History of Waco-based amateur radio station W5RDL explained. A lost chapter in radio history.

W5RDL was formally an amateur radio station based in the city of Waco, Texas. This news article will explain the history behind this former amateur radio station within this lost chapter of radio history. So grab your popcorn and headphones.

W5RDL was an amateur radio station William G. Ratliff aka Billy G. Ratliff in 1961 out of his house which was located at 2208 Primrose Drive, Waco, Texas, US 76706. (Ref: https://archive.org/stream/Spring_1966_Radio_Amateur_Callbook/Spring_1966_Radio_Amateur_Callbook_District_5_djvu.txt)

Billy G. Ratliff transferred ownership of W5RDL to Maxine C. Ratliff during the summer of 1968. Maxine C. Ratliff became the new owner of amateur radio station W5RDL during the summer of 1968. She became the permanent owner of that radio station. (Ref: https://archive.org/stream/Summer_1968_Radio_Amateur_Callbook/Summer_1968_Radio_Amateur_Callbook_District_5_djvu.txt)

Maxine C. Ratliff changed the name and format of the amateur radio station from W5RDL to K5AHZ during the Summer of 1969 as listed in the directory of a Summer 1969 edition of the Radio Amateur Callbook. (Ref: https://archive.org/stream/Summer_1969_Radio_Amateur_Callbook/Summer_1969_Radio_Amateur_Callbook_District_5_djvu.txt)

K5AHZ shut down sometime after the winter of 1977. Possibly in 1978 because amateur radio station K5AHZ does not appear in any copies of the Radio Amateur Callbook post-1977. (Ref: https://archive.org/stream/Winter_1977_Radio_Amateur_Callbook/Winter_1977_Radio_Amateur_Callbook_District_5_djvu.txt)

The house which once served as headquarters for amateur radio stations W5RDL and K5AHZ was sold to Donald Lee Hurst on a warranty deed in 2012. (Ref: McLennan County Land Deeds, Instrument #2012006009)

However Donald Lee Hurst would not own the property for very long as he sold this property to a sole femme named Mary A Rhodes on a gift deed on the date of 5/22/2012, which was on the date same he was given the property on a warranty deed. Mary A Rhodes currently owns this property. (Ref: McLennan County Land Deeds, Instrument #2012006010)

W5RDL was located at 2208 Primrose Drive, Waco, Texas, US 76706.