History

History of the George Lambertson Amateur Radio Club (LCARA)

Founded in 1975, the George Lambertson Amateur Radio Club was named in memory of George Lambertson, W4BV, a longtime amateur radio enthusiast who greatly influenced and mentored many of our members. The club’s original constitution and by-laws were approved on October 28, 1975, with Andy Anderson, KB4Q, serving as its first president.

Leadership Over the Years

The club has been led by many dedicated individuals over the years. Some notable leaders include:

• 1976: Ernest Tucker, W4MQV

• 1977: Charles Hill, WA4OPB

• 1978: Tom Barnes, W4CTA

• 1979: Bill Millard, W4PBN

• 1980: Dave Harper, W4NIQ

• 1982: Andy Anderson, KB4Q

• 1986: Ron Mahal, W9HQA

• 1989-1992: Mike Rozar

• 1995-1998: Robert Jensen, KD4HZV

• 1998-1999: Henry Rutledge, KO4QD

Club Achievements

The club has made significant contributions to amateur radio education and emergency preparedness in the community. In 1975 and 1977, the club sponsored two Novice license classes, resulting in 12 new amateur radio operators.

In early 1977, Tim Marsh, W4IWV, loaned the club an old G.E. Progline Repeater, which was refurbished and put into operation on 147.63/147.03 MHz on Reservoir Hill in Fayetteville, using the callsign WR4BAQ.

Contributions to Emergency Services

In 1978, the club partnered with the local Civil Defense office to form a severe weather emergency response team. With equipment purchased by Lincoln County, the team responded to numerous weather alerts. While this initiative dissolved due to inactivity, LCARA is currently working to establish a new Skywarn group, in collaboration with the National Weather Service and the Southern Middle Tennessee Skywarn Association, to assist during severe weather events in Lincoln County.

Notable Milestones

• 1979: The club replaced the Progline Repeater with a solid-state transceiver, converted into a repeater by Leon Bell, WB4LTT. Though damaged by lightning in 1981, repairs brought the system back to full operation.

• 1980: LCARA participated in its first Field Day, hosted by Andy Anderson on his farm. Members operated across nine amateur radio bands, earning a respectable score of 390 points.

• 1985: The club received a generous donation of a Spectrum 2000 Repeater from Betty Zimmerle, in memory of her husband, Jack Zimmerle, WB4QXI, a former club president.

• 1989: The club officially changed its name to the Lincoln County Repeater Association (LCARA), along with a new constitution.

• 1996: Thanks to the FCC’s new Vanity Call program, LCARA successfully acquired George Lambertson's original callsign, W4BV, as the club's official callsign.

Modern Repeater Enhancements

Over the years, LCARA has made significant upgrades to its repeater system. These include a 100-watt transmitter amplifier, a WACOM duplexer, and a Comet antenna. In 2012, the system was further enhanced with the installation of a Kenwood TKR-750 and an Arcom controller, significantly improving coverage.

This revised version highlights the club's rich history, its contributions to both the amateur radio community and emergency preparedness, and the technological advancements made over the years.