WCF SECTION PRESS RELEASE #25-41
1 view
Skip to first unread message
JACK
Dec 18, 2025, 6:25:04 PM (5 days ago) Dec 18
to TAMPA AMATEUR RADIO CLUB
73 &
Gud DX
K4WSB /C6A VP2MSB
#1 DXCC 340/357
#### WCF SECTION PRESS RELEASE #25-41 - 12/18/25: MIKE LUNSFORD KB4FHP
IS THE 2025 ELLEN WHITE W1YL AWARD RECIPIENT
On Saturday December 14, 2025, at the Tampa Bay Hamfest, during the ARRL
forum, Jimmy Russ AB4KA, Section Manager, announced that the winner of
the 2025 Ellen White W1YL Award was Mike Lunsford KB4FHP. Lunsford is
serving as an Assistant Section Manager - Public Service Liaison since
December 13, 2022, and is serving as the President of the Lake Wales
Radio Amateurs (https://lwra.us) since January 2022.
Lunsford was first licensed at KN4ITQ in 2018, but had a long time
interest in Amateur Radio working with several organizations, including
CERT and ARES, in his professional career before retirement. After
retirement, Lunsford’s wife encouraged him to get a hobby and amateur
radio was the obvious choice. After getting his Technician class ticket
Lunsford became quickly involved in the amateur radio community and
became a member of the Lake Wales Radio Amateurs, Lakeland Amateur Radio
Club, Polk County ARES, and a member of the ARRL. In 2019, Lunsford
obtained the vanity callsign of KB4FHP, inspired by his time a as a
volunteer with the Florida Highway Patrol Auxiliary, upon upgrading to
General class. Lunsford currently serves as an ARRL Technical Specialist
for digital voice modes.
Lunsford in his professional career was employed by Polk County Fire
Rescue for 40 years and retired as a Battalion Chief over Special
Operations, which included Office of Professional Standards, specialized
response units, special events, and law enforcement liaison. Lunsford
also dealt with the Public Information Office section from Polk County
Fire Resuce and other agencies on a daily basis. Lunsford was the 451st
person to hold a paramedic license in the State of Florida, and has
maintained his license even in retirement. Lunsford also volunteered for
35 years as a Florida Highway Patrol Auxiliary State Trooper and retired
with the rank of Major. Lunsford also owns a part time business, since
1981, doing electronics and two-way radio installations in law
enforcement, fire, and EMS vehicles.
Lunsford’s other interests are participation as a coach for Special
Olympics, as his son is an athlete, for Bocce, Golf, Bowling, and being
active at his church, First Baptist Church in Lake Wales, as a ministry
volunteer.
The ARRL West Central Florida Section congratulates Mike Lunsford KB4FHP
on being named the 2025 Ellen White W1YL Award recipient. The 2025
Ellen White W1YL Award was presented to Lunsford, at the ARRL forum
during the Tampa Bay Hamfest on Saturday December 14, 2025. As in the
past several years, The West Central Florida Group, the owners and
operators of the NI4CE Repeater System, have sponsored a one year ARRL
membership for Lunsford.
The Ellen White W1YL Award was established in 2016 in memory of Ellen
White W1YL, who recently became a Silent Key in November of 2022. The
Ellen White W1YL Award is to name the amateur radio operator who has
made the greatest contribution to amateur radio in the ARRL West Central
Florida Section.
For all the details and history of the Ellen White W1YL Award you may go
to http://arrlwcf.org/wcf-special-events/white-award/.
#### END OF PRESS RELEASE
--------------------------------------------------------------------
ARRL West Central Florida Section
Section Manager: James D Russ, AB4KA
ab...@arrl.org
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Unsubscribe
IS THE 2025 ELLEN WHITE W1YL AWARD RECIPIENT
On Saturday December 14, 2025, at the Tampa Bay Hamfest, during the ARRL
forum, Jimmy Russ AB4KA, Section Manager, announced that the winner of
the 2025 Ellen White W1YL Award was Mike Lunsford KB4FHP. Lunsford is
serving as an Assistant Section Manager - Public Service Liaison since
December 13, 2022, and is serving as the President of the Lake Wales
Radio Amateurs (https://lwra.us) since January 2022.
Lunsford was first licensed at KN4ITQ in 2018, but had a long time
interest in Amateur Radio working with several organizations, including
CERT and ARES, in his professional career before retirement. After
retirement, Lunsford’s wife encouraged him to get a hobby and amateur
radio was the obvious choice. After getting his Technician class ticket
Lunsford became quickly involved in the amateur radio community and
became a member of the Lake Wales Radio Amateurs, Lakeland Amateur Radio
Club, Polk County ARES, and a member of the ARRL. In 2019, Lunsford
obtained the vanity callsign of KB4FHP, inspired by his time a as a
volunteer with the Florida Highway Patrol Auxiliary, upon upgrading to
General class. Lunsford currently serves as an ARRL Technical Specialist
for digital voice modes.
Lunsford in his professional career was employed by Polk County Fire
Rescue for 40 years and retired as a Battalion Chief over Special
Operations, which included Office of Professional Standards, specialized
response units, special events, and law enforcement liaison. Lunsford
also dealt with the Public Information Office section from Polk County
Fire Resuce and other agencies on a daily basis. Lunsford was the 451st
person to hold a paramedic license in the State of Florida, and has
maintained his license even in retirement. Lunsford also volunteered for
35 years as a Florida Highway Patrol Auxiliary State Trooper and retired
with the rank of Major. Lunsford also owns a part time business, since
1981, doing electronics and two-way radio installations in law
enforcement, fire, and EMS vehicles.
Lunsford’s other interests are participation as a coach for Special
Olympics, as his son is an athlete, for Bocce, Golf, Bowling, and being
active at his church, First Baptist Church in Lake Wales, as a ministry
volunteer.
The ARRL West Central Florida Section congratulates Mike Lunsford KB4FHP
on being named the 2025 Ellen White W1YL Award recipient. The 2025
Ellen White W1YL Award was presented to Lunsford, at the ARRL forum
during the Tampa Bay Hamfest on Saturday December 14, 2025. As in the
past several years, The West Central Florida Group, the owners and
operators of the NI4CE Repeater System, have sponsored a one year ARRL
membership for Lunsford.
The Ellen White W1YL Award was established in 2016 in memory of Ellen
White W1YL, who recently became a Silent Key in November of 2022. The
Ellen White W1YL Award is to name the amateur radio operator who has
made the greatest contribution to amateur radio in the ARRL West Central
Florida Section.
For all the details and history of the Ellen White W1YL Award you may go
to http://arrlwcf.org/wcf-special-events/white-award/.
#### END OF PRESS RELEASE
--------------------------------------------------------------------
ARRL West Central Florida Section
Section Manager: James D Russ, AB4KA
ab...@arrl.org
--------------------------------------------------------------------
About this Email: You are receiving this email because you are subscribed to receive ARRL Division and Section News. To manage your ARRL e-newsletters and notifications, please visit www.arrl.org/opt-in-out. You must be logged in to the ARRL website to edit your email subscriptions.
Copyright © 2025 American Radio Relay League, Incorporated. Use and distribution of this publication, or any portion thereof, is permitted for non-commercial or educational purposes, with attribution. All other purposes require written permission.
ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio®Unsubscribe
Reply all
Reply to author
Forward
0 new messages