W4GD Johnny Watson, W4TM L.K. Rush in 1959

W4GD was 1st licensed in 1921 as 5GB, W4MH in 1927, W4BPR in 1932 in Memphis, TN. Johnny was an electrical worker for the Memphis Power Company. His station was completely homebrew. All chokes, plate and filiment transformers, modulation transformers were home built! He also made the W4GD t-shirt in the above photo. He was a top dog DXer.

W4TM was 1st licensed in 1919 as CD7, ex: 4KM, 4YD, 5CN of Jackson, TN. He also was a top dog DXer!

I am not the W4GD in the photo, but I used to hang out at his house as a teenager. W4GD was Johnny Watson. He was from the Memphis, TN area.

I left Memphis in 1982. Johnny Watson, W4GD, died in the early 90's I believe.

Johnny W4GD was one of my elmers. When the vanity callsign program went into effect and I found myself living here in Miami with a K5OTI callsign, I put Johnny's call at the top of my list, since it was available.

I discovered that Johnny was not the original holder of W4GD. The call was first issued to a gent in Gainesville, FL back in the 1930's. I think Johnny got it in 1947 or so. I am the 3rd generation of W4GD. I try to live up to Johnny's standard of excellence in DX'ing, but I sure can't build high power amps like he could.
73, John W. Morris, current holder of W4GD

Photo by W4TM sent to Don Chesser W4KVX DX Magazine #94, November 18, 1959
Info under photo also from DX Magazine #94
Additional Info courtesy of John W. Morris, current holder of W4GD