[Ucrn] KUCR Founding Chief Engineer Dies

[LJ Vandenberg]

>From KUCR Radio 88.3fm, University of California, Riverside:


KUCR's Founding Chief Engineer Dies

William A. Farmer, age 61, passed away July 27, 2006 in Sierra Madre, CA, after a long battle with cancer. He was born on June 16, 1945 in Los Angeles.

Bill graduated from UC Riverside, majoring in mathematics in 1967. Farmer was the founding chief engineer of the campus radio station KUCR 88.3FM and was once photographed at the station's control board by the internationally celebrated phtotgraphic artist Ansel Adams.

According to KUCR General Manager, Louis Vandenberg, "Of course I had heard about Bill Farmer, but I had not met him personally, until he attended a KUCR reunion we held in the late '90's.  He was, within the station, something of a legend and was accorded much respect and admiration.  From talking to him then and later, I took him to be a kind, thoughtful and generous person.  The more I learned about him, the more I liked him.  He was something of a maverick, who, the stories go, would relieve stress from being a student at UCR and working at KUCR, by riding the rails.  He would hop on a train, which was easy to do in Riverside, and take it to someplace that he hadn't been.  He loved trains, rails, countryside, people and adventure.  His was a free spirit, establishing a tradition of free spirits who have contributed to the building of KUCR over the years.  We are all deeply indebted to him."

Bill began his career as a radio engineer at KUCR, and then went on to be employed at KABC and KMPC, both major broadcasters in Los Angeles, among other stations. Bill worked the Dodger broadcasts with Vin Scully and was known as "Engineer Bill" on the Gary Owens radio show.

Bill had a life-long interest in railroading, making it both his hobby and career. He managed private railroad passenger cars and rode the rails all over North America. He particularly loved riding trains in Mexico, and was involved with numerous railroad clubs in Southern California.

Bill spent his final years producing videos about railroading and planning for his retirement at Train Mountain Railroad Museum in Chiloquin, OR. www.trainmountain.org

Bill is survived by his sister Pat Ward and her husband Lloyd of Plainview, TX; nephews Clay Ward of Dallas and Cody Ward of Plainview and their wives; three great-nephews and one great-niece. Bill's parents, William and Azalea Farmer, preceded him in death. A memorial service for Bill will be planned at a later date. Contributions can be made to Pacific Railroad Society of San Marino, CA. www.pacificrailroadsociety.org

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