Long-time particpants in the Midwest Classic Radio Net will remember Kelley W8GFG, who was always looking for "anything Harvey Wells".    We lost Kelley too young in 2011 but his persistent quest from St. John IN is an abiding memory.  I remember meeting him at a Chicago area hamfest and asking if he had any spare Harvey Wells speakers.   He said no, they were very rare, and we joked about how most hams back then would put a speaker from an old radio or TV in a homemade box before laying out hard-earned cash for a "matching speaker".

But Kelley persisted and probably found most of the H-W ham gear that can be seen on the MCRN Harvey Wells page.

Based on his comment, I came home and sawed the front out of a hacked-up R9 that I had and put a piece of perforated metal in it's place and made my own.   It doesn't look like the H-W speaker but "it matches" close enough for me.

We seldom know much about the prior life and ham activites of friends made on the air, which is kind of a shame.   Fortunately in Kelley's case - or I should say Ralph Drew Kelley, as most of us only knew him by his "handle" - his early ham years were spent hanging out with a great group of young ham buddies, who have posted a very nice tribute to  him (click to view):

Ralph Drew Kelley - W8GFG
November 26, 1941 - March 1, 2011

Some will recognize one of Kelley's buds who is now CEO of DX Engineering,  and legendary DX-er and contester in his own right who describes Kelley as "a radio rock star".     Reading his and the other friends comments makes us aware that there was a lot more to Ralph Drew Kelley than most of us knew.  Somewhere along the line the Harvey-Wells seed was planted and without doubt Kelley's continous quest has encouraged others to carry on the search.    RIP W8GFG and thanks to K3LR,  K8CX, and  Paradox Design Group for sharing these memories, which are well worth taking the time to check out.

Ralph Drew Kelley.    Visitation will be held Friday for Ralph Drew Kelley of St. John, Ind., formerly of Hermitage. He passed away at 1:46 p.m. Tuesday, March 1, 2011, in St. Margaret Mercy Medical Center, Dyer. He was 69. Mr. Kelley was born Nov. 26, 1941, in Sharon to Ralph and Nellie Richardson Kelley. He graduated from Hickory High School, Hermitage, and attended Penn State University, State College. Drew worked for the former Sawhill Tubular, then was employed as a design engineer for General American Transportation Corp.'s former Masury and Chicago (Ill.) plants for 39 years. Drew was a private pilot and an amateur radio operator. His wife, the former Barbara E. Garrett, whom he married June 19, 1982, survives at home. He also leaves: a son, Douglas Kelley and his wife Catherine, Washington; two sisters, Carol Jean Bauzo, Hermitage; and Nancy Beth Kelley, Centerburg, Ohio; and two brothers, Bruce Richardson Kelley and his wife Paula, Hermitage; and Russell Lynn Kelley and his wife Barbara, Columbia, S.C. He was preceded in death by his parents.