PA QSO Party History - PA QSO PA

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69th PA QSO Party - October 11 & 12, 2025
Always the 2nd Full Weekend in October
68th PA QSO Party - October 12 & 13, 2024
Always the 2nd Full Weekend in October
62nd PA QSO Party - October 13 & 14, 2018
Always the 2nd Full Weekend in October
PA QSO Party - October 13 & 14, 2018
Always the 2nd Full Weekend in October
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The Pennsylvania QSO Party 1957 - Present
A short history of the Pennsylvania QSO Party
      
Most of this history is the work of Doug Maddox, W3HDH, and Mike Coslo, N3LI, whose combined leadership of the Party totals 34 years.  The first comprehensive history was  written in 1996 – an engaging piece by Doug, W3HDH.  Mike, N3LI, provided a detailed update during his time as chairman.

The Party originated in 1957 - not by the Nittany Amateur Radio Club, but rather under the auspices of the Harrisburg Radio Amateur Club,  and in 1964, the Nittany Amateur Radio Club took over administration of the Party for the next 54 years.  When NARC decided that it could no longer adequately manage the Party, a new organization dedicated to administering the Party was formed by small group of Party enthusiasts and the PA QSO Party Administration (PA QSO PA) took the reins in 2018 for the 62nd PA QSO Party.

If anyone has any history of the Party or photos of Party operations (especially early Portable and Mobile), please share with us as we would like to fill in some blanks in the Party history.
2018 Amateur Radio Newsline interview with PA QSO PA Vice-President K3NG (begins at 2:43)
Early History
Late 1960's to 1999
2000 to Present
Party Chairs
Harold German, W3IMN – 1957 - ?
Bob Gawryla, W3NEM - 1968 (1967? - 1970?)
Harty Weiss, WA3KWD – 1972
Doug Maddox, W3HDH – 1975 -1988 and 1993 – 1999
Chuck McMullen, K3CM / Ron Gibson N3BMV 1989 -1992
Woody Brem, K3YV – 2000
John Walters, W3JAW – 2001
Chuck McMullen, K3CM – 2002 – 2004
Mike Coslo, N3LI - 2005 - 2017

Anyone knowing any other party chairs from 1958 through 1971 and 1973-74 is encouraged to contact us, so credit can be given where credit is due.

Since the PA QSO PA is an organization structured to spread out the various tasks of running the Party, there is no longer a "Party Chair."
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