03/01/2024

The man who defined the sound of live rock 'n' roll music and brought audio
engineering principals into mainstream amateur radio use, Dr. Bob Heil, K9EID,
has passed away at the age of 83. He was an ARRL Life Member and in the ARRL
Maxim Society. A Facebook post from Heil Ham Radio paid tribute to their
founder: "Bob fought a valiant, yearlong battle with cancer, and passed
peacefully surrounded by his family."

Heil founded Heil Sound in 1966, through which he created the template for
modern concert sound systems for musicians like the Grateful Dead, The Who, Joe
Walsh, and Peter Frampton. The talk box used on iconic live record Frampton
Comes Alive! was of Heil's design. His audio engineering products have been
featured in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and he was honored in 2007 with the
Parnelli Audio Innovator Award for his impact on the live sound industry. "My
life has been about achieving great sound, whether on the concert stage or in
the amateur radio world," Bob Heil recounted in 2022[1]. "I've watched Heil
Sound go from a regional sound company to a world-class microphone
manufacturer. This company has been my passion," he said.

Parallel to his commercial and artistic success in live music, was his passion
for amateur radio. He was active in ham radio from a young age and merged his
expertise in audio engineering with his love for radio. Heil Ham Radio was
founded to produce microphones, headsets, and other gear for radio amateurs
with an emphasis on high-quality audio.

Heil was known as a mentor who enjoyed helping others find success in ham
radio. Recently, his grandson Charlie Hartley, KF0OOP, became a licensed ham to
surprise Heil for his birthday. The pair attended the ARRL Midwest
Convention[2]/Winterfest in St. Louis, Missouri, on January 27, 2024.

Heil was a generous donor to amateur radio organizations, including ARRL.
Recently, he donated a host of new audio gear[3] to the Hiram Percy Maxim
Memorial Station, W1AW.

His generosity and kind nature will be missed by many, including ARRL Director
of Development Kevin Beal, K8EAL. "Bob was a titan in many areas. He was
generous with his time, offered keen insights, and had the heart of a
philanthropist in the ARRL Maxim Society," Beal said. "He was a gentleman to
his core, making friends easily and everywhere he went, from rock stars to
captains of industry. I consider it a real privilege to have become a friend to
him, too, all because of amateur radio."

Heil was known for his passion for AM operations. He served for many years as
an on-camera host of the Ham Nation podcast. Tributes to Heil have been
flooding social media, including from his co-hosts.

ARRL President Rick Roderick, K5UR, said Heil's passing is a significant loss.
"Bob Heil's technical achievements that brought high-quality audio to amateur
radio pale in comparison to his generosity and willingness to help his fellow
ham. He's long been known as someone eager to help mentor and teach. His legacy
on our hobby will be long-lasting. Our thoughts are with his loved ones." 

[1] https://www.arrl.org/news/heil-sound-changes-hands
[2] http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter?issue=2024-02-01#toc02
[3] https://www.arrl.org/news/heil-ham-radio-donates-equipment-to-w1aw

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