Herbert G. Johnson, W6QKI - Founder of Swan Electronics
Herb Johnson was born November 10, 1920, in Pittsburgh, PA. The son of Swan and Ruth Johnson, he spent his childhood in Astabula, OH. A lifelong amateur radio enthusiast, he designed his first radio at age 14, and at age 15 earned his amateur radio operator's license.
After moving to Benson, AZ, he founded Swan Engineering (later, Swan Electronics) in 1961. Originally working by himself out of his garage, Herb created a line of radios that became a favorite of amateurs around the world. Herb chose the brand name "Swan" in memory of his father, whose name in his native land of Sweden, was "Sven". Upon arrival in the USA, his name was Americanized to "Swan".
Swan Engineering grew rapidly, and its growth continued after Herb relocated the company to Oceanside, CA, in 1962. At its peak Swan produced as many as 400 radios per month.
Needing more capital and engineering resources for Swan's rapid expansion, the company merged with Cubic Corporation in 1967 and Herb continued managing the Swan subsidiary until 1973. The Swan line of equipment was mostly tube type design, and through the years more than 80,000 transceivers alone where sold. Many Swan radios remain in service today, a tribute to the quality that went into their design and construction.
Herb founded his second company, Atlas, in 1974. Atlas produced a line of compact, rugged radios that became very popular for mobile communications from cars and boats. Herb was particularly proud of the many explorers and adventurers who used Atlas radios to stay in touch with the outside world during their expeditions.
Herb was an avid sailor, skippering a series of boats (all named Vector) in numerous long-distance races along the coast of California and Mexico. A longtime member of the Oceanside and San Diego Yacht Clubs, he remained active, continuing his pursuits in amateur radio and sailing, well into his seventies.
After a period of declining health, Herb died of heart failure on January 31, 2000. He is survived by his wife, Mimi Johnson; his children Sven Johnson, Tina Svalina, Les Johnson, Eric Johnson, and David Johnson; his step-children Dave Callender, M'Liz McJones, and John Callender; twelve grandchildren; three sisters and two brothers in Ohio; and one brother in Maryland.
Updated: 11/04/01 Added: K2ISN, N2BLX, K4CGF, W4EWS & W5CYF
Updated: 11/27/01 Added: W1AQM, W1FFO, W2BJI, W6HBE, W6CRD, W6VPK, W0ASA & KH6AFS
Updated: 11/29/01 Added: W6GBL, W6OHS
Updated: 8/17/02 Added: W9TDX, N7QLE
Updated: 8/19/02 Added: W9MOD, KF4DJ, WB2LAH, WA4DIS, WB9YNI, KB7MZS, WB4JSI, AE4BB (ex-WA4KHD), KG6GW
Updated: 8/25/02 Added: K0RIJ, K5KHY, W8DGD, KL7HRE, K8BEB, W5MLU, W6KKI, W5DLL, W5FIJ, K6BTO
