Former ARRL Southwestern Division Director Howard Shepherd, W6US, passed away on Friday, June 13, 2008. He was 87. Shepherd, who served as Southwestern Division Director from 1965-1967, when he held the call sign W6QJW, was active and accomplished in many facets of Amateur Radio. According to current Southwestern Division Director Dick Norton, N6AA, Shepherd was a record-setting contester, an Elmer to countless up-and-coming young hams, a volunteer leader and, and in his professional capacity as an attorney, an adviser on antenna zoning issues and club incorporations.

Positions he held included Army Amateur Radio System DNC2, Los Angeles Section Emergency Coordinator, Deputy Chief of LA County Disaster Authority, California State Office of Emergency Management Net Control Station, Chairman of Los Angeles Area Council of Radio Clubs, Volunteer Instructor and Examiner, Explorer Scoutmaster, Radio Physics Instructor at Yale University Technical School and Senior Instructor at USAAF Technical Training Command. Shepherd was an Honorary Member of the Southern California DX Club with 352 countries confirmed, member of the San Diego DX Club, past chairman of the 50 Club and prime mover in the Leisure World Radio Club of Seal Beach.

An ARRL member for over 70 years, "Howard gave back to Amateur Radio, his community and his country in many ways. We will miss him greatly," Norton said.

Services will be held on Saturday, June 21 at 11 AM at the Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church in Los Alamitos, California.