In memory of our friend,
Thomas Edwin Wheatley III - K5CNN
July 30, 1945 - May 12, 2017

Obituary published in Houston Chronicle on May 18, 2017

Thomas Edwin Wheatley III 1945-2017

Thomas (Tom) Edwin Wheatley III was born in Houston, Texas on July 30, 1945 and passed away on May the 12th, 2017.  Tom graduated from Bellaire High School in 1964 and went on to graduate from Stephen F. Austin State University with BS degree in Chemistry.  He became a prominent business owner n the Houston area in field of oil and gas valves. Tom founded RW Flow Controls in 1989 and, as his father before him, made a positive mark in the industry and held that high standard for his entire career.  He was a loving Husband and Father and avid amateur HAM radio operator that also enjoyed fishing, automobiles and loved his grandchildren with all his heart.

He is preceded in death by his mother Margert Fay Webb Wheatley, his father Thomas Edwin Wheatley Jr. and his step mother Mary Wheatley, and daughter Michele Jean Wheatley.  He is survived by his wife Judy Carolyn Wheatley, daughter Tiffany Faye Dillard and her husband Dennis Dillard, grandsons Colin Christian Dillard and Cameron Thomas Dillard also son Thomas (Tommy) Edwin Wheatley IV, and brother Robert Webb Wheatley.

Please join us in celebrating his life at Forest Park Funeral Home located at 12800 Westheimer Rd Houston, Texas 77077 on Wednesday May 17.  Visitation for those who wish to pay their respects will begin at 12:00 noon hors d'oeuvres will be served. Funeral service will begin at 2:00pm burial immediately following.


In his own words (from https://www.qrz.com/db/k5cnn)

I have been an Amateur Radio Operator since May of 1960, when I was first licensed as KN5CNN, and did not have a clue that the suffix "CNN" would ever mean anything other than my call. Of course, that has all changed with the advent of the "Cable News Network" / "CNN" and receive many, many positive comments about my call sign. All I knew at first, was that it was a "great" call for "charlie wiggle", or CW on the 40 meter Novice CW Band when first licensed. I enjoy collecting equipment from old A.M. (Ancient Modulation) to modern day equipment and enjoy SSB and PSK-31 the most,.........need to brush up on the CW. I enjoy chasing DX as well, and that encompasses most of my time when on the air.

I have been in the Oilfield Check Valve business in Houston, Texas for almost 33 years and electronics is not my chosen profession, although I am degreed with a B.S. in Chemistry. I just enjoyed tinkering with electricity, and "crystal sets", (remember them?), as a youngster or Cub Scout and just naturally progressed to Amateur Radio. I knew I had to get my license while visiting my Aunt and Uncle in San Antonio, Texas, as their neighbor across the street had all the equipment, towers, antennas and single or double sideband had just come of age and was the most exciting thing that I had ever experienced as a youngster, 10 years of age. So that is how I became associated with Amateur Radio and have never regretted a minute of it. I can honestly say that some of my best and dearest friends are "Hams"! I am member of the ARRL and the TEXAS DX Society! Good Luck and very Best 73's from the Great State of TEXAS!