Oldest Known US Radio Amateur, Cliff Kayhart, W4KKP, SK
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Charles Clifford “Cliff” Kayhart, W4KKP, of White Rock, South Carolina, died on October 26, a few days past his 109th birthday. An ARRL member, he was the oldest known US radio amateur and possibly the oldest ham in the world.
Last November, Roanoke Division Director Bud Hippisley, W2RU; Vice Director Bill Morine, N2COP, and South Carolina Section Manager Marc Tarplee, N4UFP, jointly presented Kayhart with ARRL’s Centurion Award, which honours centenarian members with at least 40 years of ARRL membership. On that occasion, Hippisley interviewed Kayhart.
First licensed in 1937 as W2LFE in New Jersey, he also held W9GNQ. According to his obituary, Kayhart built his first radio at the age of nine. After working for New York Telephone Company as a young man, he became enamoured with engineering, so he headed off to Tri-State University in Indiana, graduating with a degree in aeronautical engineering. Afterwards, he went to work for RCA in New Jersey, becoming a quality control manager. Positions followed at Philco Radio and Bendix Aviation.
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