In memory of our friend,
Macky Dan Marshall - KV5S (ex-K5DEG, KG1FD, VP2VM)
August 30, 1940 - May 11, 2005
Macky's biography written by Richard L. King - K5NA
Macky Dan Marshall died on May 11, 2005 after a lingering illness. Macky is survived by his loving wife, Iola, whom he married in 1960. Macky is also survived by his three children (Julie, Tony, and Timmy), three grandchildren, and one great grandchild.
Macky was born in Port Arthur, TX on August 30, 1940 to Huey Marshall and Lema Lee Quarles. Later he moved to Woodville, TX and attended Woodville public schools graduating in 1958. While attending Woodville High School he became interested in Amateur Radio and got KN5DEG as his novice license in 1953 at the age of 13. Macky developed a great passion for Amateur Radio that stayed with him for the rest of his life.
Macky was also an excellent trumpet player in the Woodville High School band and received many honors and awards for his musical ability.
Macky joined the US Air Force in 1960 and served until 1964. In the service he developed career skills in radar and two-way communications that helped him build a business in the Port Arthur area specializing in marine radar and communications.
While in the service he operated from Greenland as KG1FD and KG1FR and made thousands of QSOs. After the service he returned to the Port Arthur area to begin his business and to establish his own amateur station. Macky became a leader and innovator in the hobby and was one of the first Texas stations that operated on 160M.
Macky was one of the nine charter members of the Texas DX Society and was involved with the core group even before the club was formed. He was instrumental as a regular participant during the TDXS’s winning Field Day efforts during the 1970s.
In 1986 Macky and Iola moved to Tortola in the British Virgin Islands and Macky was licensed as VP2VM. He had a mountain top location there and enjoyed DXing and contesting there for several years. About 1991 Macky and Iola moved back to Texas, working and living near McAllen for a number of years.
For the last few years of his life, Macky lived south of Beaumont, Texas on Taylor Bayou where he enjoyed both hamming and fishing. Macky will always be remembered as a fine man who would always do anything he could to help his friends. Those of us who knew him well will always smile when remembering him.