W1SGL 1958 Vineyard Haven, Massachusetts

Op: David E. Noble

David Noble 1908 - 1968 came to Martha's Vineyard in 1933 as a patient at the Marine Hospital in Vineyard Haven, Martha's Vineyard Island. David was sailing on oil tankers. David was slowly becoming disabled with muscle problems. He was suffering from a creeping debility which left him almost completely paralyzed. By the time he turned age 40, David was unable to leave the bed in the small home on Mount Aldworth that he shared with his sister Olive. Unable to walk, sit up, or even turn his head, he couldn't even read because of eyestrain and his inability to hold a book or magazine. He only had full use of his right hand and his voice. In 1949, he turned to ham radio, friends set up a radio for him, adapted to accommodate his disabilities. He quickly earned his amateur ticket and call sign W1SGL and went on to become a familiar voice on the airwaves, speaking with hams from all over the world and tracking his conversations on the world map he hung on his wall. Vineyard hams would gather each week in his home in an informal club meeting and Noble began to collect QSL cards. His niece Kathie Noble Case of Edgartown moved to the Island with her family in her childhood to care for her Uncle David, "He did radio right up until his death in '68. It was what we believed kept him alive all those years."

David W1SGL our disabled friend enjoyed the daily Texas Tower Net that provided communications on 75 Meters for the four early warning sentinels out in the water off NJ, NY, and New England. You will recall Tower Four was lost in 1961 with a staggering death toll. David communicated with the tower radio net almost daily bringing good wishes and optimism to those isolated on these early warning structures in the off shore ocean.

Today Dave's call W1SGL is used in a New England repeater network thus his personal call is still alive and well.

Note; In 1963 Ruth and Jim Noble came to the Island with Kathie as mentioned - her dad Jim was David Noble's brother to take care of him for the remainder.

David Noble W1SGL was born in Fall River Mass 1908 to Frank (textile worker) and Anne Noble, they had four children.

QSL from the estate of W2UNS
Some Info from World Radio Magazine May 2000 by John Harvey W9CY
Some Info from Martha's Vineyard Times / Chris Baer 11 Feb 15
Info courtesy of W8SU