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ARLX001 King Hussein, JY1, SK

Radio amateurs around the world joined in mourning the death over the weekend of Jordan's King Hussein, JY1.  Hussein, 63, died Sunday morning.  The Middle East's longest-reigning ruler, he'd been Jordan's king for 47 years, taking the throne when he was just a teenager.  His son, Abdullah, 37, succeeds him.

Hussein had earned a reputation as a catalyst for peace and as a conciliator in the Middle East.  President Clinton is among the heads of state from around the globe gathered in Jordan today for
King Hussein's funeral. 

Hussein was a life member of the ARRL.  ARRL Executive Vice President David Sumner, K1ZZ, called him ''an enthusiastic radio amateur whose support was invaluable to us in obtaining new amateur bands at the 1979 World Administrative Radio Conference.''  Sumner recalled that in May 1979, International Amateur Radio Union President Noel Eaton, VE3CJ, was invited to Amman to meet with King Hussein.

''Jordan's support of the Amateur Service was much in evidence at the conference that fall, and was a crucial element in our success,'' Sumner said.  The WARC-79 resulted in Amateur Radio's gaining the 30, 17, and 12-meter bands.  That same year, JY1 was featured in the film, ''The World of Amateur Radio.''  Hussein regarded his 1983 contact with Owen Garriott, W5LFL, on board the Space Shuttle Columbia, as a high point in his Amateur Radio activity.

King Hussein also participated in the historic 1995 joint Israel-Jordan JY74X operation on Mt Nebo, where hams from both countries participated in a Field Day-like operation.  The King put
in appearances both on the air and in person, much to the delight of the participants and those waiting to work him and JY74X. 

Hussein's friend Bruce ''Blackie'' Blackburn, W4TA/JY9BB, of St Petersburg, Florida, called him  ''one of the world's most respected amateurs'' and recounted many stories about King Hussein as a person and an avid Amateur Radio operator.  ''He was a wonderful guy, interested in everything and everyone,'' he said. 

Blackburn said King Hussein ''promoted Amateur Radio to the hilt in Jordan'' and saw to it that Amateur Radio classes were instituted in elementary schools.  King Hussein also dropped in on meetings of the Royal Jordan Radio Amateur Society in Amman.  King Hussein also was
involved with the early satellite experiments.

Hussein had been active in recent months from the US while seeking cancer treatment at Minnesota's Mayo Clinic.  A QSO with JY1 was considered by many hams to be both an honor and a privilege.  His elegant QSL card was prized.  AMSAT Area Coordinator Bruce Paige,
KK5DO, in Houston, worked JY1 while the king was in the US last summer.  ''That was a very exciting moment for me,'' he said. 

Pat Kilroy, WD8LAQ, says he enjoyed a three-minute contact on 20 meters with King Hussein in the fall of 1995.  ''JY1 was traveling aeronautical mobile, enroute to the United Nations.  He insisted on me addressing him simply as 'Hussein','' he said.  ''In one of the oldest traditions in Amateur Radio, Hussein upheld that this kinship transverses not only age and nationality, but also between citizen and head of state.

All members of the Jordanian royal family automatically have Amateur Radio privileges in Jordan.  Although the new king does not appear to have a call sign, King Hussein's widow--the American-born Queen Noor--is JY1NH.  King Hussein's brother, the former Crown Prince
Hassan, is JY2HT, while his cousin, Prince Raad, JY2RZ, is chairman of the Royal Jordan Radio Amateur Society.