Updated: 8/27/02 Added: W4WAF, K2MYW, W8QJD, WB7CCV, WA4YUX, N5DZU
Updated: 8/29/02 Added: W2ZZJ, W6DCT, W2JON, W2IQ
Updated: 8/30/02 Added: K2PJB
Updated: 9/1/02 Added: WA3ZRL
Updated: 9/2/02 Obit: WB0IKH,
N1APY,
VE9OW,
K2GK,
KD4AHQ,
WB2JDQ,
K2PJB
Updated: 9/6/02 Photo: W4WZT,
KA2VQX
Updated 10/9/02 Added: W4BKY
Updated 11/26/02 Added: W7RAK, K2ORS
Updated 11/28/02 Added: WA7EJW ,
WA7AEL, WA9HLP, K8RPF, N5IKJ
Updated: 12/4/02 Added: K9FIF, KQ4XH(ex-KD4ICP), KE7QE(ex-KB8YQ)
Updated: 12/5/02 Added: N9IPN, N6FGP
Updated: 1/22/03 Added: WA0SHE, WB4IKS, W2GHK, W4MVC
Updated: 2/26/03 Added: W3MXE
Updated: 3/21/03 Added: N2ILO, W2ALS
Updated: 5/8/03 Added: N5IYG, W9WDV, KE2LO
Updated: 7/18/03 Added: K9BEN
Updated: 8/15/03 Added: KF9HQ, K4BTT, N2HDW
Updated: 9/1/03 Added: W4FQM, W8QOM, W4ZXK
Updated: 12/12/03 Added: WA2JOV
Updated: 12/15/03 Added: K4ARU, K7PU, W3FYK
Updated: 8/4/04 Added: K9YKX
Updated: 11/23/04 Added: N3GKE, WA2QVL, N2SF
Updated: 3/17/05 Added: N4KOU, W2BHZ, W7QNC
Updated: 5/9/05 Added: W1OF
Updated: 5/16/05 Added: K2YGF
Updated: 1/14/06 Added: K5JGZ
Updated: 3/20/06 Added:
K3APM
Updated: 3/27/06 Added: NE3R, KB3AVS, N6AQK, N7HKY, KC2DYE, KB2CAL, N4MAD, WA4TRC, WA4EBH, WA8MXQ
Updated: 4/11/06 Added: KC5JJQ
Updated: 9/22/06 Added: KB6GCH, KA1BN, KD5CAG, W5PFD
Updated: 2/19/07 Added: WA1UDP, W2UBU
Updated: 12/12/07 Added: KB3AO, N3GNE
Updated: 2/6/08 Added: KA2QWT, KC2EWR
Updated: 9/2/08 Added: WB6SNW, NB3W, W3SOG, K0ZZ, KA3PSZ, W1PWD, AK1M
Updated: 10/5/08 Added: W2CM
W9MIB Fred Crowell New Albany, IN 12/83 Age 77 W7QNC Henry F. Hudson Tucson, AZ 1/84 Age 81 W4WZT Hubert "Marty" Martz Richmond, VA 7/84 Age 72 W6OFT Clint Call Carlsbad, CA 10/23/88 Age 69 W2CM Leslie A. Fryer N. Syracuse, NY 11/10/89 Age 80 WA2RGR Ralph Endres Cheektowaga, NY 4/12/90 Age 77 W7RAK Dan Postle Milpitas, CA 4/15/90 Age 55 N6FGP Lee Green N. Hollywood, CA 5/2/91 Age 73 W3GCY Harry B. Gwathney, Sr Brandywine, MD 7/91 Age 85 WA9HLP Carl "Bud" Sunkel Danville, IL 8/13/91 Age 64 N3GNE Dixie L. Jarrett Frederick, MD 8/26/91 Age 48 WA0SHE Cleo Mahoney Raytown, MO 12/10/91 Age 71 W6CRD Morris D. Simpson Long Beach, CA 6/22/92 Age 84 WB4IKS Anne Irving Miami, FL 7/19/92 Age 80 K0ZZ Gary Knutson Centerville, SD 5/11/93 Age 42 W1PWD Roy Torrey Winter Harbor, ME 12/23/93 Age 73 W6VPK Irv Lauman San Pedro, CA 2/94 Age 84 W2GHK Stu Meyer Vienna, VA 5/21/94 Age 76 WA6WNE Darryl B. Larsen Sacramento, CA 7/20/94 Age 55 K0RIJ Ed Prokes David City, NE 11/18/94 Age 79 KE7QE Wilfred Hemmer Rio Verde, AZ 11/30/94 Age 71 W5RWQ Jesse Singleton Harlingen, TX 2/17/95 Age 78 W8QOM Anna Strawway West Branch, MI 6/95 Age 82 W4NTB Harold Manning Wilmington, NC 6/10/95 Age 83 N5IKJ Jim Mills Las Cruces, NM 6/13/95 Age 74 WA7EJW Larry Sartain Las