Tribute to Richard "Dick" Klein

Tribute to Richard "Dick" M. Klein XV5BB, VP2DX, FM0FC, K4GKD, K9OPF, N9CM...
November 7, 1944 - September 19, 2014

Dick was a charter member of the National Capitol DX Assn., member of the Florida Contest Club, and A-1 Operators Club.

Dick was active in Vietnam when club station XV5AC came on the air. He also made contacts as XV5BB.

The XV5BB historic contact was made to Fred Laun's (K3ZO) Argentina call sign, LU5HFI on June 2, 1973.

Dick also operated the 1975 CQWW DX CW contest in Dominica as VP2DX.

Dick K4GKD operated the 1975 CQWW DX CW Contest with Carl WA3HRV (now K3RV) and Ray W3ADT (now NM2O).

I knew Dick quite well in the 70's before he moved to Florida. As you noted, we did operate as VP2DX in the 1975 CQWW CW from the Anchorage Hotel in Roseau and also made brief stops at FM and FS on the same trip.
73, Carl K3RV

Dick operated CQWW DX Phone from Martinique with John N4MM, Jeff N8II, and Don K7ZZ.

I had not heard that Dick was a silent key. I worked him on the air quite a few times from his Tampa area QTH/mobile and he seemed to be enjoying life, but no QSO's in about 18 months or more. Dick always sounded full of enthusiasm and was a great contest op in the 70's and 80's. He was one of the first I can remember to put up a wire multi element quad towards EU which worked like gang busters from his QTH in NOVA.
73, Jeff N8II

Dick held K4GKD for many years. I think it was 1974 when we first met at Dayton. We hit it off and walked through a good portion of the flea market, talking a bit about our extended Southeast Asia vacations. I also remember Dick operating from Dominica as VP2DX. No matter where either of us were, we always took a few seconds to exchange pleasantries. I can't remember when I last saw Dick, but I'll always remember him as a nice guy.
73, Don K8MFO

XV5BB QSL courtesy of KX4R
VP2DX & FM0FC QSL's K8CX Collection
Info courtesy of K3ZO, K8MFO, K3RV, N8II