Milam County presses ham radio into service

By Jeanne Williams - Telegram Staff Writer

Published December 17, 2007

CAMERON - Hurricane Rita was the impetus that propelled Franklin Stewart from his comfortable pose as local VFW commander and oil company retiree into the minuteman role as volunteer amateur radio communications leader for Milam County’s Homeland Security Department.

Before the hurricanes of 2005, Stewart leisurely used his amateur radio skills to visit other ham operators across the United States, and mused at the opportunity to chat with the Space Shuttle crew via his desktop transmitter in Cameron.

Susan Reinders, Milam County’s homeland security director, knew about Stewart’s ham radio hobby, and recruited him into service when Hurricane Rita threatened the Texas coast and appeared to be headed toward Central Texas.

Stewart set up his antenna and ham radio set at the Milam County Courthouse’s homeland security headquarters in Cameron to ensure emergency management officials could communicate if the storm struck.

“Everything I came across in state and regional planning stated that amateur radio is the backup system for communications and we didn’t have a radio,” Mrs. Reinders said. “Mr. Stewart brought in his equipment and set up his antenna in the courthouse yard.”

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