Vegas, NV 7/26/95 Age 78 W5EBN Raymond M. Mickle, Jr Fort Worth, TX 9/6/95 Age 78 W4EWS Richard Lahey Citrus Springs, FL 9/27/95 Age 89 WA8EKY Valdan "Val" Baltz Middletown, OH 10/5/95 Age 85 WB9YNI John R. McCarty Villa Parke, IL 10/9/95 Age 36 KA5FSB Rudy Stork Carlsbad, NM 11/15/95 Age 52 W2CUF Joe Garone East Setauket, NY 2/15/95 Age 96 N1BVS Ken Erickson Bethel, CT 3/11/96 Age 68 KA1AFX Arthur Bruce Burrill West Brookfield, MA 4/5/96 Age 62 K9FIF Lester Baader Nelson, WI 4/27/96 Age 82 W6RPY Howard A. Hudson San Leandro, CA 10/20/96 Age 78 WA5ZOO Harold Herndon Lawton, OK 12/18/96 Age 77 K4IEE Mel Clark Lynchburg, VA Age 1/15/97 Age 70 W2VW Joseph Meyer Elmira, NY 3/1/97 Age 96 W3WAO Charles Jose Towson, MD 3/13/97 Age 67 W8DGD Jim Campbell Titusville, FL 5/10/97 Age 88 W4MVC Carl Hubbard Liberty, IN 5/18/97 Age 91 WA7AEL Lee J. Miller Las Vegas, NV 5/28/97 Age 75 W6DCT Al Bottalico La Habra, CA 5/30/97 Age 82 WB2LAH Tom Kehoe Garfield, NJ 6/8/97 Age 76 W2YL Joel Young Elmira, NY 7/26/97 Age 97 N9IPN Wes Hartwell Cordova, AL 8/13/97 Age 66 W9NEX Luther Weber Cyrstal Lake, IL 10/15/97 Age 84 K7IKR Francis Longo Santa Maria, CA 12/10/97 Age 84 WA4DIS Stu Charnley Huntsville, AL 12/18/97 Age 87 K2MYW Mort Solomon Rockville Centre, NY 3/24/97 Age 82 W6FAY James "Jay" Carr Escondido, CA 2/22/98 Age 77 W9MOD Leo Karpinsky Madison, WI 4/11/98 Age 74 K7UGA Barry Goldwater Paradise Valley, AZ 5/29/98 Age 89 W6HBE Homer Brumbaugh Palm Springs, CA 6/11/98 Age 92 NB3C Thomas "Fred" Carr Myrtle Beach, SC 8/3/98 Age 71 KE2NO Henry Herrlich Corning, NY 9/12/98 Age 81 W8QYW Homer Cozad Geneva, OH 10/3/98 age 78 W0WEM Louis A. Burdman Chatsworth, CA 11/26/98 Age 81 K8BEB Bill Zimmerman Livonia, MI 12/15/98 Age 73 N7ROV Ralph G. Empey Hoquiam, WA 12/17/98 Age 58 KA2VQX Joseph Smith Painted Post, NY Age 82 WA2LYF William J Cochrane Kenmore, NY 12/26/98 Age 71 WB2JMK John Donaway Audubon, NJ Age 78 W3JIW Charles Ray Sine Romney, WV 1/11/99 Age 80 WA6BZC Jesse E. Caton Anza, CA 3/99 Age 90 W5DLL Harold Watson Fort Worth, TX 3/11/99 Age 73 W9DIA Terry J. Sterman Milwaukee, WI 3/30/99 Age 60 W4FNR Ab Adams Boca Raton, FL 4/1/99 Age 80 KH6UQ Ray Style Pleasant Hill, CA 4/11/99 Age 88 WB3CHS T. Calvin Mc Pherson Gathersburg, MD 04/20/99 WB6JJR Dave Glisan Felton, CA 4/28/99 Age 50 W2ALS Frank Gunther Staten Island, NY 5/24/99 Age 91 KE2LO Gene Mezger Orchard Park, NY 6/19/99 Age 64 WA7PRD Percy Kassner Glendive, MT 6/25/99 Age 64 WA6ATC Dino A Rossi San Pedro, CA 6/99 Age 72 KB7MZS Ed Masters Sun City, AZ 6/8/99 Age 84 W2JIX Michael S. Ikonomou Hudson, FL 8/16/99 Age 80 W7JTN Ed Shunk Tucson, AZ 9/99 Age 72 WB6SNW Paul Michael Martz Newbury Park, CA 09/04/1999 Age 59 VE9OW Carl Leeworthy Bayfield, NB, 9/9/99 Age 67 