Originally published in the April 1984 C&E.
It was in August of 1981 that these brief, humble reports began appearing in the Oklahoma Collector and Emitter about the famed Q. R. Zedd, the world’s greatest DXer, holder of the country’s only 1×1 callsign, A5A, winner of every radio contest ever invented or even imagined, holder of all amateur radio records, master inventor, genius, lover, sportsman, all-American, and in-general wonderful, lovable person. By our reckoning, that means that we have had the honor and pleasure of helping to report the great man’s exploits in these pages now for 33 months. How time flies when you’re having fun. As unbelievable as it may be to faithful readers and worshippers of Zedd, there are a few of the faithful out there who have come late upon the scene, and ask from time to time about the master’s background. We do not wish to take much time out to tell the story again, as the great one is constantly doing new wonderful deeds which demand our limited space each month. But perhaps a brief refresher would be in order for the very young, who have no sense of history. Zedd, who lives on Honor Roll Ranch just a hoot and a holler south of Norman, with his 20-year-old, blond, nubile QSL secretary, Tondelayo Schwartz, was born in 1927 during the famed DXpedition to Tibet mounted by his parents, the great Zepp Zedd and Mrs. Constance Wilhemina Zedd. Zedd’s momma thought she could get through the expedition prior to delivering her child, but temperatures of 90 below and winds of 120 MPH made it tough in the tent at 14,000 feet, operating CW with a handkey and no heat. Her labor was difficult under such conditions and her CW QS0 rate fell to below 100 per hour during the toughest hour. She was a brave girl, however, and stayed at the key and logbook throughout her ordeal. Zepp Zedd died on the same expedition. An avalanche got him. Momma Zedd raised little Q. R. right. In the Congo in 1930 he worked his first 5,000 QS0s while relieving his mother as a CW op. He stuttered badly and did not spell very well, but as his mother later wrote in QST, Who cares if he can spell as long as he can operate at 35 words per minute and ger the calls logged corrrectly?” By the time he was six, Zedd was the holder of the highest class license in several countries. During World War II he invented radar. After perfecting TV and the plastic milk bottle in the early 50s, he retired, independently wealthy, to devote time to his first love, amateur radio. Zedd is a bachelor. He was married briefly in 1957, but this marriage ended in a singularly messy trial during which his wife claimed their union had never been consumated. Zedd’s lawyer won the case in a masterful presentation often referred to in law journals as the argument which established once and for all the doctrine of “Wives are always around, but sunspots peak only once eve ry eleven years.” Zedd’s ranch covers about 800 acres, and he often operates around the clock, with the darling Tondelayo’s assistance, on all bands. He operates 9 or 10 transmitters simultaneously into a collection of Yagis, rhombics, simpers, curtain arrays, dishes and longwires. Airline pilots on north-south routes often point out his taller towers as they fly well around them. His towers have been declared a national hazard by the Airline Pilots Assn. One of his longwires
starts near Pauls Valley and terminates ROOF Liberal, Kan. He feeds other untennau is Africa and Asia via undersea cable and his own personal satellite, Zedd-1. Zedd has worked all stations on all bands. He has worked more than 400 countries on all bands. He is also holder of the coveted Yodar Kritch award along with WA5ULT, who as is well known posed for the certificate illustration, thus getting his the easy way. Zedd’s exploits, along with those of his momma, are legion. He was an all-American in several sports while in college, and played professional baseball, basketball and football. He shoots 60s golf and is a killer on the tennis and handball courts. A couple of years ago, the top hit song in America was “The Ballad of Q. R. Zedd,” as introduced at Ham Holiday in Oklahoma City by Kenny Rogers, who like most of us adores the man. (For those interested, copies of the lyrics may be obtained from the undersigned reporter. Send two IRCs and an SASE. OK in the Callbook. Allow three weeks for delivery due to heavy demand.) In another episode we may, if begged enough, furnish further review of the great one’s past. However, we were given to understand even at presstime that lights dimmed. over much of central Oklahoma last night, indicating use of the master’s Big Gun #1 linear, the one with its own auxiliary power plant. Old history may have to wait, if this signals a new wonderful exploit. The latest must be reported as we continue to chronicle the life and times of Q. R. Zedd.