July 06, 2005

Ernest Lehman, RIP. Famed screenwriter and novelist, Ernest Lehman, K6DXK, has died at 89.

He is more well-known for his screenplays, such as North by Northwest but as a teen, I devoured his fantastic novel, The French Atlantic Affair. In the novel, ham radio figures heavily in the plot to overcome the hundreds of criminals who take over an ocean liner for ransom in mid-voyage. It is in large part why I became a ham. It occurred to me years later that he might be a ham himself, so I looked him up and sent him a note. He wrote back a very nice note that hangs in my "shack" today.

  • I was initially confused by your FPP text K6DXK until I read the rest of your post. Thanks for sharing that curious insight into his life. My dad was fond of his work - I'll have to pass this news along to him.
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  • Yes, sugarmilktea, and I should elaborate: SK stands for "silent key," the traditional term among amateur radio operators for one that has passed.
  • Just about brought a tear with that added info OOS. A fitting tribute!
  • Man, there's been a round of this. Mr. Lehman, Vice Admiral Stockdale, Paul Winchell, Luther Vandross, and also Shelby Foote, noted Civil War historian and damn near last of the old-school southern gentlemen. RIP to all. Don't want to threadjack, just didn't want to add another memorial thread to the front page.
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