W5MLU Lou Szivos Ville Platte, LA 9/28/99 Age 80 K2ORS Jean Shepherd Sanibel, FL 10/16/99 Age 78 W4WQW Richard A. Crowell Kingston, TN 11/13/99 Age 75 WA1EST Arthur Souza Fall River, MA 12/4/99 Age 75 AE4BB Bob Alexander Bristol, TN 12/11/99 Age 79 N2NDR William J Brooks Brooklyn, NY 12/99 Age 52 WB7CCV Chuck Maish Casstown, OH 12/6/99 Age 80 W2KIJ Joe Patocka Horseheads, NY 12/14/99 Age 87 KB2ZEZ Esther J Silliman Bath, NY 1/1/00 Age 78 KA2ACF Ann Hoffman Waverly, NY 1/4/00 Age 73 W5BDR Ed Moory De Witt, AZ 1/00 Age 85 WA6LEA Charles "Bud" Manning Kingman, AZ 1/25/00 Age 79 W6QKI Herb Johnson Cardiff, CA 2/1/00 Age 79 N1APY Donald A. P. LeCourt Fitchburg, MA 2/3/00 Age 71 W8RRA Henry "Hank" Engle Euclid, OH Age 79 W4NND Charles B. Orr Fairfax, VA 2/00 Age 75 W2PTJ Charles Band Laurel Springs, NJ 2/00 Age 84 W1FFO Ted Hale Wellesley Hills, MA 3/16/00 Age 95 K2HQ Phil Morrissey Summit, NY 3/16/00 Age 59 NB8M Warren Grubbs St. Albans, WV 3/26/00 Age 77 KD2KK Norm Jones West Seneca, NY 3/27/00 Age 76 WB0IKH Ralph L. Scearcy Fayetteville, NC 5/5/00 Age 67 KC4DPL Bennie L. Moore Albemarle, NC 4/20/00 Age 62 W9WDV Herman Hums Mishawaka, IN 4/23/00 Age 88 W4FQM Paul "Ed" Webb Hollywood, CA 5/11/00 Age 85 W4ZXK Lois Spencer Inverness, FL 5/23/00 Age 75 NY3D Amos Faux Burhans Ijamsville, MD 5/26/00 Age 65 W3JZW Harold L. Howard Cheverly, MD 5/30/00 Age 88 W3LGY Charles "Doc" Bikle Palmares, Costa Rica 4/11/00 Age 73 VE3DBW Roy H. Bain Sudbury, ON 7/11/00 N6OTS Joan M. Sullivan Fountain Valley, CA 8/1/00 Age 55 KG5KE Vivian Simants Madison City, OK 6/22/00 Age 69 K8RPF Roger Mais South Bend, IN 8/14/00 Age 82 W5CYF Edwin Robertson Bastrop, LA 10/3/00 Age 89 W8QJD Lou Ireland Cincinnati, OH 10/9/00 Age 79 W3LVC Cliff Campen Elkridge, Md 2/2/00 Age 79 W1AQM Clarence Margerum Shrewsbury, MA 10/31/00 Age 98 KL7HRE Mike Santone Silsbee, TX 11/8/00 Age 84 W6KKI William "Hank" Niemeyer Carmichael, CA 11/19/00 Age 88 W2BJI Fran H. Thisse Manlius, NY 11/30/00 Age 87 WA0LHY Jim Gaasvig Ham Lake, MN 6/27/00 Age 65 N7QLE Cecil Bly Clarkston, WA 9/5/00 Age 87 WA4YUX Charles "Fred" Rierson East Bend, NC 11/19/00 Age 69 K5KHY Hubert Carrico Tolar, TX 11/25/00 Age 79 WA7WFU Chester "Chet" Tausinger Huntington, AR 12/00 Age 53 KR4IH Joe Beale Norfolk, VA 12/31/00 Age 59 W2YTR Mark Lo Bosco Richmond Hill, NY 10/29/00 Age 75 KC0AC Dave Miller Sturgeon Bay, WI 1/01 Age 71 N2KMM Emmoran Arnst Caroga Lake, NY 1/4/01 Age 81 W0ASA Charley "Dick" Leigh Round Rock, TX 2/1/01 Age 93 KQ4XH Gene Killen Tazewell, VA 3/1/01 Age 61 KA2Q Russell "Russ" Smith Diamond Point, NY 3/7/01 Age 81 VK4OW A. E. "Ted" Watson Urangan, Australia 4/01 K2MLT Walt Taylor Hammondsport, NY 4/01 Age 69 N6FUS John Pike Puyallup, WA 4/01 Age 83 AB4FK Bill