1953 Edison Radio Amateur Award
September 1953 QST

Not a lot of information is available on the history of General Electric Company's annual "Edison Radio Amateur Award;" in fact, I could not find an actual photo of one. There is an "Edison Award" being given today, but it is an annual Dutch music prize awarded for outstanding achievements in the music industry, comparable to the American "Grammy Award." This 1953 QST magazine promotion encouraged nominations for the Edison Radio Amateur Award, sponsored by GE's Tube Department. First being given in 1951, the award honored Thomas Edison's legacy by recognizing licensed radio amateurs in the continental U.S. who performed significant public service through their hobby. The winner would receive the Edison trophy, a chronographic watch, and an expense-paid trip to the award ceremony. The person submitting the winning nomination would also receive a paid trip. by celebrating amateur radio's civic contributions.

"Edison Award" articles include Saga of the Edison Award, 1953 Edison Radio Amateur Award, Mary Burke, W3CUL Wins 1956 Edison Award

1953 Edison Radio Amateur Award

The Award Committee solicits your nominations for 1953 candidates.

Here is your opportunity to spotlight the meritorious work of a radio amateur you may know who has served the public by means of his hobby. Enter his name for the Edison Award.

You will be promoting the best interests of amateur radio, and you can win for yourself an expense-paid trip to the city where the Award will be presented. Judges will consider only amateurs who are nominated by your letters.

1952 saw Don Mullican, W5PHP, receive the Edison Award as a result of his outstanding work in the March tornado disasters in Arkansas. Special citations also were given four other amateurs who performed especially notable services.

The acclaim for these five was a tribute to the important and unselfish efforts of amateurs everywhere. The 1953 Award will bring recognition to a new trophy winner - will once more dramatize amateur radio's achievements in the public interest.

Read the rules at right [below]. Then select your candidate

. . . and send your letter of nomination to Edison Award Committee, Tube Department, General Electric Company, Schenectady 5, New York

RULES OF THE AWARD

WHO IS ELIGIBLE: any man or woman holding a radio amateur’s license issued by the F.C.C., Washington, D. C„ who in 1953 performed a meritorious public service in behalf of an individual or group. The service must have been performed while the candidate was pursuing his hobby as an amateur within the continental limits of the United States.

WINNER OF THE AWARD will receive the Edison trophy in a public ceremony in a centrally located metropolitan city. Expenses of his trip to that city will be paid. As a further token of appreciation, G.E. will present him with a precision chronographic watch to clock DX. In addition, the person responsible for the nomination of the Award winning candidate will be invited to attend the presentation ceremony, and his expenses also will be paid.

WHO CAN NOMINATE: any individual, club, or association familiar with the service performed. HOW TO NOMINATE. Include in a letter the candidate’s name, address, call letters, and a full description of the service performed. Your letter must be postmarked not later than January 3, 1954.

BASIS FOR JUDGING. All entries will be reviewed by a group of distinguished and impartial judges. Their decisions will be based on (1) the greatest benefit to an individual or group, (2) the amount of ingenuity and sacrifice displayed in performing the service. The judges will be:

E. ROLAND HARRIMAN
President, The American Red Cross

GEORGE E. STERLING
Commissioner, Federal Communications Commission

GOODWIN L. DOSLAND
President, American Radio Relay League

GARDNER COWLES
President and Editor, "Look" Magazine

WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED on or before Thomas A. Edison's birthday, February 11,1954.

Employees of the General Electric Company may nominate candidates for the Edison Radio Amateur Award, but are not permitted to receive the Award.