QRP has lost an Icon. Jim Cates, WA6GER, cofounder of NorCal QRP Club, died from a bout with Cancer this past April. Jim was a huge contributor to QRP, and the best friend that I have ever had. He was an advisor, confidant, mentor, Elmer, sage and most of all, always my friend.

We started NorCal in 1993 in order to find 15 or 20 guys who would be interested in sharing QRP. There was never an intent to grow into a world wide club, or "go global" as Jim told Jay Bromley one time. It just happened. Jim Cates was the reason NorCal was like it was. He was behind the scenes, but he had a tremendous input and influence on things the club did. He came up with most of the features of the NorCal 40, he insisted that every kit be first class, and most of all, he said that we should serve QRPers.

Neither Jim nor I ever made a penny from NorCal. In fact it cost us money. All of the trips that Jim made to promote QRP were made at his expense. He was the money man behind NorCal. Jim handled the funds, he paid the bills, I spent the money, a great partnership.

Pacificon was Jim's idea. He wanted to have a forum like Dayton on the west coast, so that guys out here would not have to make the expensive trip to Dayton in order to enjoy a QRP forum. He came up with the idea in 1993, but we did not get to implement it until after FDIM was held the first time. But we were planning Pacificon before FDIM was announced. I remember Jim's comment when FDIM was announce on QRP-l. He said that "Great minds think alike."

Jim was inducted into the QRP Hall of Fame in 1997, and there has never been a more deserving member. Jim's actions changed QRP. He mailed every single NorCal kit over the years, except for the 49er, which was shipped during his wife's terminal illness. Jim was caring for his wife, and did not have time to do QRP. He felt bad about it, but his duty called him, and he was there. When I was nominated for the hall of fame, I was going to refuse it because Jim was not elected with me. I told Jim that in a packet, and pretty quickly the phone rang. Jim told me that I was not going to refuse, because it would dishonor him. I didn't understand, but did when Jim explained that he had taken his name out of consideration. He insisted that I accept, for NorCal, if not for my self. Reluctantly I agreed. Jim told me later that it was one of his proudest moments when I was inducted into the hall of fame. When he was inducted, I was privileged to introduce him. I asked him afterwards what he felt, and he said, "Embarrassed".

When Jim's wife Electra was dying from cancer, Jim took care of her at home, night and day, for months. He told me at the time that if he ever got cancer, that he would not want to have visitors, and that he would want to die with dignity. He said that would include my visiting him, and he made me promise to not come see him if he ever got cancer. I thought it was a strange thing to say, but I agreed. Jim sent an email to Paul Maciel and me in January of this year. I will never forget it. It said, "There is no easy way to say this so here it is. I have cancer and it is moving very fast. There is nothing that can be done. I am sending you the club money, and will send Paul the extra kits that I have. Thanks for all that you have done for me. Jim."

I was in shock. And I was in a quandary. My best friend in the world was dying, and I had promised to not go see him. I would never see Jim again. It was hard, but I never discussed it with anyone. The word did get out to a few friends, and some were probably upset that I did not tell them about Jim, but I had given my word to respect his privacy and I was keeping it. A few QRPers dropped by to see Jim and visited him, and then told me about it. All of them had a strange look when I told them that I had not been to see Jim. But they didn't know about my promise. Then in March, I got an email that I will never forget. Steve Cates, Jim's son, said that Jim had changed his mind and wanted to see me. I immediately called, even though it was late on a Sunday night. Steve assured me that it would be best to come up on Saturday. I contacted Paul Maciel, and asked him to go with me. He readily agreed.

My last visit with Jim Cates was sad, yet it gave me peace. Jim was in a hospital bed, and was too week to sit up or even roll over by himself. But he was in full control of his mind. He was concerned about QRP, and wanted to make sure that his illness was not causing any problems for Paul or me. He apologized for asking us to come see him, but said that he was wrong when he asked me not to come see him, and that he appreciated our coming so much. That was Jim Cates, always thinking of others, even on his death bed. Jim also kept his sense of humor to the end. He told Paul and I that there was a conflict of interest at his house. We asked what that was, and Jim replied. "I am trying to die, and my sons are trying to keep me from dying. But I am going to win!!". Paul and I both chuckled and we knew that he still had his sense of humor.

Jim Cates and I were partners for 11 years. During that time we sold thousands of kits, saw NorCal grow into a world wide organization, and become a household word among QRPers. We never had a cross word with each other, never an argument or even a disagreement on anything. I had Jim's credit card, and was authorized to spend up to 25,000 dollars on it. Now that is trust. We trusted each other. Jim made a rule when we started NorCal. It was simple. Each of us would have veto power on anything the club did. If one of us wanted to do something and the other didn't, it would not happen. Neither of us ever used that veto power, not even once. His wife, Electra, used to say that we were the odd couple. Jim was Tony Randall, polite and mannerly, I was Walter Mathau, go for broke, impetuous, never met a stranger. We were opposites, and we were a team.

Jim was honored by me once before, when he appeared on the cover of QRPp. Jim was the only person ever to have their picture on the cover of QRPp, and that was by design. I had to get his wife to help with getting the picture, and Electra thoroughly enjoyed being in on the fun.