O'Neil Norfolk, VA 4/01 Age 77 W4WAF Warner Freeman Daytona Beach, FL 4/26/01 Age 69 WU2E Walt Armstrong Neptune, NJ 5/26/01 Age 75 VK2MUD Jack Gilmour Uranquinty, Australia 6/3/01 K2QAU W. Robert Dabb Scotch Plains, NJ 6/15/01 Age 81 W6FB Bill Hook Raymond, WA 6/17/01 Age 93 W6GBL Glen "Doc" Chapin South Ogden, UT 9/12/01 Age 77 KF4DJ Chet Yunt Frankfort, KY 10/9/01 Age 69 W2YIF Wyckoff A. Sherwood Addison, NY 10/11/01 Age 93 WA3ZRL Tony Dilorenzo Rockville, MD 6/6/01 Age 79 K6BTO Herb Adams Bonita, CA 6/9/01 Age 85 K4BTT Larry Hackney Shalimar, FL 8/2/01 Age 73 WB4JSI Stan Hurst Saluda, SC 8/11/01 Age 84 W5FIJ Charles "Ned" Leach Oklahoma City, OK 8/15/01 Age 95 K4YYT Paul Bennett Green Cove Springs, FL 9/17/01 Age 72 W2IQ Henry "Hank" Clark Dandridge, TN 9/18/01 Age 82 K2ISN Andy Washy Gowanda, NY 10/01 Age 63 W4CFV Joe Fischer Norton, VA 10/29/01 Age 93 K4CGF Ralph Tiller Wytheville, VA Age 9/30/01 81 N2BLX Bob King Binghamton, NY 11/3/01 Age 71 N5IYG Homer Madray Albuquerque, NM 11/3/01 Age 89 W6OHS Art Clark Gardena, CA 11/14/01 Age 78 KH6AFS Sam Kumukahi Hilo, HI 11/24/01 Age 79 N5DZU Charlie Hardwick League City, TX 11/27/01 Age 70 WB9WOK Dave Kadinger Crawfordsville, IN 12/6/01 Age 66 K2PJB Donal "Pat" O'Buckley Horseheads, NY 12/17/01 Age 76 W2JON Al Labowitch Springfield, NJ 12/23/01 Age 82 W9TDX Jackson "Jack" Meade Hudson, FL 1/3/02 Age 88 W2ZZJ George Sadlon Stratford, NY 8/02 Age 71 W4BKY Wayne Butler Norfolk, VA 10/10/02 Age 59 WA8MXQ Dick Fisher Mansfield, OH 1/28/03 Age 75 W3MXE Day Grimes Carlisle, PA 2/26/03 Age 72 N2ILO David L. Cook Corning, NY 3/21/03 Age 62 K9YKX Emmett H. Dodson Veedersburg, IN 4/7/03 Age 87 N2HDW Barry Groupp Pearl River, NY 5/03 Age 60 W3FYK William F. Werner Bethlehem, PA 5/17/03 Age 89 K9BEN Bernard "Ben" Finger Niceville, FL 7/03 Age 73 KF9HQ Russ Fritz Roswell, NM 7/31/03 Age 78 WA2JOV Stu Mortenson Baldwin, NY 8/16/03 Age 87 K4ARU William N. Ramsey Vienna, VA 12/10/03 Age 94 K7PU Kenneth E. Gulley St George, UT 12/10/03 Age 79 WA6PIE Galen "Mac" McCormick Chino Hills, CA 1/20/04 Age 75 N6AQK Lino Garcia Lancaster, CA 2/26/04 Age Age 96 KB3AVS Isaac Bemis Silver Spring, MD 3/04 Age 95 N2SF Sanford "Sandy" Fried Armonk, NY 9/13/04 Age 75 N7HKY Charles W. Graves Washougal, WA 9/18/04 Age 74 N3GKE Kenny Mann Rockville, MD 11/15/04 Age 88 WA2QVL Evalyn M. Miller Big Flats, NY 11/18/04 Age 80 W2BHZ George Hudson Pine City, NY 11/19/04 Age 91 NE3R Harold Fowler Chaptico, MD 11/24/04 Age 75 N4KOU Steven J. Carvajal Mount Desert, ME 3/10/05 Age 52 W1OF Brian "Mitch" Mitchell Merrimack, NH 4/6/05 Age 63 K2YGF William Schaal Baldwinsville, NY 4/14/05 Age 76 KA3PSZ John Willard Baltimore, MD 5/15/05 Age 78 N2PQX Elmer "Mer" Shafer Binghamton, NY 10/25/05 Age 79 