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Eunice Randall Thompson
1CDP then W1MPP |
Eunice Randall Thompson W1MPP -
a Radio Pioneer
Radio amateur Eunice Randall Thompson, who held call signs 1CDP then W1MPP, was recently posthumously inducted into the Massachusetts Broadcasters Hall of Fame.
Born in 1898 Eunice was raised on a Massachusetts farm on Randall Lane. She taught herself Morse Code and learned all about ham radio (or amateur radio). Her first station which she built herself, was known by her initials “ER". It was a time when you made your own call sign since radio was not regulated.
A chance encounter with another radio pioneer, Irving Vermilya, call signs 1ZE then W1ZE, led to a mentorship that helped her pick up the skills to be hired as the first female radio engineer for the American Radio and Research Company (AMRAD). In 1918 AMRAD opened a broadcast station 1XE on Medford Hillside and in 1919 Eunice became an announcer for the station.
Over the years, Eunice had a successful career as an engineer and radio expert/consultant who was active in the Eastern Massachusetts Amateur Radio Association and South Shore Amateur Radio clubs. During World War II she volunteered for the War Emergency Radio Service (WERS) and taught code to aspiring amateurs. She passed away in 1982.
The Wanderer carries a report on this pioneering radio engineer, read 'Remembering Mattapoisett’s Radio Pioneer' at
http://www.wanderer.com/?p=855
Massachusetts Broadcasters Hall of Fame
http://www.massbroadcastershof.org/hof_thompson_eunice_randall.htm
Ham Gallery
http://hamgallery.com/Tribute/W1MPP/w1mpp.pdf
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