially formed) was the annual MCARA Biloxi Hamfest, where foundingmembers Vic West WA5SUE/AE5DX/N5YY and others were informed of the officialformation of and their membership in the MDXA. George K5JZ drew up the first evermembership certificates for the MDXA and had 100 printed in late 1978 by KirkPippin of Abbey Commercial Printers in Gulfport. Floyd N5FG presided as actingpresident for the next several decades, until he had to seek help in thatcapacity due to health reasons. It was then that we officially became anincorporated Club with dues, a Constitution and Bylaws and elected officers. Upuntil this point in time, we remained a loose association with no dues, noConstitution and Bylaws and no elected officers. George Bethea K5JZ Vic West N5YY Joe Butler K5JB
|