K3APM Russ Smith Perry Hall, MD 11/4/05 Age 84 WA2RFI Steve Halas Owego, NY 12/4/05 Age 71 K5JGZ Lee Grunewald Miami, OK 1/13/06 Age 91 WA4EBH Richard "Mac" McLeod Roanoke, VA 2/06 Age 80 WA4TRC Warren T. Coleman Portsmouth, VA 2/06 Age 84 N4MAD Mike Brown Pensacola, FL 2/06 Age 70 KC2DYE Cliff Draper Horseheads, NY 2/17/06 Age 81 KA2IDY Clarence Garner Conklin, NY 2/27/06 Age 76 KB2CAL John Connelly Pine City, NY 3/06 Age 62 W5PFD Cliff Ferguson (USN-Ret)Clinton, MS 4/9/06 Age 74 KC5JJQ Mary L. Kelly Hooks, TX 4/10/06 Age 58 K5LIL Ed Murta Oklahoma City, OK 4/22/06 Age 87 AK1M Elton V. Stolberg Spring Hill, FL 5/12/06 Age 84 W4BFR Bruce Montgomery Sandy Springs, GA 5/21/06 Age 92 K2RUX Joe Staniszewski Endicott, NY 6/1/06 W2FHH Bill Michalak Binghamton, NY 6/17/06 Age 86 W4PQA Arthur McDougall Ormond Beach, FL 7/9/06 Age 91 WA5JDB Jack Mincy Fort Worth, TX 8/06 Age 81 KB6GCH Richard "Rick" Wilson Vallejo, CA 9/7/06 Age 68 KA1BN Carl Bernier Bedford, NH 9/15/06 Age 86 KD5CAG Alice May Weaver Yoakum, TX 9/15/06 WA1UDP Phil Hunter Mount Chase, ME 1/2/07 Age 69 KA1QWT Cory Cummings Snow Deerfield, NH 1/3/07 Age 62 W2UBU Leroy Hartman Elmira, NY 1/7/07 Age 87 KN4VL Donald "Tony" Davis Pensacola, FL 2/22/07 Age 62 N7GGC Henry "Hank" Aries Everett, WA 4/11/07 Age 81 K3CKE Adam J. Milwicz Bowie, MD 7/2/07 Age 67 W3DAM David A. Milburn Bunnell, FL 11/26/07 Age 58 KB3AO Domenick "Dom" Colella Kensington, MD 12/6/07 Age 77 KC2EWR Gerald B. Quigley Plattsburgh, NY 2/4/08 Age 70 W3SOG Chuck Hite Clarksburg, MD 3/2/08 Age 94 W3OKN Merle Glunt Mount Union, PA 3/16/08 Age 90 NB3W Robert M. Balonis State College, PA 4/25/08 Age 64 WA3KBV Tom Pitts Frederick, MD 9/08 Age 87 WD4DUG Michael H. Best Greensboro, NC 12/31/08 Age 47 K6VHP Lloyd D. Shallenberger Eureka, CA 1/11/09 Age 68
Notable Friends & Associates of Swan Radio Community:
Dr. Ralph Muchow - Dentist, Antique Radio Collector
William "Bill" Yerger - Merchant Marine Radio Officer
Walter S. Taylor - K2MLT - Wine Industry Leader
W. Robert
Dabb - K2QAU - OSHA Investigator & WWII Veteran
Barry Morris Goldwater - K7UGA - U. S. Senator
Jean Shepherd - K2ORS - Radio Broadcaster & Author
Frank A. Gunther - W2ALS - Radio Engineer
Pioneers of Early Radio & Electronics:
Allen B. Du Mont - Radio & TV Component Developer
Robert Trout - CBS Radio Anchor
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Anyone becoming aware of the passing of a member of the amateur radio community that should be remembered through our Silent Key page, can submit an obituary. If the deceased was never a licensed amateur radio operator, state the reason for inclusion. Submissions can be made via E-Mail: Swan-Net@Juno.com. Refer to SWAN Radio Network for additional contact information.
