\n<\/p>\n
Mark Tharp, KB7HDX, Director of the <\/span>ARRL Northwestern Division, has received the Hall of Honor Award for 35 years of service to the <\/span>Yakima Search and Rescue<\/span> group. <\/span> \u00a0<\/p>\n Tharp called the award \u201cunexpected and very much appreciated,\u201d adding, \u201cYou don\u2019t do volunteer work to get awards, you do it because it\u2019s needed and makes a difference.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Tharp was first licensed in 1989 and now holds an Extra Class license. He became a ham after spending time with a ham friend, while exploring the mountains in the northwestern United States. \u201cThe Yakima Search and Rescue group continues to grow and help volunteers train and keep over 100 sports-related locations safe,\u201d said Tharp. He remembered one particular rescue that involved a young boy and his cat. <\/span><\/p>\n The boy had been missing for several hours and it was getting dark and cloudy. \u201cWe were tired but didn\u2019t quit. I sat down on a hillside and using an infrared camera…we were able to find him and his cat…cold but OK,\u201d lamented Tharp.<\/span><\/p>\n Tharp is retired now but as the ARRL Northwestern Division Director, he represents members in Alaska, Montana, Idaho, Washington, and Oregon.\u00a0<\/span>He is an ARRL Life Member and a member of the <\/span>ARRL Diamond Club<\/span> and <\/span>ARRL Maxim Society<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n